Animal Shelter Donations | City of Pickering

Ruth will be undergoing a dental procedure, which will likely include multiple tooth extractions. Once she’s all healed up, we’ll be getting her ready for adoption so she can move into a safe, loving, forever home.

If you would like to help with the cost of her dental procedure and support future medical cases, please consider making a donation.

Help us help Ruth. Donate today!

Your donation will help us with the medical costs for Ruth to ensure she can live comfortably for the rest of her life.

Financial Donations

Pickering Animal Services is responsible for the care and housing of stray and homeless pets in our community. Help make a difference in a pet's life, donate today. We have 3 simple options

Donate using our In house Donation Portal - your one time contribution will bring us one step closer to building our permanent animal shelter here in Pickering. This portal is also used for purchasing your pets license. Tax receipts will be issued for donations over $20.

2. Donations may be mailed or dropped off to:

Pickering Animal Services
Clerk's Office, City of Pickering
One The Esplanade
Pickering, ON, L1V 6K7

3. Donate through Canada Helps! - Donate once, monthly or dedicate your
donation in memory or honor of someone special. This option allows you to
send e-cards and is quick an easy with flexibility to choose where your donation
dollars go. Tax Receipts are issued through Canada Helps.

Animal Services Monthly or One-Time Donation

Fundraising Events

Throughout the year the City runs a variety of fundraising events with all donations going towards the new animal shelter. We also encourage residents, community grops and animal lovers to plan and run their own fundraising events.

A Permanent Animal Shelter in Pickering

Pickering Animal Services is responsible for the care and housing of stray and homeless pets in our community. If you would like to help make a difference in a pet's life, donate today.

We thank our donors for improving the well-being of our animals, and contributing to their bright and healthy future.

The City has over $1.2 Million in the animal shelter reserve fund which was primarily raised through the generosity of the community. Staff will also be exploring other revenue generating streams to help meet its target, including naming rights agreements and sponsorships. Ultimately, the funds will go towards the construction of a brand new, permanent animal shelter here in Pickering.

Behind the scenes staff have been working with consultants to determine the appropriate size and design concepts for the new animal shelter. Staff are still finalizing the site selection process and anticipate construction to begin in by 2026.

History of Animal Sheltering in Pickering

Below is a brief outline of how Animal Sheltering in Pickering has evolved over time!

1985 to 2006: The City of Pickering was part of service partnership agreement between the Municipality of Pickering, Ajax and Whitby to create P.A.W. Animal Services. The Town of Whitby was responsible for animal enforcement and animal shelter services.

January 1, 2006: The City of Pickering decided to take full responsibility of Animal Services. One Supervisor and two part time staff were hired and began handling all functions of the service. At that time, a temporary agreement was made with the Municipality of Clarington for all animals to be housed at their Municipal animal shelter, approximately 30 minutes away. After a year, it was decided that due to distance, it was time to make alternate arrangements.

July 2007 – October 2009: The City entered into a public-private agreement with a boarding kennel located in Toronto. The agreement stated that the Kennel would provide feed, care and housing for all Pickering Animals, while City staff would be responsible to staff the facility each evening, for residents to reclaim or adopt.

2011: The property was sold and purchased by a new owner, and it was determined that it would be more cost effective and provide better customer service to residents if the City took full ownership of running its own animal shelter. An agreement was made to rent and retrofit a building in North Pickering to be the first ever Pickering run Animal Shelter.

2019: The City entered into an agreement with the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. All stray cats and dogs found within their municipality are temporarily housed at the Pickering Animal Shelter and ones that are not claimed are assessed and placed into the City’s adoption program.

During the 2019 Capital Budget process, Council allocated money for the site selection for a new Pickering Animal Shelter.

As a result of COVID19, the planning stages for this project were delayed however City staff continued investigating potential sites for the new animal shelter.

2022: Funds approved in the 2022 Capital Budget to proceed with hiring an architect and move ahead with the design and construction of a new animal shelter.

2023/2024: Investigating site selection and working with consultants to determine shelter size and key design elements.

Requirements for our New Animal Shelter

When designing our new shelter, The City of Pickering will be incorporating the Capacity for Care model. This model helps shelters better meet the needs of animals by creating conditions necessary to provide shelter animals with the 5 Freedoms, thereby improving the welfare of each animal, including its physical and mental state.

The 5 Freedoms include the following:

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst By ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain health and vigor
Freedom from Discomfort By providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area
Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease By prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
Freedom to express Normal Behaviour By providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind
Freedom from fear and distress By ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
By ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain health and vigor

Freedom from Discomfort
By providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area

Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease
By prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment

Freedom to express Normal Behaviour
By providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind

Freedom from fear and distress
By ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering

Below are just a few of the criteria that staff are looking for in the new animal shelter facility:

Nursery for nursing moms or orphaned kittens
Separate room for small animals to be housed that allows daily exercise
Cageless housing rooms for cats that allows them to socialize with one another in a warm and friendly environment
Real life room for dogs that simulates a dog living in a home setting – couch, chairs, etc.
An adoption interview room. This room will give potential adopters a meet their potential adoptee and well as have a chance to sit with staff in a safe environment
Education/Community room that will be utilized for public education programs.

What can I donate?

The shelter is always in need of many animal related items. Below is a list of some of the items we commonly need:

Check out what item's are listed on our Ren's Pets Gift Registry. Order online and have the items shipped directly to us.
Check out our Amazon Wishlist. Order online and have the items shipped directly to us.
small animal bedding (not wood shavings)
small animal food (pellets, treats, hay)
dog and cat beds
enrichment toys for the animals
dog biscuits, denta bones and other treats
cat treats, cat nip
leashes, collars
brushes, combs, nail trimmers
dog and cat toys
scratching posts (cat tree or cardboard)
litter boxes
laundry detergent (pods)
towels, blankets and dog/cat beds (please no fitted bed sheets)
small animal bowls, water bottles, hide boxes and other enrichment toys
and more...feel free to contact us if you have an item that you think would be of assistance to us