Alpena County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the residents of Alpena County that pursuant to the Alpena County Animal Control Ordinance and Michigan State Law, all dogs four (4) months or older must be licensed and must be held properly in leash when not on the owner’s property, except when lawfully hunting accompanied by its owner or custodian. These laws exist to help protect the health and safety of pets and the public and will be strictly enforced. The safety of our community and pets within our community is of the utmost importance to us.
A dog license can be purchased at any Alpena County veterinary office or at the Alpena County Treasurer’s Office, with proof of current rabies vaccination. Licenses must be renewed every 1 or 3 years, depending on which license option you choose to purchase, from the date of purchase or when the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. License fees double at the end of the month in which the dog license would expire. Dog license fees are, for 1 and 3 year licenses respectively, $10.50 or $27.00 for altered dogs and $16.50 or $42.00 for unaltered dogs. A civil infraction for an unlicensed dog will result in a fine of $150.00 and $250.00 for a dog running at large. Misdemeanor infractions can result in fines, jail time or both.
Please help us to keep our community and pets safe, license and leash your dogs. Should you have any animal control related questions, contact the Alpena County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer at (989) 354-9841. All animal control complaints should be reported through Central Dispatch by calling the non-emergency number (989) 354-9111.