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Dog Licenses

All dogs living in Moreno Valley that are four months of age and older must be licensed. Dog licensing is an important element for rabies control in your community. It is also helpful in reuniting lost pets and their owners.

City Ordinance Section 10.02.020 states: It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or maintain any dog(s) over four (4) months of age within the City for a period longer than (30) days, unless such Dog shall have a currently valid rabies vaccination and license tag.

Moreno Valley Animal Services has partnered with DocuPet to provide an enhanced pet licensing experience for residents. Your pet’s license now includes DocuPet’s free HomeSafe™24/7 lost pet service and designer license tags with personalization options. Additionally, 20% of every designer tag purchase is donated to Moreno Valley Animal Services through DocuPet’s Safe&Happy Fund.

When you register your pet in the City of Moreno Valley, you will receive a unique license tag to attach to their collar. The new licensing process with DocuPet allows residents to select a standard license tag at no additional charge or upgrade to one of DocuPet’s colorful designer tag styles for an additional fee.

Getting a License

Do It Online...
You can purchase or renew your dog license online through DocuPet:

Get Dog License

To apply for a dog license, a current Rabies Vaccination Certificate from a licensed veterinarian is required.  If your dog is spayed or neutered, also provide a Sterility Certificate to receive discounted pricing.
Dog License Application.

 

License Fees

Dog License Fees

You can purchase a license for a single year, or multiple years:

  • 1 year license:
    $15 - spayed/neutered
    $54 - unaltered
  • 2-year license:
    $28 - spayed/neutered
    $87 - unaltered
  • 3-year license:
    $35 - spayed/neutered
    $108 - unaltered

Other Fees

  • Late Fee: $21 + license fee
  • Transfer Fee:  $6
  • Lost Tag Fee:  $6

 

Hardship Discount

To determine eligibility for a $6 one-time only Economic Hardship dog license, residents must:

  • Provide proof that they earn 65% of the median income set by HUD for Riverside County
  • Provide proof (Sterility Certificate) that their pet is spayed or neutered

Learn more...

  • Why License Your Dog

    Through our licensing partnership with DocuPet, every City of Moreno Valley license tag comes equipped with the free HomeSafe™24/7 lost pet service, which has reunited thousands of lost pets through linked tags and comprehensive online pet profiles.

    If your pet has gone missing, log in to your DocuPet account. Navigate to your pet’s profile and submit a Lost Pet Report, by reporting your pet lost. Be sure to provide as much information as possible about their last known whereabouts.

    In a matter of seconds, this will notify the HomeSafe™dispatch team. They’ll be sent details about the pet including any tips you’ve provided to help identify or retrieve them, as well as any contact information you opt to make publicly available.

    Depending on what information you have made publicly available through your profile settings, anyone who finds your pet may get in touch with you in one of two ways:
    1. Directly through your supplied contact information
    2. Through DocuPet’s HomeSafeTMteam by submitting a Found Pet Report or calling the 24/7 hotline number

    Found Pet Reports are designed to quickly provide key information about your pet’s location and condition, and make it easy for those who spot or find them to help.

    There are many good reasons to license your dog, the foremost being that it is a City law. Following are some other reasons that you may not have considered.

    Lost Animals 
    Moreno Valley Animal Services cared for more than 5,700 animals last year. Most of these were lost or abandoned. Less than 13% were reunited with their owners. A currently licensed dog, with a tag, will be sheltered at least 10 days for the owner to claim. An unlicensed dog may only be kept 5 days. If your dog is lost anywhere, the license number can be traced back to you. A license can be a ticket home for a lost dog.

    Injured Animals 
    Your dog's license will make it possible for us to contact you if your dog is injured. It also allows us to take your animal to your veterinarian if you cannot be reached. A license could mean the difference between life and death for your companion.

    Dog Bite and Rabies Prevention
    Nearly 259 dog bites were reported last year in the City of Moreno Valley. Your dog license is proof that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccination protects your pet and your family from a very dangerous and deadly disease.

    Cost Savings
    Every dog over 4 months old requires a license. If your dog is unlicensed you can be cited and fined. You really can't afford not to license your dog. We are doing all we can to protect your pet from harm, but we can't do it alone. Print out and mail in the license form on this web site to order a license today. Your dog will be lost without it! Did you know that you can save even more money by altering your pet. There are many advantages to having your pet spayed or neutered.

  • Don't Think You Need a License?

    ...We've Heard It All

    Many people feel that they have a good reason why their dog doesn't need to be licensed. Here are some of the most common excuses we hear, and the reasons why your pet still needs a license.

    "My dog hates to wear a collar..." 
    Your dog would also hate to be lost without a license: he or she might not return to you! With a bit of training, any dog can wear a collar and license.

    "My dog never leaves the yard..." 
    We hear that one every day! We also received over 8,000 stray animals last year and many of them never got home. It only takes ONE time for your dog to get lost.

    "If my dog gets lost, I'll find her at the shelter..."
    A licensed dog has a much better chance of getting home. What if your dog gets hit by a car, and is NOT at the shelter? An injured stray dog wearing a license will be promptly treated if taken to a veterinarian. You need that insurance for YOUR dog!

    "I can't afford a license..." 
    The cost is minimal, especially when you consider the average expenses incurred by responsible pet owners for nutritious pet food and regular veterinary care. In addition, a person finding a licensed dog can trace the owner, thus avoiding the need to impound the dog at the animal shelter. Impound fees to reclaim an unlicensed dog can be steep. Given the advantages of being licensed, you can't afford NOT to license your dog.