Whether you are a longtime dog owner or recently adopted a pandemic puppy, it’s time to complete the dog’s annual registration with the City and Borough of Juneau.
According to the CBJ ordinance, all dogs over six months old and residing in Juneau for more than 30 days must be registered each year by Jan. 1.
Juneau Animal Rescue, the group contracted with CBJ to provide animal control services, manages the registration process. Until 2019, the organization was known as the Gastineau Humane Society. They have been promoting local animal welfare since 1963.
“We try to make the process easy so everyone can get it done,” said Samantha Blankenship, executive director of Juneau Animal Rescue.
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She noted that thanks to online registration, people can complete the registration process without leaving home.
“We license about 4,000 dogs each year, which is probably about half of the dogs in Juneau,” she said.
This photo shows a 2021 Juneau dog license. The deadline to register dogs with Juneau Animal Rescue, which provides animal control services for the capital city is fast approaching. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Blankenship explained that licensing requirements promote public health through rabies control and make dog and owner reunions faster and easier when dogs stray from home.
“When licensed dogs are lost, animal control can often get them home without a stop at the shelter,” she explained.
According to Blakenship, unregistered dogs likely result from a misunderstanding of the registration process.
“There’s a common misconception that getting a rabies tag from the vet is a license. But, the license has to come from us,” she said.
It costs $20 to register a spayed or neutered dog and $45 to register an unaltered dog. Late fees are assessed for dogs registered after March 31. An unregistered dog who gets impounded is subject to a $95 fine, based on the CBJ ordinance.
Who’s top dog in Juneau?
Roll over, Rex and Fido, the most popular dog names in Juneau have more place-based flavor.
Regional references are common when local owners name their dogs, said Samantha Blankenship, executive director of Juneau Animal Rescue. Popular monikers include Taku, Juneau and Kodiak.
Alaskan husky mixes are among the most common types of dogs registered in Juneau. Nationally, Labrador retrievers, German shepherd dogs and golden retrievers were the three most common breeds in both 2019 and 2018, according to the American Kennel Club.
• Contact Dana Zigmund@ dana.zigmund@juneauempire.com or 907-308-4891.
