PRESS RELEASE

Above: A local pet enjoys Rosie's Dog Beach. DocuPet registration adds an additional layer of protection to licensing to help bring lost pets home if they go missing. 

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach has enhanced its pet licensing process to be easier for local pet owners. Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) has partnered with DocuPet, North America’s leading pet registration and lost pet recovery service, to introduce residents to a modern licensing system designed to protect pets and bring them home safely if they go missing.

“Our pets bring so much love into our homes, and we want to ensure they receive a level of care and protection that reflects that joy they bring us,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. "With the addition of DocuPet to our local pet licensing system, we are giving families a simple, modern tool to keep their pets protected while supporting responsible pet ownership and bringing peace of mind to our community.”

Through the new service, every pet registration at LBACS will now include a DocuPet license tag and access to HomeSafe, a 24/7 lost pet service. Each tag features a unique identification code linked to a secure online pet profile where owners can upload photos and add behavior notes, medical information and emergency contacts to quickly identify and reunite a lost pet with their family. If a pet goes missing, pet owners can list a Lost Pet Report, which will be shared instantly with Petco Love Lost, the nation’s largest photo-matching lost and found database, and DocuPet’s National Animal Shelter Network. This allows shelters to quickly identify pets using identification codes, microchip data and unique markings. Combined with DocuPet’s dedicated dispatch team and community partners, these tools will help expedite lost pet reunifications, often before entering a shelter.

DocuPet’s platform will also help LBACS manage licensing more efficiently, allowing resources to be directed toward essential animal care and community programs. Additional benefits to pet owners and the community include:

• Improved licensing experience: DocuPet's online portal makes it quick and convenient for pet owners to license and ensure their pet’s safety within minutes.
• Enhanced customer service: Pet owners will receive clear, timely reminders by mail and email to help ensure their license is always current and compliant with pet licensing laws.
• Supports animal care services: By reducing the number of lost pets coming to the shelter, LBACS will have more staff, space and resources to take care of incoming sick, injured and homeless animals.
• Customized dog tags: Pet owners can upgrade their tag’s design to reflect their dog’s personality with 20% of the purchase donated to LBACS.

“Licensing is an important responsibility for pet owners, but it should also provide peace of mind,” said Melanie Wagner, Manager of LBACS. “By partnering with DocuPet, we’re making the licensing process simple while ensuring local pet owners have extra protection and resources for their pet to being located if their pet ever goes missing.”

“Pets wearing license tags are reunited with their families much faster than unlicensed pets,” said Grant Goodwin, CEO of DocuPet. “We’re proud to work with Long Beach Animal Care Services to bring these benefits to the community.”

All dogs in Long Beach, Cerritos, Signal Hill and Los Alamitos must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. In Long Beach, cat licenses are also required. Pet owners can license their pets online at longbeach.gov/acs or in person at the Long Beach Animal Care Center (7700 E. Spring St., 90815). Discounted pet licenses for seniors aged 60 and above are also available. To learn more about DocuPet or to license your pet, visit longbeach.gov/acs.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

About DocuPet
DocuPet provides the most advanced pet licensing program in North America, driving ordinance compliance while reducing municipal costs and providing new value to pet owners. DocuPet launched its first municipal pet licensing program in 2014. Since that time, the company has partnered with more than 300 communities. For more information, please visit DocuPet.com.