Working with partner cities, staff from Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) are visiting neighborhoods on weekends to educate residents about the benefits of pet licensing and ensure that pets are properly licensed. All cats and dogs eight weeks or older in the RASKC service area are required to be licensed with King County.
Pet licensing representatives are currently visiting neighborhoods in the following areas:
- Bellevue
- Kent
- Maple Valley
- Mercer Island
- Unincorporated King County south of I-90
If a representative finds an unlicensed pet, they will not issue a citation. Instead, they will provide a free temporary license, which provides pet owners time to purchase a permanent license. RASKC staff will not ask for nor accept money at the door for pet licenses.
King County pet licensing representatives are easily recognized by their King County ID badges, RASKC logo shirts or jackets, business cards, and pet licensing documents.
As King County employees, they follow strict guidelines regarding professional conduct. Staff will not peer in windows or over fences looking for pets. They will knock on doors to speak to an adult resident of the home. If no one is available, staff will leave a doorhanger to let residents know that a RASKC representative stopped by.
Pet licenses protect pets and help sustain life-saving animal care and control services, such as:
- Reuniting owners with their lost pets, including providing licensed pets a free ride home
- Adopting thousands of pets to new homes every year by supporting care at both of King County’s pet adoption centers and at adoption partner locations
- Responding to reports of dangerous or nuisance animals
- Investigating and prosecuting cases of animal cruelty or neglect.
King County pet licenses can be purchased online, by mail, or in person at a pet license partner location. To purchase a pet license, see a list of licensing locations, or get more information about pet licensing, visit kingcounty.gov/LicenseMyPet or call 206-296-2712.
