DocuPet launch leaves Oak Harbor pet license numbers flat
The new online system cut costs for the city, but issuance counts from September through late October matched last year's totals.
By Lucas Sheridan ·
Pet owners in Oak Harbor and unincorporated Island County now manage their animal licenses through a digital platform called DocuPet. The Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation introduced the system in mid-August to simplify registration and improve tracking for lost animals.
The change altered how expiration dates work. Licenses no longer expire at the end of the calendar year in which they were bought. Instead, the platform sends reminders by mail, email, and text message before and after a license lapses.
Despite these operational shifts, the number of new licenses has not jumped. Cinnamon Hudgins, the executive director of the foundation, reported that issuance numbers from September 1 to October 28 were comparable to the same period last year. She noted that a breakdown of the data shows an increase in licenses for Island County compared to the City of Oak Harbor.
Magi Aguilar, the city’s communications officer, provided context on previous financial trends. Before the switch to the new vendor, Oak Harbor’s animal licensing revenue rose by 31% in 2024. That figure fell by 9% in 2025. Aguilar attributed these fluctuations to changes in household circumstances and the specific types of licenses purchased by residents.
The transition to WAIF for handling licensing saves the city approximately $410 annually in tag purchases. The city also saves on staff time and administrative costs. While WAIF manages the process, the organization does not retain the fee revenue. Money collected goes directly to the respective jurisdictions.
Hudgins said the procedure is important because it can make communities safer and support animal shelters. She stated that the system provides valuable information for better animal welfare planning and helps reunite lost pets with their families.
Aguilar wrote that the city evaluates the program’s success based on more than just annual revenue. She listed public accessibility, public safety, operational efficiency, and community education as key factors in the assessment.
