Matthews, North Carolina Not your city or county?

Common Questions

Questions About Notices

Questions About Current Licenses

Questions About Lost and Found Animals

Questions About Pet Licensing

Questions About PetData

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Why did I receive this notice?

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

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Why am I being billed when I have a current license?

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.

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When will I get my license tag?

If you renewed a prior license and did not request and pay for a replacement tag, you will receive a license receipt only. The license must be renewed every 1 or 3 years, but the metal tag is permanently assigned to your pet.

If this is the first application for this pet or you requested a replacement tag with your renewal, we will mail your license tag 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 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.

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How do I get a replacement tag?

You may obtain a replacement tag by sending a check or money order in the amount of $2.00 payable to "Town of Matthews" to the mailing address below. Please do not send cash. Please include a copy of your license receipt or a note to designate the pet for which you are purchasing a replacement tag.

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

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Can I transfer a license?

Matthews licenses or tags cannot be transferred to a new owner or a different pet. A new license must be purchased.

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Can I obtain a refund?

A refund may be available if a duplicate payment was made for your license. To request a refund, please send your request in writing or via email to Customer Service. Be sure to include the pet’s current license tag number if it is available, and as much information as possible regarding your payments.

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How long is this license valid?

Animal Licenses will expire either one year or three years from date of issue for the first license depending on the license term purchased. Subsequent licenses will expire either one or three years from the date of renewal, depending on the license term purchased.

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Where is the local animal shelter?

The Town of Matthews operates a small temporary holding facility located at 1600 Tank Town Road at Matthews Public Works.

Other area shelters are located in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County at 8315 Byrum Drive in Charlotte (311 in-county or 704-336-7600 if calling from outside Mecklenburg County) and in Union County at 3340 Presson Rd in Monroe (704-283-2308).

To report stray animals or for questions unrelated to licensing, please call 704-847-3644. If you have an emergency such as an animal attack or seriously injured animal, please contact Matthews Police at 704-847-4069.

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I have found a pet: what should I do?

If the pet that you have found is wearing a Town of Matthews license tag, enter the tag number in the tag search box above. If you need assistance or the tag number is not found, please call our office at 1-866-596-1965.

Please contact Matthews Animal Control at 704-847-4069 to report a found pet.

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I have lost a pet: what should I do?

If an Animal Control Officer finds your pet, and your pet is wearing a current license tag on its collar, Animal Services will contact you. If another citizen finds your pet with its license tag, they may use the tag number to contact you through our online tag search or by calling the phone number on the license tag.

If you have lost a pet there are a few places you should look. First, contact Matthews Animal Control 704-847-3644 and ask if they may have picked up your pet or had any calls concerning a pet like yours. This also makes them aware that your pet is missing so that they can help you locate it. If you have to leave a message, please be sure to include important details such as your name, your phone number, your address, the breed of your pet, the color or markings of your pet, if it was wearing a collar or tags and last known location.

Second, you should check with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Control at 311 (704-336-7600 if calling from outside Mecklenburg County) or at 8315 Byrum Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217 to make sure your pet hasn’t been found and already turned into their facility. We recommend you visit their facility in person if possible to be as thorough as possible in your search but you can also search “found pets” at PetHarbor.com. Your pet may only be held for 72 hours after being impounded so it is important to check often.

Third, you should check with Union County Animal Control 704-283-2308 to ensure your pet hasn’t been found and turned into their facility.

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Why should I license?

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 Animal Control monitor compliance with local and state rabies vaccination laws. 

Licensing also helps Animal Control identify family pets, should an animal become lost.  The fees from licensing are used to care for animals 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.

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What are the licensing requirements?

Licensing Ordinance

All dogs, cats and ferrets 4 months of age and older must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed with the Town of Matthews. Only residents within the Town Limits of Matthews should license with Matthews.

Pet owners in Charlotte, Mint Hill, Pineville, or the unincorporated county must license through Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Licensing, even with a "Matthews" mail address.

View the complete Town of Matthews ordinance

Due Date

Payment for your license is due within 30 days of the expiration of your current license. If you are licensing for the first time, you must purchase a license within 30 days of obtaining a dog, cat or ferret over the age of 4 months or within 30 days of establishing residence in the Town of Matthews.

License Term

Animal Licenses will expire either one year or three years from date of issue for the first license depending on the license term purchased. Subsequent licenses will expire either one or three years from the date of renewal, depending on the license term purchased.

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Why was licensing privatized?

Matthews chose to privatize animal licensing in 2007 to promote animal licensing, to increase the cost-effectiveness of the program, and to provide additional services to its citizens.

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Who is PetData?

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.
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Does PetData sell information?

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.

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