Common Questions

Please choose the option that best describes the notice you received:

There may be several reasons why you received a bill when you have a current license. We're happy to help with your account information - please fill out this form to begin the process.

We will mail your tag and receipt within 10 business days from the day we receive your completed license application and payment. Please allow an additional 3-5 business days to receive your tag and receipt in the mail. If we have not received correct payment or required documentation, you will be notified via mail and the processing of your license will be delayed.

You may obtain a replacement tag by sending a check or money order in the amount of $5.00 payable to "Dubuque Animal Licensing" to the mailing address below. Please include a copy of your license receipt or a note to designate the pet for which you are purchasing a replacement tag.

Dubuque Animal Licensing
C/O PetData
PO Box 141929
Irving, TX 75014-1929

Licenses are non-transferable.

Licenses are non-refundable.

Licenses are valid for one year from the date of purchase and subsequent renewal licenses will begin on the anniversary of the original purchase date.

Adoptions and redemptions:

Dubuque Regional Humane Society
4242 Chavenelle Rd, Dubuque

To report stray animals, animal bites, or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call Animal Control at 563-589-4185.

If the pet is wearing a Dubuque license tag, please call our office toll-free at 1-877-241-9685.

If an Animal Control Officer finds your pet, and your pet is wearing a current license tag on its collar, Animal Services will attempt to contact you via phone or mail. If another citizen finds your pet with its license tag, they can call the phone number on the tag. A staff member from Animal Control or from the Animal Licensing Office will attempt to contact you to let you know who has found your pet.

If your pet has been lost, Animal Services recommends that you call them immediately at 563-589-4185. They also recommend you visit the Dubuque Regional Humane Society to look for your pet. The shelter is located at 4242 Chavenelle Rd in Dubuque.

The primary reason is to prevent the spreading of rabies. Rabies is a constant health threat, and rabies vaccinations are good for your pet’s health. Did you know that rabies is 100% fatal for humans if not treated properly? Animal licensing helps the City of Dubuque monitor compliance with local and state rabies vaccination laws. 

Licensing also helps Animal Services identify family pets, should an animal become lost.  The fees from licensing are used to care for animals at the animal shelter and investigate complaints about stray animals, among other services.  Other goals of animal licensing are to promote responsible pet ownership and to reduce the tragedies associated with lost pets and pet overpopulation.

Licensing Ordinance

Anyone owning a dog or cat six months of age or older in the City of Dubuque must have their pet vaccinated against rabies every one or three years. A license must be purchased annually.

Dubuque City Ordinance Online

Due Date

Payment for your license is due within 30 days of your pet’s rabies vaccination date or the expiration of your previous license. If you are licensing for the first time, you must purchase a license when the pet reaches 6 months of age or within 30 days of moving into the City of Dubuque or owning the pet.

A late fee of $16.00 is added to each pet not renewed within 30 days of the license expiration date. If this is your first notice to license your pet, a late fee will be added to your license fee if you have not responded within 30 days.

License Term

Licenses are valid for one year from the date of purchase and subsequent renewal licenses will begin on the anniversary of the original purchase date.

Dubuque chose to privatize animal licensing in 2008 to promote animal licensing in the City and provide additional services to its citizens. PetData can also save money for Dubuque by processing licenses at a lower cost.

PetData, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas, provides animal licensing services for municipalities and animal welfare agencies throughout the United States. The company, a member of the National Animal Control Association, has been in business since 1994. PetData’s goals are to increase animal licensing, to reduce animal euthanasia, to educate the community, and to help solve animal control problems.

We at PetData consider the privacy of our clients to be of paramount importance. PetData has never sold information or data to any third-party. PetData does not use any personally identifiable data collected for any purpose other than for those purposes as required by client contracts.

We do not respond to requests for information from non-client individuals or corporations, nor do we release information without the express written consent of our clients. PetData does not and will not share or sell client data with any other parties or make client data publicly available unless authorized by the client or required under a legal subpoena. All data belongs to our clients, and PetData serves only as a custodian for client-owned data.

Groups or individuals requesting data should contact their City or County directly as PetData will only release data to our contracted clients.