Starting June 1, 2022, Sumner’s pet license fees changed for altered dogs only. Their annual license fee is now $20 per year, up $4 from the previous $16. Altered Dogs owned by Seniors (owners age 65+) are now $10, up $2 from the previous $8. No other rates change.
This is the first increase in pet license rates Sumner has had since November 2014. These fees help us run the animal control department, which encompasses a variety of animal care services, responding to cases of cruelty, helping reunite lost pets with their owners, and helping abandoned pets find their new forever families. We try very hard to keep our rates as low as possible, which is why we haven’t raised them in nearly 8 years. However, our costs keep going up. Think about what we have to pay for gas, pet food, supplies—they’ve all gone up significantly. This increase doesn’t completely cover the rising costs we’re facing, but it helps. We’re “splitting the difference” a bit with our animal owners.
For comparison, these are the exact same amounts already charged for residents in neighboring unincorporated Pierce County. In neighboring Auburn, licenses are $30 for an altered dog, and $15 if the owner is a senior.
