CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cuyahoga County quietly stopped offering early-renewal discounts on dog licenses this year after county auditors questioned whether the animal shelter had the legal authority to provide them.
Last licensing cycle, the county offered a modest incentive for residents who purchased or renewed their dog licenses early — about $2 off the standard rates of $20 for a one-year license, $60 for three years or $200 for a permanent tag.
But a 2025 review by the county’s Department of Internal Audit determined the discounts, which totaled more than $30,000, may not have been allowed. County code sets the fee schedule for dog licenses and does not appear to authorize deviations, the report says, noting that it’s the shelter’s largest revenue source, bringing in more than $1.6 million a year…