Arvada law requires dogs to be licensed annually. Cats may also be licensed. A dog (or other pet) license may be obtained through Foothills Animal Shelter, any of the four Arvada Police Stations or many local veterinary offices.
- Proof of current rabies vaccination and spay/neuter must accompany this registration. In lieu of written documentation, your veterinary clinic may complete the designated area on the license registration.
- Licenses must be worn on the dog's collar at all times.
Benefits of County-Wide Dog Licensing
- Licensing reunites lost pets with their owners
A dog license can be traced 24 hours a day, every day of the year by an animal management officer in any part of the county. The license information includes home and alternate phone numbers, a secondary person to contact in case of an emergency, as well as medical and dietary information on the dog. - Licensing encourages pet owners to vaccinate their dogs against rabies
The rabies vaccine is a prerequisite for a dog license. Countywide licensing will reduce the risk of rabid dog bites throughout the county. - Licensing helps the Foothills Animal Shelter
All revenues from dog licensing, less administrative costs, goes to Foothills Animal Shelter in Jefferson County which serves as a safe haven for lost animals, those impounded by animal control officers, and for dogs relinquished by their owners. It also serves as an animal adoption center - While Foothills Animal Shelter receives the third largest volume of animals of all shelters in Colorado, it has the smallest budget of any major animal shelter in the State.
The Arvada Police Department encourages the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.