Summit County DocuPet Dog License Partnership, Online Tags, HomeSafe Service

Summit County dog owners will see a more modern, user-friendly way to license their pets under a new partnership between the Fiscal Office and DocuPet. The Summit County DocuPet dog license program offers online purchasing, designer tags and a 24/7 lost pet service aimed at getting missing dogs back home faster and keeping them out of crowded shelters.

Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise, CPA, CFE, announced that the county has partnered with DocuPet, a pet profile, lost pet and licensing platform used by communities across North America. While Ohio law requires all dogs to be licensed annually, local officials say too many pet owners skip the process, leaving pets unprotected and making it harder to reunite animals with their families.

Under the new system, residents can go online to purchase a county dog license and select from hundreds of colorful, unique designer tags or even design their own with an easy-to-use customization tool. Customized tags carry an additional fee, but every DocuPet tag includes the free HomeSafe® 24/7 lost pet service and can double as the dog’s official Summit County license.

Each tag is printed with a unique code on the back that links directly to the dog’s secure online profile. If a pet goes missing, anyone who finds the dog can use that code to submit a Found Pet Report in seconds. Owners can also create a Lost Pet Report as soon as they realize their dog is gone, and DocuPet’s dispatch team is available around the clock to help reunite pets with their families.

Scalise said the partnership with DocuPet is designed not only to upgrade the licensing experience, but also to strengthen animal safety in neighborhoods across Summit County.

“This partnership will help reduce the number of dogs entering local shelters, freeing up space and resources for pets that truly need care,” Scalise said in the announcement. “We look forward to residents taking advantage of this program to help protect their pets and all pets in our community.”

All dogs in Summit County must be licensed each year. Licenses for the 2026 cycle are available beginning Dec. 1, 2025, and must be purchased by Jan. 31, 2026. The cost is $18 for a one-year dog license, $54 for a three-year license and $180 for a lifetime or permanent license. Owners who fail to purchase by the Jan. 31 deadline are subject to a statutory $18 late fee.

County officials encourage pet owners to license their dogs promptly and keep tags on their collars at all times. Beyond satisfying state law, they say the new DocuPet system adds convenience and real value by combining county licensing with an always-on lost dog recovery network.

For more information about the Summit County DocuPet dog license program or to apply for a dog license online, residents can visit https://summitcountyoh.docupet.com or call (330) 630-7726.