New York State law requires that every person owning or harboring a dog over the age of 4 months must obtain a license for that dog. Licenses are administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, but they are enforced locally.

Here's how it works:

• Each licensed dog is assigned an identification number, which is similar to your social security number in that it never changes, is unique to the dog, and is assigned for life. The identification number is assigned on the license tag, which should be affixed to the dog's collar. The dog's identifying information (supplied by you on the license application) is kept in a computerized database that can be accessed should your dog ever become lost.