Lakeland Village Dog Owners Get Amnesty Period

Dog owners living in Lakeland Village -- or other unincorporated areas around Lake Elsinore and Wildomar -- who have not kept up on their pets’ licensing have a chance to get legal without suffering penalties.

Now through Feb. 29, Riverside County Animal Services is offering an “amnesty program” to encourage dog owners who have never licensed their animals – or have allowed a dog’s license to expire – to get current and not face any penalties or late fees.

The county’s amnesty program is only offered to owners with spayed or neutered dogs in unincorporated areas.

Riverside County Animal Services launched similar amnesty programs in 2009 and early January 2011 that were well received by the public, according to county animal services Director Robert Miller.

The licenses can be bought at any of the county's Animal Services’ shelter locations: Blythe Animal Shelter (245 S. Carlton Ave., Blythe, 92225); Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter (6851 Van Buren Blvd., Jurupa Valley, 92509); Coachella Valley Animal Campus (72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, 92276); or on Mondays and Tuesdays at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus (581 S. Grand Ave., San Jacinto, 92582).

In order to qualify for the waiver, dog owners must not face any current citations by Riverside County Animal Services. Also, the dog owner cannot be currently in the county system for any previous payment plan.

Normally, a $25 late fee is assessed each year a dog owner fails to license a pet. A dog license is required by state law, and is a helpful tool to reunite a pet with its owner, Miller said.

For more information on the county's dog licensing program, visit www.rcdas.org.

NOTE: The cities of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar contract for animal services through Southwest Communities Animal Shelter/Animal Friends of the Valleys. For information on dog licensing or other animal services at the Wildomar-based shelter, click here.