County Health Urges Dog and Cat Licensing to Protect Pets, People and the Community

Redwood City - San Mateo County Health is reminding residents to make sure their dogs and cats are licensed, which keeps pets' rabies vaccinations current. A pet license not only meets the County's legal requirement, but it also helps prevent rabies, supports animal control services in every city and town in the county, and gives a lost pet a better chance of getting home.

Rabies is present in wildlife throughout San Mateo County. Bats are the most common local source. Over the past 11 years, the county has averaged about two bats a year that tested positive for rabies. Rabies is fatal once symptoms appear, and there is no treatment. But rabies can be prevented.

"Our dogs and cats are part of the family, and keeping their rabies shots current is one of the simplest things we can do to protect them and the people around them," said Tina Cava, chief of Animal Control and Licensing at San Mateo County Health. "A license is how we make sure every pet's vaccination stays up to date, and it's how we find an owner quickly when a pet is lost or involved in a bite."

Why licensing matters

It supports rabies prevention. San Mateo County requires dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies by 3 months of age. A license cannot be issued without proof of a current rabies vaccination, and each license is tied to the vaccination's expiration date. That link keeps vaccinations from lapsing. Because rabies is present in local wildlife, keeping pets vaccinated is an important public health measure.

It protects public health. Rabies spreads through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite. Keeping dogs and cats vaccinated lowers the chance that rabies passes from wildlife to pets, and from pets to people. The county also keeps a record of licensed animals so health officials can act quickly after a bite or possible rabies exposure.

It supports local animal control services. All 20 cities and towns in San Mateo County take part in a countywide animal control program. The county contracts with the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA to rescue injured animals, pick up strays, investigate bites and shelter animals. A portion of each city's animal control costs is offset based on the number of licenses sold in that city, so every license helps fund these services in the community.

It helps reunite lost pets with their owners. When a licensed dog or cat is found lost or stray, animal control staff can use the license information to identify and contact the owner. When licenses are renewed regularly, they can help ensure that owner contact information stays current and may provide a more up-to-date source of information that a microchip registration.

It supports spay and neuter programs. One dollar from every license sold goes to the county's Spay and Neuter Trust Fund. The fund provides vouchers that help eligible residents pay for spay and neuter services, which helps reduce pet overpopulation.

Late Fees Waived Through November

To encourage more residents to license their pets, San Mateo County Animal Control and Licensing is waiving late fees and penalties from now through Nov. 30, 2026.

Residents whose pet licenses have expired or who have never licensed their pets can take advantage of this opportunity to obtain or renew a license without paying additional late fees or penalties. Regular licensing fees still apply.

How to license your pet

Dogs and cats must be licensed everywhere in San Mateo County - in all cities, towns, and unincorporated areas.

Dogs and cats must be licensed by 3 months of age or within 60 days of being acquired. New residents have 60 days to license their pets. To apply, residents need a copy of their pet's rabies vaccination certificate, proof of spay or neuter status if applicable, and proof of the pet's age.

Residents can license their pets online through PetData at petdata.com or by mail using the Animal License Application at smchealth.org/animallicensing.

Residents may apply for licenses in person at the following locations:

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
12 Airport Boulevard
San Mateo, CA 94401
650-340-8200

Tom and Annette Lantos Center for Compassion
1450 Rollins Road
Burlingame, CA 94010
650-340-8200

San Mateo County Health - Animal Control and Licensing
1600 W. Hillsdale Blvd. #203
San Mateo, CA 94402
650-573-3482

For questions about licensing requirements, call PetData toll-free at 866-925-5906. To report a lost or found pet, call the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA at 650-340-7022.

Learn more at smchealth.org/animallicensing.

Faizus Amin
Assistant Director of Communications
San Mateo County Health
650-241-5687
[email protected]