Why License

In accordance with state and local laws, pet licenses are mandatory in Louisville, KY. In fact, licenses are mandatory in nearly every community across North America. Why? Because licenses help keep pets and the communities they live in safe. DocuPet was brought on board to simplify and improve pet licensing to benefit not only pet owners like you, but the entire community. Metro Animal Services to deliver a successful pet licensing program with a streamlined software and management solution that makes licensing a breeze for pet owners and administrators alike.

What will you need?

Licensing your pet will require specific information and proof. Having these items at the ready allows for the fastest experience. You have the option to upload a document as a saved or scanned file, or you may take a photo directly from your device on our upload page.

Payment

We securely process payment online and accept all major credit and debit cards as forms of payment.

Documents

Spay/Neuter proof

This document is required to qualify for the discounted rate and is only needed once and will be saved to your pet’s profile upon upload for future renewals. This proof declaring that your pet has been spayed or neutered may be in the form of a statement or receipt from the veterinarian, shelter, or clinic that performed the procedure.

Rabies vaccination proof

This document serves as formal proof that your pet has received a rabies vaccination. This document may be in the form of a Rabies Vaccination Certificate that has been signed by a veterinarian or certified professional. It is the law that pets must be up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations, so new documents will need to be uploaded to your pets profile as they receive their booster shots.

How to License

The fastest and easiest way to license or renew is right here. You'll create a profile for your pet, upload any necessary documents, process your license registration, and receive purchase confirmations via email. Payment can be made using a credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit card. Each year, you just need to log in to your existing account and renew - it's super easy!

Renew my pet's license

My pet has a license, but it has expired or will very soon.

Renew now

License a pet for the first time

I've never licensed a pet with Metro Animal Services before.

License now

In person licensing is available at the following location(s) however it's important to know you will still receive your tag in the mail:

Don't forget to check hours of operation, appointment policies, and accepted payment methods prior to heading out.

Metro Animal Services
3528 Newburg Rd., Louisville KY 40218

If you opt to license via snail mail - keep in mind processing your registration will take a lot longer!

Make sure you complete the below form in full and that it is free of any errors otherwise your registration may not be successfully processed. The fine print is there for a reason so keep an eye out for accepted payment methods, who the check should be made out to, where it should be mailed, and any required supporting documentation.

Pet license form

Download Application Form

If you're having trouble licensing online and need to get your registration processed in a hurry, you can contact our customer care team and they may be able to process your pet license over the phone. Note that you must have up to date spay/neuter or rabies documents on file and we can only accept credit cards and Visa/Mastercard debit as payment.

DocuPet Customer Care: 1-877-239-6072
Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday (excluding holidays) between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm EDT and Sunday between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm EDT

License Fees & Details

Pet licenses are required for all cats and dogs living in Louisville, KY. Licenses are available for 1 and 3 year terms and must be renewed prior to the expiration date. You will receive reminders from us about upcoming license expirations via mail, phone, and email.

Dog Licenses 1 Year Fee 3 Year Fee
Spayed/Neutered Dog $10.00 $27.00
Spayed/Neutered Dog - Senior (65+) $5.00 $14.00
Unaltered Dog $60.00 N/A
Spayed/Neutered Dog
1 Year Fee $10.00
3 Year Fee $27.00
Spayed/Neutered Dog - Senior (65+)
1 Year Fee $5.00
3 Year Fee $14.00
Unaltered Dog
1 Year Fee $60.00
Cat Licenses 1 Year Fee 3 Year Fee
Spayed/Neutered Cat $10.00 $27.00
Spayed/Neutered Cat - Senior (65+) $5.00 $14.00
Unaltered Cat $60.00 N/A
Spayed/Neutered Cat
1 Year Fee $10.00
3 Year Fee $27.00
Spayed/Neutered Cat – Senior (65+)
1 Year Fee $5.00
3 Year Fee $14.00
Unaltered Cat
1 Year Fee $60.00
  • All licenses expire the day they were purchased, 1 or 3 years in the future depending on the term of the license purchased, so long as the rabies vaccination remains valid for the duration of the chosen license. If your pet’s rabies vaccination expires prior to the selected license term, the license will expire on the rabies vaccination expiration date.
  • A valid rabies certificate is required to complete the licensing process. You must upload or present your certificates at time of purchase.
  • A spay/neuter certificate is required to qualify for the discounted rate.
  • When licensing a Certified Guide or Assistance Dog for the first time, licensing must be done in person. Future renewals may be done online once the status is verified.
  • A late fee of $15.00 will apply 30 days following license expiration.
  • Pet owners must be 65 or older with an spayed/neutered pet to qualify for senior citizen rates. Senior citizen rates apply to the first two altered pets only.
  • Licenses are required for all dogs and cats over 4 months of age.

Frequently Asked Questions

HELP DESK

Visit our Help Desk for more information: https://docupetinc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

PROGRAM AND PARTNERSHIP

You may have entered your address incorrectly or we may not have your address in the address database for your community. Please double-check all spelling and ensure you are using the abbreviated form for your street (e.g., type St instead of Street.) You may contact DocuPet Customer Support directly if you believe you reside within the licensing jurisdiction but your address is not being accepted by the system.

LICENSING OPTIONS, DATES, AND LOCATIONS

All pets over the age of 4 months are required to be licensed.

Refunds may be granted for a license if a pet passes away within 30 days of the license purchase.

Please visit Metro Animal Services in person as kennel licensing is not processed through DocuPet. They are located at 3528 Newburg Rd., Louisville KY 40218.

You may renew your pet's license within 60 days of your pet's current license expiration date. If you renew prior to the upcoming expiration date, your pet's new license will start the day after expiration, not on the date of purchase.

You may license in person at Metro Animal Services located at 3528 Newburg Rd., Louisville KY 40218.

Licenses are required to be renewed prior to the expiration date each year.

FEES AND FINES

Those aged 65 and older may qualify for a senior citizen rate. Your pet must be spayed/neutered to receive the senior rate.

Please visit Metro Animal Services in person if you are qualifying for this rate for the first time. They are located at 3528 Newburg Rd., Louisville KY 40218. Once the team there verifies your designation you will be able to renew online in future years.

For all online orders a processing fee is applied on license purchases at a rate of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

Please visit Metro Animal Services in person if you are qualifying for this rate for the first time. Once the team there verifies your designation you will be able to renew online in future years.

Late fees come into effect if a license is not renewed within 30 days of the original expiration date.

Yes, if you are licensing multiple pets at the same time under the same account, you will receive a reduced rate on a 1 year license. If you have 4 pets each license will be $9.00. If you have 5+ pets each license will cost $8.00.

TAGS

No, each pet will only receive one free tag with their first license via DocuPet. This tag doesn’t expire. If you’ve already received a DocuPet tag, your furry friend is good to go! If you’d like a new tag, you can purchase a standard replacement tag or a new designer tag during the license order process or in our store.

Please visit Metro Animal Services in person located at 3528 Newburg Rd., Louisville KY 40218, and they will be able to assist you.

ACCOUNT UPDATES

We're sorry for your loss. You can update a pet's profile via your online account by editing your pet's profile and selecting 'Remove this Pet'.

We’re sorry! Unfortunately, unless you update your account to reflect that a pet is no longer in your care, we have no way of knowing. Have you already told us? You may have a duplicate account. Get in touch with your licensing organization or our DocuPet customer service team to update your record.

If you are moving, please be sure to update your address by logging into your online account and navigating to your Profile Settings page. Even though you are moving, you’ll still be able to keep your pet's tag and access your pet's online account. However, your current license may not be valid in the new community you are moving to. Please get in touch with the pet licensing provider in the new community you are moving to in order to find out more information.

CITY INFORMATION AND CITY ORDINANCES

The following species are required to be licensed: Dogs and Cats.

DOCUMENT SUBMISSION

You will need to complete the required paperwork and visit Metro Animal Services in person to qualify for a rabies exemption.

If you can’t locate the document you received after the procedure was done, you will need to contact your vet to obtain your pet's records. Be sure to specify any and all pets you require documentation for.
Once you’ve got the paperwork in your hands, take a look to ensure:

  • The document provided is the right type of proof required.
  • Pet and pet owner account data matches your own.
  • The document is clear and legible.

To license your pet, you will be required to show proof that the pet's rabies vaccination is current. Documentation is also required to verify that a pet has been spayed or neutered and must be provided in order to receive the discounted rate. Requiring documentation ensures that provided pet information is accurate, which is critical for identification and safety reasons.