Licensing

All dogs, cats and rabbits residing within Las Cruces city limits are required to have a city license, and the license must be renewed yearly. In order to issue a license, customers must bring in proof of current Rabies vaccinations for their pet(s), as well as documentation from the customer’s veterinarian stating that the animal is altered (spayed/neutered) if applying for an Altered or Senior license, or proof of pedigree of applying for a Registered license.

The fees for licensing are as follows:

Altered (Spayed/Neutered) - $5 per year
Unaltered (Not Spayed/Neutered) -$25 per year
Registered (For Unaltered Purebred Dogs/Cats, Must Provide Proof) -$10 per year
Senior (Must Show Proof, Pet Must Be Altered)-$10, one time fee

For all license types, customers must show proof of current Rabies vaccination to renew.

All license types can be issued for up to 3 years at a time, providing the pet has received a 3 year Rabies vaccination. The cost per year remains the same (i.e., a 3 year Altered Dog/Cat license would be $15).

Customers must come to the shelter in person to be issued a city license. Renewals may be done by mail.

Microchipping

Customers may bring their pets in to be microchipped for a flat $20 fee, which includes the implant and the registration. We use 24PetWatch microchips. The customer and the pet will be registered in 24PetWatch’s nationwide database which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as in our database. Customers do not need to make an appointment in order to have their pet microchipped.

The above services are available to the public 7 days a week.
Monday through Friday, 12:00PM – 6:00PM
Saturday and Sunday, 12:00PM – 5:00PM

For more information, call (575) 382-0018 from 8:00AM – 6:00PM Monday through Friday, and 8:00AM – 5:00PM on Saturday and Sunday.

If missing an animal, customers must come to the shelter in person to look. Information will not be given out over the phone.

For animal control issues (to report a stray animal, have an animal picked up, report cruelty or neglect, bite incidents, etc.), call Central Dispatch at (575) 526-0795.