Portsmouth city clerk reminds dog owners: It's time to renew licenses

PORTSMOUTH — The city clerk is reminding residents all dogs must be licensed annually, as required by state law, and before the license can be issued, dogs must be properly vaccinated against rabies.

The fees for new or annual renewals are:

• $10 per male or female dog.
• $7.50 per neutered or spayed dog.
• $3 for the first dog owned by a senior citizen (age 65 or older), $7.50 for a subsequent spayed or neutered dog, and $10 for an unaltered dog.
• $7.50 per puppy ages 3-7 months for first-time licensing. Proof of spay/neuter will be required for the following year to retain the $7.50 fee. If the dog remains intact, the fee will increase to $10.

The city clerk’s office has mailed or emailed dog license renewal notices to over 3,000 Portsmouth dog owners on record.

Residents can renew dog licenses online – with a valid rabies vaccination record on file – by mail, or in person at the clerk’s Office in City Hall at 1 Junkins Ave. Office hours are Monday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The deadline is April 30.

First-time license information and applications are at portsnh.co/doglicense. For assistance, call 603-610-7245.

City Clerk Kelli Barnaby also noted, “If you no longer have the dog, please contact our office so that we can remove you from the licensing system. If your pet has passed away, please accept our condolences.”

The city clerk also reminds dog owners dog waste must be disposed of properly.

“We love our dogs! However, dog waste carries harmful bacteria that can make our waters unsafe for drinking or swimming. Picking up dog waste and disposing of it properly is a small effort that can make a big difference in keeping our waters clean,” Barnaby said.