Yes for dogs across San Diego County, but for cats, only in certain areas. A license helps authorities get in touch with the owner of a lost pet quickly. It’s also proof that they’re up to date on their rabies vaccine, since that’s a requirement for purchasing or renewing a license in the first place. SDHS uses PetHub for its licensing. When owners purchase or renew a license online, they receive a tag with a barcode that anyone with a smartphone can scan to access the pet’s profile and a list of trusted contacts. Generally, cities and counties in California require dogs to be licensed, including San Diego. They must be licensed by the time they’re five months old, within 30 days after the owner acquires them, or within 30 days of entering SDHS’s jurisdiction. No license for cats is needed in Escondido, Imperial Beach, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee or Vista, although microchips and ID tags are highly recommended.
