To aid efforts in reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community, the City of Burlington Animal shelter will be closed to the public until further notice. This includes the temporary suspension of tours, visits, pet adoptions, and volunteering. Animal Services will continue to be provide the following services:
*Please use the drop box at the rear of the Animal Shelter (2424 Industrial St.) or arrange a time for an exchange at the requestor’s residence. If you have any questions, please contact the shelter by calling 905-335-3030 during regular business hours or email AnimalShelter.Mailbox@burlington.ca View and subscribe to our Health and Safety Notices page to learn about the latest updates on actions taken by the City of Burlington For further COVID-19 information, please visit Halton Region Public Health www.halton.ca/coronavirus |
Animal Control consists of city staff specializing in animal care and licensing at the Burlington Animal Shelter and Animal Control Officers who respond to animal related calls and bylaw complaints. Animal Control helps make our community safe for both people and animals and can assist with questions relating to:
City parks and public spaces are regularly patrolled by Animal Control Officers to ensure all pets and pet owners are acting responsibly so that everyone can enjoy public spaces.
To report an animal control issue or to lodge a bylaw complaint, please contact Animal Control at 905-335-3030.
Animal Control does not respond to nuisance wildlife calls or wildlife that has taken up residence inside of homes. These calls should be directed to your local humane wildlife control services.
The Animal Control by-law 60-2005 includes regulations for dog licensing, attacks, cat microchipping, animals at large, poop and scoop issues, dogs on the beach, and prohibited and restricted animals. Violations can result in a Provincial Offences fine or summon to court.
Diseases can be transmitted to humans by direct contact with dog droppings and through flies and parasites. Dog droppings contaminate beaches and other public spaces and pose serious health hazards to children playing nearby and to other persons and animals.
Let's work together to keep our public spaces clean by following these simple guidelines:
According to the applicable sections of by-law 19-2003, "no person shall emit or cause or permit the emission of sound at any time resulting from persistent barking, calling, whining or other similar persistent noise making by any domestic pet or any other animal kept or used for any purpose other than agriculture."
All bites or scratches from an animal that cause a break in skin must, by law, be reported immediately to the medical officer of health. If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal, especially if rabies is suspected, contact your doctor or your local health department immediately.
If your dog or cat is injured from a fight and you believe it may have been bitten or scratched by a rabid animal:
No animals, including cats, may run at large in the City of Burlington. If your pet is off your property, it must be on a leash and led by a competent person. Failure to do so may result in a fine. This law is in place for both the protection of pets and people living in and visiting the City of Burlington.
Microchips are permanent forms of identification for cats that help lost cats get home quickly. Cat owners in the City of Burlington must have their cat properly identified by microchip implantation. Contact your local veterinarian for more information on how to have this done.
All dogs are prohibited from city-owned or operated beaches or the water adjoining the beach with the exception of an aid dog. This bylaw is in place for the safety and enjoyment of both residents and visitors using the beach in the City of Burlington.
No person shall bring an animal into municipal buildings where signs are erected prohibiting animals, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to persons reliant upon an aid dog, or to persons having obtained an exemption permit or other written authorization from the Director.
During the warm weather months, temperatures in parked cars can turn deadly in a matter of minutes, even when the car is parked in the shade or has the windows cracked open. Please do not leave pets alone in the car.
Owners found to have left pets unattended in a vehicle may face charges under the Ontario SPCA Act or the Criminal Code of Canada.
To report an unattended pet in distress call Halton Region Police Service at 905-825-4777 or Burlington Animal Services at 905-335-3030.
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