In an effort to encourage dog owners in El Dorado County to have their dogs licensed or renew expired licenses, El Dorado County Animal Services is offering an amnesty period for late and never-licensed, spayed or neutered dogs through Nov. 30.

During the amnesty licensing period, the penalty fees for late, expired, and never-licensed spayed or neutered dogs will be waived by Animal Services.

During this same period, the one-year license fee for a spayed or neutered dog will be reduced from $20 to $10 in the county and Placerville, and from $30 to $15 for dogs that reside in South Lake Tahoe.

County and city laws require licensing for all dogs at four months of age, and the dog must be current on its rabies vaccination.

Licensing helps Animal Services officers reunite lost pets with their owners and indicates that the dog is currently vaccinated for rabies. In addition, if an animal is injured and needs emergency care, a current license provides the information Animal Services Officers need to communicate with the owner right away. Nationally, 94 percent of dogs that come to shelters do not have any form of identification.

Licenses can be purchased at the El Dorado County Animal Services business office located at 415 Placerville Drive, Suite N, Placerville and at the Western Slope shelter located at 511 Placerville Drive in Placerville and at the South Tahoe shelter at 1120 Shakori Drive in Meyers. Many veterinarians in El Dorado County also sell licenses.

For more info, call (530) 573.7925 in South Lake Tahoe or (530) 621.5795 in Placerville.