Bringing home a new dog? Handle the essentials in your first 30 days — city pet license, core vaccine schedule, and microchip registration — plus find low-cost vaccine and microchip clinics happening near you.
Most U.S. cities require dogs to be licensed within 30 days of adoption or moving. Licensing helps shelters reunite lost pets and is usually cheap ($10–$25/year) with discounts for spayed/neutered dogs. Bring proof of rabies vaccination when you register.
A microchip is a rice-sized RFID chip implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. It's the single most reliable way to be reunited with a lost dog. Registering the chip in the manufacturer's database is required — the chip alone doesn't share your contact info until it's registered.
Find a nearby vet or animal hospital in our vet & animal hospital directory. Download the full checklist as a PDF on the page above.