The City of Dubuque requires pet licenses for all cats and dogs, as required by local ordinance. 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. DocuPet makes it easy for the City of Dubuque 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.
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.
We securely process payment online and accept all major credit and debit cards as forms of payment.
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.
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.
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!
I've never licensed a pet with the City of Dubuque before.
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.
City of Dubuque Health Department
1300 Main St, Dubuque, IA 52001, United States
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.
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 8:00 am and 8:00 pm CST and Sunday between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm CST
Pet licenses are required for all cats and dogs living in Dubuque. Licenses expire exactly 365 days from the start date of the licence, and must be renewed prior to the expiration date. You will receive reminders from us about upcoming license expirations via mail, phone, and email.
| Licenses | Dog License | Cat License |
|---|---|---|
| Altered Pet | $14.00 | $14.00 |
| Unaltered Pet | $34.00 | $34.00 |
| Altered Dog | |
|---|---|
| Fee | $14.00 |
| Unaltered Dog | |
|---|---|
| Fee | 34.00 |
| Altered Cat | |
|---|---|
| Fee | $14.00 |
| Unaltered Cat | |
|---|---|
| Fee | 34.00 |
Visit our Help Desk for more information: https://docupetinc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
Licenses expire exactly 365 days from the license start 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. Rabies must be valid during the time of renewal.
Licenses are required to be renewed prior to the expiration date each year.
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.
Refunds may be granted for a license if a pet passes away within 30 days of the license purchase.
All pets over the age of 6 months are required to be licensed.
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 Care directly for assistance if you believe you reside within the licensing jurisdiction but your address is not being accepted by the system.
Late fees come into effect if a license is not renewed within 30 days of the original expiration date. Additional fees will be added for every year the pet is not licensed up to 5 years.
For all online orders, a processing fee is applied on license purchases at a rate of 2.65% + $0.25 per transaction.
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 the City of Dubuque Health Department in person located at 1300 Main St, Dubuque, IA 52001 , and they will be able to assist you.
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.
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.
The following species are required to be licensed: Dogs and Cats.
Visit this page for information on licensing ordinances/bylaws.
Please get in touch with the City of Dubuque Animal Control at 563-589-4185.
If the rabies vaccination certificate does not match your information because the pet was adopted, we recommend contacting the City of Dubuque directly so their team can review and approve the documentation. We suggest reaching out to confirm that you have all required documentation, which may include adoption paperwork, in order to license your pet.
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.
You will need to complete the required paperwork and visit the City of Dubuque Health Department in person to qualify for a rabies exemption. They are located at 1300 Main St, Dubuque, IA 52001