Protect Your Pet This New Year

With New Year’s Eve approaching, County of Hawai‘i Animal Control Services is offering pet safety tips for Hawai‘i Island pet owners:

Keep your pet secured inside. Pets tied up outside can panic due to the loud noise and may break their tie-out or jump over a fence to escape the noise.

Make sure your pet is microchipped and the current owner information is updated, to help increase the chances of reunification. Go to Foundanimals.org to register your pet’s microchip.

Thunder shirts, favorite treats, and crating, are all ways to help keep your pet calm. Check with your veterinarian about anxiety medications for your dog.

Check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing pets to explore the area.

New Year / New Dog License:

With the new year approaching, dog owners will want to renew their dog’s license starting Jan. 2. Dog licensing is being managed by the County Finance Department, Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division. Dog owners can download the dog license application on the county website, www.hawaiicounty.gov, under the Finance Department. The dog license is good for two years.

Dog owners can mail the form, including the owner’s name, mailing address, and dog’s microchip number, along with license fee, to the Department of Finance, Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division, 101 Pauahi St., Suite 5, Hilo, HI, 96720. Dog license applications are only being processed by mail. Dog license fees have not increased and remain $2.10 for sterilized dogs and $6.10 for unsterilized. Those with questions about dog licensing can call the Department of Finance at 808-961-8413.

New Statewide Microchip Law

Act 5 goes into effect Jan. 1. It was passed during a 2021 special session of the legislature.

● Requires dog and cat owners to have microchip identification implanted in their dogs and cats, and to register the microchip number and the owner’s contact information with a microchip registration company. The national registry www.foundanimals.org is a good site to register your pet’s microchip.

● Requires animal organizations to implant a microchip in all stray dogs and cats in their custody that do not have microchip identification.