Every pet parent's worst nightmare is having their furry family member go missing.
In 2025, getting a license for your pet to help them return home is easier than ever. Online pet licensing is now available on Jackson County Animal Services' website.
Jackson County Animal Services requires that all dogs over six months old be licensed. This helps ensure compliance with vaccinations and helps keep the whole community safe.
If a licensed pet gets loose and ends up with Jackson County Animal Services, they offer a free ride home if it is the pet's first incident in 12 months. This means that your four-legged friend will be returned to you at no charge.
The Free Ride Home program is for a currently licensed dog without any at-large incidents in the previous year. For the first at-large incident, the dog will be returned to the owner without any fees. If the dog is picked up in the field and the owner is reachable, Animal Control officers may drive the dog home. If the owners are not reachable or the dog was brought to the shelter by a good Samaritan or law enforcement, the owners can pick up the dog at the shelter without fees.
In 2024, 55 dogs were returned using the Free Ride Home Program.
If a dog is brought to the shelter without a license and the owner is located, they are required to pay the redemption fees along with purchasing a license.
The new online system makes it easier than ever for pet parents to protect their pets and keep them safe all year. Make safety for the family your 2025 resolution.
