In accordance with state and local laws, pet licenses are mandatory in the City of Waterloo. 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 Waterloo 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.
Check out the ways you can license your pet below and feel good knowing that 100% of licensing revenue funds are given to the City of Waterloo to support important animal welfare initiatives helping to improve your community.
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 Waterloo 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 Waterloo
715 Mulberry St, Waterloo, IA 50703
Cedar Bend Humane Society
1166 W Airline Hwy, Waterloo, IA 50703
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-Saturday (excluding holidays) from 8:00am-8:00pm CT
Pet licenses are required for all cats and dogs living in the City of Waterloo. Licenses expire exactly 365 days from the start date of the license, and must be renewed prior to the expiration date. You will receive reminders from us about upcoming license expirations via mail, phone, and email.
| Dog Licenses | 1 Year Fee |
|---|---|
| Altered Dog | $15.00 |
| Unaltered Dog | $25.00 |
| Altered Dog | |
|---|---|
| 1 Year Fee | $15.00 |
| Unaltered Dog | |
|---|---|
| 1 Year Fee | $25.00 |
| Cat Licenses | 1 Year Fee |
|---|---|
| Altered Cat | $15.00 |
| Unaltered Cat | $25.00 |
| Altered Cat | |
|---|---|
| 1 Year Fee | $15.00 |
| Unaltered Cat | |
|---|---|
| 1 Year Fee | $25.00 |
Visit our Help Desk for more information: https://docupetinc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
Temporary licenses expire after 30 days. To convert a temporary license into a full license you must provide new proof of rabies vaccination prior to the temporary license expiration date. With the provision of a rabies expiration date in the future, your pet's license will be extended to the full term originally selected.
You may license your pet in person at the City of Waterloo, located at 715 Mulberry St, Waterloo, IA 50703, or at the Cedar Bend Humane Society, located at 1166 W Airline Hwy, Waterloo, IA 50703.
All pets over the age of 6 months are required to be licensed.
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.
No refunds are provided on licenses purchased regardless of circumstances.
All dogs and cats must be licenced within 30 days of moving into the the City of Waterloo.
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.
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 type ex. St instead of Street. You may contact the City of Waterloo directly if you believe you reside within their jurisdiction but your address is not being accepted by the system.
If you live outside city limits and wish to use the dog park, please contact the City of Waterloo directly at (319) 883-0797, email animalcontrol@waterloopolice.com, or visit in person at 715 Mulberry St, Waterloo, IA 50703 to receive licensing instructions.
Late fees come into effect if a license is not renewed within 30 days of the original expiration date.
If your community requires proof of spay/neuter for your pet in order to receive a discounted licensing rate, you will need to upload the appropriate documentation stating that your pet has been spayed/neutered to your online account. Once the documentation has been approved, you will be eligible to receive the new discounted rate.
No, there is no discount for licensing multiple pets. Each pet will be charged the appropriate licensing fee.
For all online orders a processing fee is applied on license purchases at a rate of $2.00 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 Waterloo's Animal Control office in-person located at at 715 Mulberry St, Waterloo, IA 50703, and they will be able to assist you.
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.
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'.
You are allowed for a maximum of four dogs and four cats per dwelling.
Please get in touch with a City of Waterloo Animal Control officer at (319) 883-0797.
The following species are required to be licensed: Dogs and Cats.
Visit this page for information on licensing ordinances/bylaws.
If you can’t locate the document you received after the procedure was done, you will need to contact your vet to obtain your pet's records. Be sure to specify any and all pets you require documentation for.
Once you’ve got the paperwork in your hands, take a look to ensure:
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.
A valid rabies proof is required to purchase a pet license. A 30-day temporary license may be issued if you do not have rabies proof at the time of licensing. Proof of spay/neuter is required to receive the discounted altered rates.