Instructions for Searching the Pet License Information Database by License Tag or Tattoo Number (Complete or Partial)
License Tag Number Search
- Enter the letter "L" (for license) followed by the last two digits of the year the license was issued (located above the license tag number).
- Enter a hyphen (-).
- Enter the license tag number as a six-digit number. If the license tag number is less than six digits, add zeroes before the tag number to complete the field. There should be no spaces between the L, the year, the hyphen and the tag number.
For example, a license issued in 2010 would be entered as L10-002954.
- For a partial license tag search, enter as many of the six digits as you can. The more numbers you can distinguish, the smaller number of owner records you will have to review.
Tattoo Number Search
The tattoo number is located on the animal's inner right thigh.
- Enter the letters "BC" followed by the last two digits of the year the tattoo was applied.
- Enter a hyphen (-).
- Enter the remaining numbers (up to four digits). Do not add spaces between the characters and numbers. Do not add zeros.
For example, a tattoo applied in 2010 would be entered as BC10-1104.
- For a partial tattoo number search, enter as many of the tattoo number digits as possible. The more numbers you can distinguish, the smaller number of owner records you will have to review.
Complete the Search
- Once the license tag or tattoo number is entered, click EXECUTE SEARCH.
- For a partial license tag or tattoo number, the database will display all the possible owner records with the number you provided.
- Scroll through the records until the description of the animal (breed, sex, color, etc.) matches the animal you have found. You may also be able to quickly eliminate some records by checking only the records in the vicinity where you found the pet and a potential owner’s address. Most lost dogs will not travel more than a few miles from home. Small dogs and cats may travel only a few blocks.
Search Pet License Information Database