Quote Originally Posted by Allecto
Check your local laws. There are quite a few areas now were you are risking a nifty little fine for being in a public place with the tags not on the dog's collar. Where I live, even if your dog is on your property and does not leave it, and even if the dog is current on all required licenses, you can be fined for not having the tags attached to the collar, and your dog can be impounded. Technically, (although it isn't like they have a big task force hunting down these cases around the clock), it is illegal for me to NOT have a collar and approved tags on any dog I have over 4 months, no matter my personal preference, and no matter how well-trained, easily identified, or home-bound that dog is.
It's required to have a license on your dog at all times or your risking a fine here. I even know of someone who was out walking their dog (on leash, completely legal) and was stopped because the humane society officer driving by noticed he didn't have tags. She was fined and had to get the tag or risk her dog being taken away. That said all 4 of mine have a license plus some other id tag on their collar just in case.