We promote responsible pet ownership through educating the public on animal related issues, and through the enforcement of various animal related laws.

Some of the most common animal related complaints are highlighted below and are enforced through the City's Responsible Pet Ownership By-law (6811/07).

To file an animal related complaint, please contact our customer care centre at 905.683.7575 or by email. 

Please review these highlights of the Dog Owners' Liability Act.

Dog Bites

Owners are responsible for ensuring their dogs do not harm other people or animals.

We will investigate all dog bites that occur within the City. Call us to report a dog bite at 905.683.7575 with full details of the bite attack. This includes:

  • name, phone number and address of dog owner
  • date, location and time of attack

Seek immediate medical attention following an animal bite, as they can carry transmittable diseases such as rabies.

The Durham Regional Health Department is responsible for investigating dog bites to humans for the purpose of rabies control, and will quarantine the animal in question. Human contact with any warm blooded animal whether it is domestic or wild, (fox, raccoon, bat, etc.) should be reported immediately to the Health Department through their online reporting system or by calling one of the following numbers:

Health Connection Line
Telephone (within regional limits): 311
Telephone: 905-668-2020
Toll-Free: 1-800-841-2729

Dogs Found Running at Large

Pickering's Responsible Pet Ownership By-law states that all dogs must be leashed when off of the owner's property, or have the consent of the land owner whose property the dog is on. Grand Valley Park is Pickering's designated leash free area.

We will respond to calls of sick or injured stray dogs or cats.

Barking Dogs

Pickering's Responsible Pet Ownership By-law regulates barking dog issues. Barking can be considered an offence and owners could pay a fine as high as $5,000.

If you have already tried to speak with the dog owner and the barking continues, contact our Customer Care Centre at 905.683.7575 to file a noise complaint. An Officer will visit the owner and make recommendations to solve their problem. Legal action may be taken if the problem persists.

When filing a noise complaint, have the following in mind:

  • location of barking dog
  • time of day the noise occurs
  • how often the noise and occurs and length of time
  • how the noise directly affects you

For more information see our Barking Dogs Brochure.

Stoop and Scoop

Pickering's Responsible Pet Ownership By-law states that owners must immediately remove excrement left by their animal within the City. Complaints of this sort can be difficult to investigate, please contact us for further information.

Nuisance Cats

Pickering's Responsible Pet Ownership By-law prohibits cats from being off their owner's property without a leash. We encourage residents to keep their cats inside or ensure that they are supervised or walked on a leash whenever taken outside.

Please see the attached brochure for more information on nuisance cats.

Animal Cruelty

As of January 2020, Provincial Animal Welfare Services is now the enforcement agency responsible for investigating animal cruelty complaints in Ontario. Cruelty to any animal is not tolerated in Ontario. If you think an animal is in distress or is being abused, call; 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625).