From WOOD COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE
Wood County Auditor Matthew Oestreich has announced that beginning today, Dec. 1, applications for 2026 dog registrations may be filed.
Ohio law provides that before Jan. 31 of each year, all owners of dogs that are 3 months of age or older shall be registered in the county in which the dog is kept. The information necessary for registration is age, sex, spayed or neutered, color, length of hair, breed of the dog, and the name, address, and phone number of the owner. A registration fee of $16 must be paid with the application for each dog registered in order to be in compliance with section 955.01 of the O.R.C. As a convenience, the auditor’s office mails renewal registration forms to owners on record. Owners who registered in 2025 through the internet will receive a reminder email.
Dogs may be registered for a one-year or three-year term or for a permanent license, for the dog’s life. When completing the application, choose the “term,” one-year, three-year, or permanent. Fees are: $16 for a one-year license, $48 for a three-year license, and $160 for a permanent license. No refunds are permitted.
Every owner of a kennel of dogs is also required to register annually with the county auditor by Jan. 31 and must pay an application fee of $80. Ohio law provides that the penalty after Jan. 31 is the amount equal to the registration fee for each type of license and therefore the penalty would be $16 for regular licenses and $80 for kennel licenses, in addition to the regular registration fee.
People acquiring dogs after Jan. 31 have 30 days after the date of acquisition or the date that the dog reaches 3 months of age to register with the auditor’s office.
The 2026 dog registration may be filed by mail, in person, or online. When mailing the application, include the license fee, dog information as stated above, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the license. Do not send cash with the mail-in application. Licenses can be purchased in-person at the Wood County Auditor’s Office, second floor of the county office building, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at the Wood County Dog Shelter. Online applications can be made at http://dogtags.co.wood.oh.us/ and do require an additional processing fee per license, which goes to the online firm processing the credit card purchase.
Applications can be mailed to Matthew Oestreich, Wood County Auditor, One Courthouse Square, P.O. Box 368, Bowling Green, OH 43402. For questions regarding a dog license, contact 419-373-4917.
The Wood County District Board of Health has adopted a regulation requiring all dogs be immunized against rabies. Owners are to provide the rabies information in the application process.
There is a kennel license fee of $80 for up to 5 tags. Additional tags are $1 each.
