Dog Licensing & Resources

New to dog ownership in Austin, or just moved here? Here are the official links for registering your dog, handling rabies and county registration, and getting a free pet ID, so you can get set up fast. Every link below goes straight to a City of Austin, Travis County, or Williamson County page.

A quick note on the basics: Texas law requires dogs over 4 months old to have a current rabies vaccination, and Austin offers free microchipping at the Austin Animal Center.

City of Austin

Start here if you live in Austin or unincorporated Travis County.

• Austin Animal Services : the municipal shelter for Austin and unincorporated Travis County, with a free microchip and pet ID tag for residents.
• Austin Animal Protection : the local rules and ordinances every dog owner should know.
• Austin Animal Center : visit and location details, including where to go for free microchipping.

County registration & rabies

Which county office you use depends on where you live in the metro.

• Travis County Animal Control : animal control services and rabies information for the Travis County side of the metro.
• Williamson County Pet Registration : pet registration for the Williamson County (WilCo) side of the metro.

Explore the directory

Once your dog is set up, find the rest of what you need in our Austin directory:

• Vets: clinics, animal hospitals, and emergency care (your source for rabies vaccinations).
• Parks: dog parks and off-leash areas across the city.
• Groomers: grooming and washing near you.