It's Almost Impossible to Get a Dog License These Days
- Susan Heavilin
- Jun 24
- 4 min read
The first email came from DocuPet and said it was from the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. It stated "Please renew now to remain in compliance with local ordinances."
I thought it was a scam and ignored it.
In the past, I had always received a form in the mail. I would call my vet and schedule my pet's rabies vaccination. Then I would just write my check, put the proof of vaccination in the envelope and return it. Easy peasy and took about five minutes.
By the time I had received the "Second Reminder", my dog had deteriorated to the point that I was calling around for a euthanizing veterinarian to put him out of his pain. He is a large German Shepherd (over 100 pounds) and was showing signs of severe hip dysplasia and his back legs would no longer allow him traction, much less to jump up into my car for a vet visit. I couldn't even get him up a ramp. I was unable to find a traveling vet in South Bay to see if he could be saved and his pain was increasing daily. It was difficult to watch.
When the third and final email arrived, I had managed to get him to my vet (it was so horrific loading him that I can't retell it) and he is now on a pain regimen. He is mostly pain-free and acting more like his old self. I don't know how many months he has but I'll take every one of them.
I pulled up the DocuPet site and they pretty much wanting to sell you everything under the sun. I was not able to renew.
I then went to the County's Animal Services site. Here is what I found:
I had a little time last Thursday and thought I get this tackled. I jumped in the car and headed to the Bonita Shelter around 2PM.
I handed the "receptionist" my proof of rabies and was told I had to wait for one of the desk clerks. I was also told that I was not in their system and needed to provide that information. When had I dropped out of their system?
After waiting for 45 minutes, I returned to the receptionist and asked her how much longer it would be. I had a 4-year-old to pick up at preschool up in Del Cerro and who knows what the traffic would be like.
I was told it would be at least another 30 minutes. I told her I couldn't wait that long and would come back tomorrow. No I wouldn't, the Shelter was closed on Friday. I asked her why and she didn't know. (With no help from her, I later figured out that the all County offices were closed for Juneteenth.)
I asked if there was a way to mail in my form and was told they don't do that anymore.
I left extremely frustrated, not being any closer to having my dog licensed than I had been before.
I went back to the DocuPet website and couldn't proceed to get the dog licensed without purchasing something. Forget that!
Left to right: County Vehicle | Notice taped to desk. I guess they're having trouble with people whose animals have been confiscated due to neglect | Huge 5G tower way too close to the large animal pens | Click on images to enlarge.
I showed up again on Sunday and encountered the same receptionist. I was told I could not get an appointment or see a desk clerk. No explanation. She asked me if I wanted to schedule an appointment. I was now realizing—without any help from her—that a scheduled appointment was the only way I was going to get this accomplished.
I was told to use the QR Code, which I did, and only one appointment was available: the following Tuesday at 2PM. Not a good time for me but I wasn't going to let this opportunity escape me. By the time I left the Shelter that day, it would be accurate to say that my hair was on fire.
Tuesday's appointment was a world of difference. As I entered the door, a new receptionist stood up behind the desk and warmly greeted me! I told her that I had an appointment and was told the desk clerk would call me shortly. I was literally the only client in the building.
My wait was less than two minutes before I was called.
Raquel was friendly and proficient and had my pet licensed in about five minutes. We conversed about my licensing ordeal and she was very apologetic. She offered me the following handout that explains it all.
I had the option to license my dog for one year, two years or three years. Though it was the priciest, I opted for the three-year so I wouldn't have to go through this fiasco again. I doubt that my dog will need it for three years but fingers crossed, here's hoping that I'll get the full usage!
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