Canine License Compliance Checks- News Release
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler advises that officers of the Van Buren County Animal Control and volunteer members of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office will be starting a door-to-door countywide dog license compliance check beginning in mid July, through August 2010. The last time a dog license compliance check was conducted in Van Buren County was over 15 years ago. Sheriff Gribler advised that the Van Buren County Board of Commissioners requested that the Animal Control Office conduct the license compliance check to ensure the dog population in Van Buren County is properly vaccinated and licensed pursuant to state statute and county policies.
A license tag on your dog shows compliance with the rabies laws established by the State to protect the health and welfare of your pet and our community. The license tag can also identify a lost dog, and can assist an Animal Control Officer in reuniting the dog back to its rightful owner.
If your dog(s) are not licensed you must have your dog vaccinated for rabies or have a current “certificate of rabies vaccination” and complete an application for a dog license which can be downloaded from www.vanburencountysheriff.com, or may be obtained from the Van Buren County Treasurer’s Office, or the Van Buren County Animal Control Office.
Michigan law requires that all dogs over 4 months old MUST have both a current rabies vaccination and a current dog license for each dog owned. Individuals who are maintaining a dog(s) and do not have proper licensing and proof of rabies vaccination will be issued a citation during the license compliance check pursuant to Michigan compiled laws 287.266, which is a misdemeanor offense and typically carries fines and costs up to $100.00.
The Van Buren County Prosecutor’s office supports this effort, and has granted the Van Buren County Animal Control officers authority to dismiss all citations that are issued provided that proof of licensing and vaccination have been submitted to the Animal Control Office within 10 days of the issuance of the citation.
An individual who receives a citation for having an unlicensed dog during the compliance check and wishes to take advantage of the amnesty procedure, will need to bring their citation, proof of licensing and vaccination to the Van Buren County Animal Control Office within 10 days of the issuance of the citation. The Van Buren County Animal Control Office is located at 58040 County Road 681, Hartford, MI 49057 and is open during the hours of: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday- 10am-4pm; Wednesday- 1pm-7pm; Saturday and Sunday- 10am-1pm.
Dog licenses may be purchased at the Van Buren County Treasurer’s Office- 219 E. Paw Paw St, Suite 101, Paw Paw , MI; Animal Control Office- 58040 County Road 681, Hartford, MI; and Al Van Humane Society- 73303 8th Avenue, South Haven, MI .
Undersheriff Gabrielle Rought
Van Buren County Sheriff's Office
205 S. Kalamazoo Street
Paw Paw, Michigan 49079
Phone: (269) 657-2006, Ext 202
Fax: (269) 657-5161
Email:
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