It’s the New Year and with that also comes time to renew your pet’s license.

From now until Jan. 31, licenses are less expensive, running between $6 and $15 depending on if the dog is altered. After Feb. 1, the cost increases to $10 to $30.

In order to get a license, you need to go to Adams County Pet Rescue and bring your dog’s current rabies certificate, along with proof of spay or neuter. Having a license means it will be much easier to get your dog back if it manages to escape your yard.

A dog found running free within the city limits could incur impound or boarding fees if the owner is not found right away. The impound fee is based on whether or not it has been picked up previously.

Currently, animal control impounds cost $5 per day.

“We are trying to change that as it is based on an old city ordinance,” Jubiia Sanchez, ACPR staff member, said. “That doesn’t even cover the cost of feeding a dog.”

Lately, Sanchez said, there have been a lot of huskies and German shepherds found loose, with some even injured.

“We found one husky lying next to her puppy,” Sanchez said. “She didn’t make it.”

That is always a tough scenario for the staff at the shelter. They work hard to take care of the overabundance of animals placed there. So, it is difficult if they lose one.

“I tell people to keep the tags on your dog,” Sanchez said. “Get a good-fitting collar so the dog can’t get it off.”

Most strays have neither collars nor microchips. Sanchez said some do, but they tend to be the smaller breeds.

“When we do locate the owners, they are glad we found them and come out to pick them up,” she said.

At the current time, there are six huskies and five German shepherds at the shelter. With the rest of the dogs, that means there is no more room for more. Yet, according to Kyya Grant, the shelter’s director, they are getting calls every day from people wanting to give them more shepherds.

Dogs left at the shelter for too long a time forget how to act and have to be reintroduced to people.

“Some people don’t understand they need to be worked with,” Sanchez said.

However, that often makes it more difficult to get the dog adopted.

What does Sanchez suggest to keep your dog safe?

“Microchip them if you really care,” she said. “And put a tag on their collar, even if it’s homemade.”

And to help save on the cost of a license, ACPR will be sponsoring a spay and neuter clinic Saturday, Jan. 11. You can also get your dog’s current vaccines at that time.

Contact the shelter for more information on licensing or the clinic.

Adams County Pet Rescue is located at 1961 Bench Road east of the fairgrounds. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The facility is closed Mondays and Thursdays for cleaning. To contact ACPR, call (509) 488-5514 or email adopt@AdamsCountyPetRescue. Be sure to visit the website at www.adamscountypetrescue.com and like their Facebook page.