Beaverton dog owners will get an email or letter around Tuesday, Sept. 15 from a company called DocuPet, and it's not spam.

Washington County Animal Services is switching to DocuPet for all dog licensing, the county announced Thursday, Sept. 10.

The change replaces the county's old registration system with an online platform that includes a round-the-clock lost-pet recovery service called HomeSafe.

Animal Services Manager Randy Covey said the new system will speed up reuniting lost dogs with their owners. "We'll be able to get lost dogs home faster, dog owners will save money by avoiding impound and boarding fees, and our staff will be able to dedicate more time and resources to other critical animal welfare needs," Covey said in the county's announcement.

Every license issued through DocuPet comes with a unique tag linked to a secure online pet profile.

If a dog goes missing, anyone who finds it can use the code on the tag to reach DocuPet's dispatch team, which operates 24 hours a day. Owners can also personalize their dog's tag for an additional fee, a feature the old system did not offer. A standard tag comes at no extra cost.

Fees stay the same. A one-year license for a spayed or neutered dog costs $34. An intact dog costs $56 per year.

Owners 65 and older with a spayed or neutered dog pay $24 per year. Multi-year options bring the per-year cost down. The full fee schedule is posted on the county's licensing page.

Dog owners who renew a previously expired license before the end of October will not be charged the usual $15 late fee. Covey called it "a rare, one-time opportunity to save money."

All dogs in Washington County are required by law to be licensed. Owners who skip licensing face a $160 citation. A current rabies vaccination is required for the license to be valid.

Licensing revenue funds county animal welfare work, including investigating neglect and abuse cases, responding to dog bites and picking up stray and injured pets.

Kennel licenses, at $250 per year, and licenses for dogs designated as dangerous must still be obtained in person at the Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter, 1901 SE 24th Ave. in Hillsboro. All other licensing is available through the county's online DocuPet portal, accessible from the county's dog licensing page.

The late-fee amnesty runs through the end of October.