Studies show that pet owners have lower stress levels, but that's not true on moving day when our animal friends force us to jump through extra hoops. If you've got an animal friend sharing your Mississauga condo and you're moving here to Bellevue, Washington, there are numerous things you need to think about. Will pets be allowed in your new home? Do they need special documentation to get into the country? This article is all about pet licenses, which some cities require.

Pet licenses are a way for cities to keep track of how many domesticated animals there are living in the city. They also help generate a little revenue which can then be put into city services like animal control. Not every city requires pet owners to buy licenses for their animals, so check with the city before you go ahead and buy a Toronto condo. Bellevue, Washington is one of the cities that requires pets to be licensed, so make sure you get yours when you arrive.

How do you go about getting a license for your pet in Bellevue? You can buy them at the service desk in city hall at 450 110th Avenue between 8am and 5pm or you can buy them online through the city website at www.ci.bellevue.wa.us/pet_licenses.htm. It's not going to cost you all the profits from the sale of your real estate in Arlington. The most you'll have to pay is $90, which is the fee for an animal that isn't spayed or neutered. Spayed and neutered animals cost $30 to license, which is reduced to $12-$20 if you're a senior citizen. Baby animals are only $5. You'll need to bring your animal's documents to prove that it's spayed or neutered.

Keep in mind that your pet license expires after one year (six months if it's a baby animal license), after which you'll have to renew the license. Therefore the fees listed above are annual expenses, not one time expenses, like the maintenance fees for Richmond, Virginia condominiums. The only exception is for senior citizens, who don't have to pay renewal fees but still have to come in and fill out the application every year. When you come in for your renewal, make sure you have your original license number with you.

Some of you may be thinking that you can get away with not having a pet license, just like you got away with keeping an animal in Toronto condos that were advertised as "no pets." If you decide to go without a license, you're taking a risk. You could face stiff fines if the city finds out you have an unlicensed animal, and they certainly will if your pet gets out and is found by animal control without a license tag.