Around Town columnist Laura Cassar just added a dog to her family. This is her continuing story about Charlie Wolf. To read about how he joined their family, click here.

Since he is a rescued dog, there are a lot of things we'll never know about our Charlie Wolf. 

I don't know why he has a fear/fascination with open garage doors. I'm not sure he ever saw a duck before. I'm not even certain what name he was called for the first two years of his life.

What I really don't know is how someone gave up this sweet, lovable dog.

But as Wendy from Last Days Dog Rescue told me, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." 

I guess I'll have to be content with that answer.

A license to woof

One thing I do know is that for Charlie Wolf  to reside in Rochester Hills, he needs a license. 

Actually, it's a state law that all dogs 4 months or older are required to be licensed. 

To obtain a license, a current rabies vaccination certificate is needed. That was easy enough, since Charlie came properly vaccinated, thanks to Last Day Dog Rescue and Hollow Corners Veterinary Services. 

I took Charlie's vaccination paperwork to the Rochester Hills Treasury Department. One simple form and $7.50 later, Charlie Wolf was an official resident of Rochester Hills. He has a shiny blue tag to show for it.

His license must be renewed annually. After June 1, there is a delinquent fee, and the cost goes up to $30. And yes, fellow dog owners, that is just one week away.

Licenses can also be obtained by mailing the vaccination paperwork and check to Animal Control at 1700 Brown Rd., Auburn Hills, 48326. The license fee costs $15 for dogs that are not spayed or neutered.

One last fun fact: The Rochester Hills city ordinance allows only three dogs per household.

A place to hang that license

The collar we bought Charlie Wolf at a retail chain pet store lasted less than two weeks. The plastic connector snapped. For its replacement, I was not messing around, so I went to Sticky Paws in downtown Rochester. (I had conveniently just read about the store right here on Patch.)

Sticky Paws carries Lupine collars, leashes and harnesses, which (besides being stylish) come with a guarantee. A broken collar — even one that is chewed through — can be exchanged for a new one.

Since Charlie Wolf enjoys sporting a red bandana, I was thrilled to find a collar that matched. It cost $11.

Barefoot in the park

If you want to take your dog to the Rochester Municipal Park, you're going to need a special dog permit. The permit is available for purchase at the Parks Department, upstairs from the Rochester Police Department at 400 Sixth St.

The cost of the permit is $10 for Rochester residents and $40 for nonresidents, including those living in Rochester Hills. You will need to present proof of a license and proof of a current rabies vaccination. 

The office is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Loneliness smells like peanut butter

Charlie Wolf came to us crate-trained, and when he's going to be home alone, that's where he goes. He is fine with it, but to make it better for him, my very clever friend turned me on to the Kong ball. It's red and made of rubber, and I like to fill mine with peanut butter. For an extra challenge, I freeze it.

When I know I'm going to be gone awhile, Charlie Wolf gets a frozen peanut butter Kong ball in his crate. I hope it helps him pass the time. I got mine at Meijer for $10.99.

A well-mannered dog

Charlie Wolf has already made some very nice friends. Sure, they might drool a bit, but they've been very generous. Of course, thank you notes must be sent to acknowledge such kindness, so I was thrilled to find black Lab notecards at Talulah Belle on Third Street.

A box of five cards with two dog charms costs $15. Note cards also come in designs featuring other breeds, including bulldog, yellow Lab and schnauzer. 

What's in a name

Readers have been very interested in Charlie Wolf, and many have asked how he got his name.

He came to us with the name Charlie, and we added Wolf after his foster family, who had the surname Wolf. Charlie was their first foster dog, and I know it was very hard for them to say goodbye to him. By adding Wolf to Charlie's name, we'll always keep them and their sweetness in our hearts.