Starting May 1 residents who have unlicensed cats or dogs could face fines up to $250 per pet.

The cost for pet licenses for spayed or neutered animals remains unchanged at $30, along with the $60 rate for unaltered pets.

Residents can purchase pet licenses in person at City Hall or online. Visit www.petdata.com to purchase or renew your license online.

Pet licenses are renewed annually and are good for one year from the date of purchase. Juvenile licenses expire six months from the date of purchase. Senior Citizens pay a onetime fee of $15 for the life of that pet.

Washington state law now requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies and provide the City of Bothell with proof of rabies vaccination to obtain a pet license. It is now a misdemeanor offense for pet owners to not have proof of such vaccination. If licensing at City Hall please bring a copy of your pet’s rabies vaccination record.

City of Bothell Pet licenses come with many benefits including:

• The first time a pet is found, Bothell Animal Control will attempt to skip the shelter and deliver the pet to the owner’s home.

• Licensed pets have a longer stray hold at the shelter to give residents a chance to locate a lost pet before it is made available for adoption.

• Licensed missing pets are found faster by reporting them to Animal Control. If a resident finds a stray pet wearing a pet license, they simply need to call Bothell Animal Control with the license number.