Animal Services

Tethering

• Tethers must be at least 3 m long in order to allow your dog to move safely and freely.
• The tether must be attached to a permanent object.
• Do not use choke chains and/or prong collars to tether your dog.
• You are not allowed to tether your dog for any longer than two hours in a 24 hour period.
• A tethered dog must be supervised by the owner or an authorized person at all times while tethered.

Pets in Vehicles

• Do not leave your pet in your vehicle in a manner that could pose a risk to their health and safety. Conditions that could be harmful to your pet or others such as:
  • inadequate ventilation
  • temperature of the vehicle's interior
  • inadequate restraint of your pet (must prevent contact between the pet and the public)
• Do not transport your pet outside of the vehicle's passenger compartment unless it is secured in a way that protects the pet's health and safety.

Doghouse standards

• Doghouses must be large enough to allow each dog within to extend its legs and body to its full natural extent, stand, turn around, lie down and to sit.
• Doghouses must be constructed so that they are sufficiently insulated and completely enclosed (exception: door), with a roof, floor and walls, and constructed of a durable material that is waterproof, weatherproof and able to be sanitized.
• Doghouses must have an elevated floor to prevent direct contact with the ground surface.
• There must be adequate ventilation for the health, welfare and comfort of each dog inside.
• There must be a partial wall (aside from the door flap) within the doghouse that separates the entrance from the sleeping area.
• Doghouses must have a suitable door flap between November 1 to April 30 of the next year.
• Doghouses must be located in an area other than the front yard and no closer than 2 m of a lot line.
• Doghouses must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, safe, and in a state of good repair.
• Doghouses must be maintained with clean and dry bedding material.

A good example of an ideal doghouse can be found in the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (O.S.P.C.A.) guidelines for doghouses.

Dog pens and enclosures standards

• Dog pens must have a minimum area of 4.6 sq m per dog and must allow each dog inside to extend its legs and body to its full natural extent, stand, turn around, lie down and to sit.
• No side of a pen can be less than 1 m in length and the height cannot be less than 1 m higher than the tallest dog in standing position while standing on two legs.
• Dog pens must be constructed and located to allow each dog to be observed by the owner and must be designed to prevent the escape of dogs outside of the pen.
• Dog pens must be located in an area other than the front yard and no closer than 2 m of a lot line.
• Dog pens must be clean and safe and maintained in a good state of repair at all times with a dry area large enough to allow each dog to lie down.
• Dogs must not be restrained by a tether and must be permitted outside of the dog pen (in a controlled environment) for a minimum of one hour within each 24 hour period.
• Dogs in a dog pen must have an environment that ensures the safe and humane treatment of the animal.
• Dog pens may include doghouses within the pen.

Responsible Pet Owners Exemption

Animal Owners may request an exemption to the Responsible Pet Owners By-law.

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If you are not satisfied with the exemption decision, you may request an appeal before the City's Hearing Officer by submitting an Order Appeal Request Form.