Dog licenses for 2012 go on sale Dec. 1, and renewals must be purchased by Jan. 31, 2012. Applications should arrive in the mail by the first date of sale. For anyone who does not receive an application, one may be downloaded from the website at http://www.waynecountydoglicense.com.

License fees are $14 per dog and $70 per kennel. For those purchasing a kennel license for the first time, prior approval must be obtained from the Wayne County Humane Society, 1161 Mechanicsburg Road, Wooster. They can be reached by phone at 330-262-0152. Kennels being renewed do not require approval.

If dog ownership has changed since last year, owners can add a new dog or remove one on the application. Make any necessary changes to the mailing address, email address or phone number on the application. Licenses may be purchased by mail, at a satellite agency, or by visiting the Wayne County auditor’s office, where dogs can have their picture taken and put on the Dog House Wall of Fame. Hardware is also available to attach the dog’s license to its collar.

Visit the website at http://www.waynecountyauditor.org for a complete listing of information pertaining to dog licensing.

Thank you for being a responsible pet owner. A dog’s license is its “bus ticket home” should it become lost. Take the next step after purchasing the license and attach it to the dog’s collar. A house is not a home without a pet, and whoever said you can’t buy happiness, forgot about puppies.