Submitted by San Juan County.
The dog licensing season is upon us! The San Juan County Auditor’s office gets the exciting opportunity to name the celebrity dog each year and award them the first dog tag. For 2022, the honor goes to Churchill, a 14-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog who is the unofficial greeter for the Elections Office. Encouraging two-legged members of the community to vote is Churchill’s forte, but he’s excited to remind our four-legged counterparts to do their part and get a 2022 dog tag.
All dogs in San Juan County are required to be licensed annually. Current fees are $15 for dogs that are spayed or neutered and $40 for “natural” canines. A late fee of $10 applies to licenses purchased after March 31, 2021. Add a photo of your dog for an additional $5, which will display if the dog’s license number is looked up. This additional measure of security adds priceless peace of mind if a dog is lost.
Camolyn, the Elections Supervisor, welcomed Churchill to her home as an 8-week-old puppy. Camolyn brought Churchill to work daily, enjoying the opportunity to socialize him, but quickly realized that he had a knack for comforting people and dogs alike. He grew quickly, now weighing 100 pounds, but has kept his gentle demeanor and loving personality. He can often be seen in the Elections front window, watching the world go by and waiting for friends to visit. His favorite hobbies are playing at the dog park and annoying his feline siblings, Gunther and Boris. Churchill is a great reminder that love and kindness come in all shapes and sizes!
Dog licensing fees fund both the licensing program and an account that compensates residents for livestock killed or injured by stray, dangerous dogs. The balance of collected fees is distributed to the local Animal Protection Societies for impound services.
Dog licenses are available at a variety of San Juan County locations. If you live on San Juan Island, get your tag at the San Juan County Auditor’s office or the Animal Protection Society Friday Harbor. Orcas Island residents can get a tag at Pawki’s, Eastsound Kennels or Orcas Animal Protection Society. Lopez Island residents can visit Sunset Builders Supply or Lopez Animal Protection Society.
