City of Columbia residents are required to license all owned cats and dogs annually. Failure to do so can result in a fine and/or up to 30 days in jail. To obtain a license, owners must provide proof of the pet’s rabies vaccination. 

• Sterilized pet license: $5.00
• Unsterilized pet license: $100.00
• Lifetime pet license: $25.00 (pet must be vaccinated, sterilized, and microchipped)
• *Show pet license (pet must have participated in 3 nationally recognized obedience trials or conformation shows in the past 12 months): $5.00
• *Unsterilized medical exemption (proof from licensed veterinarian required): $5.00

*Owner must provide proof.

Differential licensing programs encourage the following:

• Vaccination for rabies as required by state law
• Neutering/spaying of pets
• Reduce the stray and unwanted animal population
• Minimize the amount of tax dollars used for animal control costs

For questions pertaining to pet licensing, please email [email protected]. While online registration is faster and preferred, you may also download a printable application via the link below and submit it to the shelter in person.