New service helps owners get lost pet notification 24 hours a day

King County pet owners have a new benefit that comes with licensing their dog or cat: a new "fetch your pet" automated program that connects finders of lost pets to the owners 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Citizens who find a lost pet wearing a King County pet license tag can call the number on the tag (206-296-2712) and get the phone number of the owner for immediate notification. Until now, good Samaritans trying to reunite found pets with their owners have only been able to get pet owner information from King County Animal Care and Control during regular business hours.

A major goal of King County pet licensing is to reunite lost pets with their owners. "We're excited to add this service to the many benefits that a pet license already provides," said Carolyn Ableman, Director of the Records and Licensing Services Division. "Combine this with the vacation pet alert program that allows owners to register contact information for their pet's caretaker while they are on vacation and pets are really triple protected. The "fetch your pet" program will increase the chances of a pet being directly reunited with its owner, quickly and simply."

There are many other benefits that come with a King County pet license:

• Licensed pets receive a "free ride home" if picked up in the field by an animal control officer and fines are waived for first time leash-law violations.
• If a licensed pet ends up in a King County shelter, staff will hold it for a longer period and make every effort to call or write the owner to inform them that the pet is at the shelter and available for pickup.
• Owners of licensed pets are eligible for the Vacation Pet Alert program. Owners can alert King County when they are on vacation and provide the number for the pet's caretaker so that if a pet gets loose, animal control staff can reach the right person while the owner is away.
• Your pet can be picked up at no charge at your home should you need to release it to King County.
• You can register your pets' microchip number and it will be tracked along with your pet license number.

King County pet licenses are required for all dogs and cats eight weeks of age or older who reside in King County except in the cities of Seattle, Renton, Medina, Normandy Park, and Des Moines, which issue separate pet licenses.

Licenses can be purchased on-line, by mail, and at more than 100 convenient sales outlets in King County's service area, including many local QFC stores, local veterinarians, city halls, general licensing locations, animal shelters, and King County community service centers. For a complete list of pet license sales outlets or to purchase a pet license on-line, please visit the King County Animal Care and Control website at www.kingcounty.gov/pets and click the "licensing" link.