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Animal Services

Animal licenses and tags

Dogs in Kawartha Lakes must be licensed for the current calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Licenses are available for purchase at any of the Municipal Service Centres, through the mail, or by using our online form below. You can also email the Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing division to update license tag information, or provide proof of vaccination.

Purchase a Dog License Online

If you would like a hardcopy of your dog license, please contact any Municipal Service Centre or the Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing division.

Purchasing a license ensures your pet complies with the By-Law 2021-072, which was put in place to ensure the health and safety of residents and their pets.

Fees:

Dogs:

  • Annual tag for spayed/neutered dog (with proof): $42.00
  • Annual tag for unaltered dog: $47.00
  • Annual tag replacement: $16.00
  • Lifetime tag for microchipped, spayed/neutered dog (with proof): $73.00
  • Lifetime tag for microchipped, unaltered dog (with proof): $114.00
  • Lifetime tag replacement: $16.00
  • Special services dog: no charge
  • Livestock guardian dog: no charge

Animal bites and dangerous dogs

To report an animal bite, call the Municipal Law Enforcement Office at 705-324-9411 extension 1212 during regular business hours.

The Dog Owners Liability Act is provincial legislation pertaining to dangerous dogs. 

If you have received an Order to Restrain you have seven days to file an appeal to have your case heard by the Committee of Council.

Backyard Chickens

The Backyard Chicken Coop Project was made permanent by Council at the February 20, 2024 Regular Council Meeting. The project allows for chicken coops in residential areas under certain conditions and restrictions with a maximum of ten chickens at any one time. 

Eligibility

Please be advised backyard chicken coops are not permitted on all properties in Kawartha Lakes. Check your address in the interactive Regulated Areas Map below to find out whether you're in an eligible area. Areas highlighted in red are prohibited.

Prohibited areas are determined based on one or multiple of the following criteria:

  • Environmental Protection Area
  • Conservation Authority Regulated Areas (Accessible in the map layers for viewing)
  • Wellhead Protection Area
  • Surface Water Intake Protection Area
  • Floodplain
  • Properties less than 0.25 acres
  • Property not zoned as Residential

Properties serviced by a private on-site sewage disposal system will need to consider the requirements for clearance distances, for structural components of any backyard chicken enclosure, regardless of size or requirement for a Building Permit. The structural component will need to be placed a minimum of 1.5 metres from a septic tank/treatment tank and 5 metres to the distribution lines. The submission of an Application for a Sewage System Review for Additional Buildings may be required to confirm the clearance distances of the structure to the sewage system. This application can be obtained from the Building and Septic Division and please note fees will apply.

Backyard Chicken Coop Regulated Areas Map


Registration

If you live in one of the eligible areas and would like to apply for a license to the Backyard Chicken Coop Project, please click on and complete the online application form below:

Application Form - Backyard Chicken Coop Project

 

If you're interested in applying for a license, we also recommend checking out the Additional Resources below.

Please note that while registration may now be free, a large coop may require a building permit and/or sewage system approval and that application process may include a fee. Visit our My Property page for more information on potential building permit or sewage system requirements.

Additional Resources

It is recommended that license holders register their backyard chicken coops to receive alerts regarding biosecurity or illness in area flocks. Program registration will allow effective and efficient communication with registrants in the event of a disease outbreak. To register your backyard chicken coop, please visit: Chicken Farmers of Ontario - Family Food Grower Program.

Online education is also recommended to all Backyard Chicken Coop applicants and can be found at:

Health and Biosecurity

Avian Influenza Reminder to Small Flock Owners - The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) remind all small flock owners how to keep their birds healthy during this upcoming wild bird migration season. Migration season increases the risk for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) which can cause severe illness and death in all domesticated birds. Avian Influenza cases have been reported in wild birds in southwestern Ontario, eastern Canada and several states in the U.S..

Small flock owners must be diligent in protecting their flock and their neighbouring flocks in the Ontario poultry industry by implementing biosecurity measures and reporting any signs of disease to your veterinarian immediately.

Fishing and hunting

Visit the Kawartha Lakes Tourism website to learn about hunting and fishing in Kawartha Lakes.

The City of Kawartha Lakes does not issue hunting and fishing licences. For information about hunting and fishing licence issuers, refer to the Province of Ontario's database.

The Province also provides details about Fisheries Management Zones and Wildlife Management Units.

The Discharge of Firearms By-law regulates the use of firearms in Kawartha Lakes.

Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes

The Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes (HSKL) leads the community in protection and provision of humane care and treatment of all animals, enforcement of protection laws and public education.

Please note that the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes no longer provides municipal pound/kennel services for the City of Kawartha Lakes. For information regarding municipal pound/kennel services please contact the City of Kawartha Lakes, Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing division by calling 705-324-9411 extension 1212.

HSKL Contact Information:

Address: 107 McLaughlin Road, Lindsay ON, K9V 6K5
Phone: 705-878-4618
Website: https://hskl.ca/

Kennel licensing

The Kennel Licensing By-law regulates the licensing and governing of kennels in Kawartha Lakes. 

Lost and found pets

If you've lost your dog or found a stray dog, report it to the Municipal Law Enforcement Office right away by calling 705-324-9411 extension 1212 during regular business hours. If you need assistance outside of regular business hours, call 705-928-3054 and leave a message with your name, address and phone number as well as a brief description of the issue.

We currently use numerous facilities for municipal pound/kennel services. If you have lost your dog or are in possession of a found dog, please contact Municipal Law Enforcement directly to assist. Stray dogs are held for as long as three days, giving owners time to come forward before the dog is adopted out to a new home or sent to a rescue service.

To help reunite lost dogs with their owners, we share information about all dogs found by our Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing division on the City of Kawartha Lakes Facebook page. Lost pets shared by residents through the municipality's Facebook page will not be shared on our page.

For more information about the process, visit our Lost and Found Animal page.

Please note, Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Officers will not investigate anonymous complaints.

Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing:

  • Regular Business Hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm): 705-324-9411 extension 1212
  • After 4:30pm, or on weekends/holidays: 705-928-3054

Please note that phone calls may require the caller to leave a message. Messages will be returned as soon as staff time permits.

Predation of Livestock and Poultry

Livestock and poultry producers are entitled to make claims to their local municipality for livestock or poultry injuries and kills due to predation by coyotes, dogs, wolves and other wildlife under the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.

What to do
  1. Notify a nearby Municipal Predation Investigator (Livestock Valuer) within 48 hours of discovering the injury or death of your livestock or poultry;
  2. Preserve the injury/kill site. Do not move, destroy or dispose of the carcass(es) or evidence until the investigator agrees it/they can be disposed of or destroyed. An exception may be made if this contravenes Ontario Regulation 106/09 of the Nutrient Management Act, 2002. To preserve the site, avoid walking in or around the area, place a tarp over the carcass(es), add lime around the site, and take photos of the injuries/carcass(es) and scene;
  3. If an animal sustained an injury, immediately seek veterinary care or other humane treatment options to prevent further suffering. Veterinary care costs are eligible under this program up to the Fair Market Value of the livestock. All receipts and invoices should be saved and submitted with the application.

Municipal Predation Investigator contact information

If you believe you have suffered an injury or kill of livestock or poultry due to predation, you should immediately notify a nearby Predation Investigator by calling them directly. If there is no answer from your nearest Investigator, please contact any other investigator (regardless of area).

Bobcaygeon, Omemee and Area (Emily, Verulam)
John Hope, 705-731-7006

Fenelon Falls, Coboconk and Area (Fenelon, Somerville, Bexley, Laxton-Digby-Longford)

Brian Vanderkleyn, 705-887-5388

Lindsay Area (Ops)

Charlie Clarke, 705-879-1073

Mark Robbins, 705-928-5946

Little Britain, Oakwood and Area (Mariposa)
Barry Dart, 705-340-9061

Pontypool Area (Manvers)
Jeff Schaafsma, 905-442-3126

Woodville, Kirkfield and Area (Eldon, Carden, Dalton)
Robert MacEachern, 705-439-2248

The claim process

The Predation Investigator has 72 hours from when they are contacted to attend on-site and investigate the predation claim. They will complete a written report and submit it to the City Clerk's Office within seven business days. The report will detail the type of predator, extent of damage to the livestock or poultry, at least three pictures of the site, and any other evidence to support the report and claim.

Producers are required to provide a valid Farm Business Registration Number, Premises ID Number, and Social Insurance Number to the Predation Investigator, to be included in this report. The livestock owner may also submit additional evidence to support the application such as past sales receipts, breeding records, registration documents, or other photos.

A copy of the report will be mailed to the livestock owner when they received it from the Predation Investigator in the City Clerk's Office.

The City Clerk's Office will forward the report and evidence as supplied by the Predation Investigator to OMAFRA who will review the application. If eligible, a compensation amount will be assigned and the owner will be informed directly by OMAFRA of their decision within 30 business days of submitting a complete application.

Maximum amounts of compensation have been set by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), and can be found on the OMAFRA website. 

The livestock owner has a right to appeal OMAFRA's decision. If no appeal is filed within 20 business days of the compensation amount being assigned, OMAFRA will notify the City to reimburse the livestock owner.

 

For more information please contact:

Office of the City Clerk

26 Francis Street, P.O. Box 9000, Lindsay, ON K9V 4R5

705-324-9411 extension 1341 or 1342

E-Mail the Office of the City Clerk

What is Municipal Livestock Predation Investigator?

The municipal livestock predation investigators are appointed by by-law in Kawartha Lakes and are responsible for:

  • Carrying out a full and impartial investigation within 72 hours of receiving the notification of the injury or death of livestock or poultry.
  • Taking three to six colour photos per eligible kill/injury incurred and collecting all necessary information to accurately complete the application.
  • Municipal investigators are responsible for providing a completed program application to the municipality within seven business days of completing an investigation.

Municipal Investigators typically have several years of experience in some of the following fields:

  • raising livestock,
  • livestock valuation,
  • veterinary care, and/or
  • wildlife tracking and identification.

Experienced Municipal Investigators will be able to provide an opinion on whether the death of livestock (eg: cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, etc.) at a farming operation occurred either by:

  • a wild animal (eg: coyote, bear, raccoon etc.),
  • a dog or other domestic animal,
  • natural causes, or
  • unknown sources due to lack of evidence and/or scavenging.

Municipal Investigators all are required to sign a Code of Conduct and Ethics establishing a foundation for acceptable behaviour, conduct and actions. 

 

Wildlife on Private Property

The Private Property Owner’s Responsibility

The municipality does not provide support with nuisance, abandoned, injured or deceased wildlife found on private property. This is the responsibility of the private property owner. Wildlife management is the responsibility of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). Their website provides information on what to do if you notice a fish die-off, find deceased animals or fish on your property or want to report a bear problem or bear sighting.

We share our community with a wide variety of wildlife. Even in urban areas, wildlife is part of a healthy, natural environment. Here’s what to do if you encounter a wild animal on private property:

Tips To Discourage Wildlife On Your Property

Wild animals require food, water and shelter. Follow these tips to keep wildlife away from your property:

  • Store garbage in plastic containers with locking lids
  • Store garbage indoors until garbage day
  • Keep pet food inside your house
  • Ensure roof vents and chimneys are capped tightly
  • Repair holes and cracks in the exterior of your house
  • Block openings under decks, porches, patios and sheds

Tips For Protecting Wildlife

Follow these tips to help protect wildlife:

  • Do not approach or handle wildlife
  • Do not feed wild animals
  • Rinse recycling bottles, cans, jars and containers and secure waste containers and composters to avoid attracting hungry animals
  • Keep cats indoors
  • Always keep your dog on a leash when you leave your property
  • Do not feed your pet outside or leave food outside
  • Clean up waste outdoors (fishing lines, broken glass, six-pack holders and roadside litter) as it harms wildlife
  • Avoid the use of pesticides

Relocation And Trapping Of Wild Animals

Urban wildlife are a natural part of the environment and you can use deterrents to prevent wildlife from moving onto your property when possible.

The municipality does not assist in the relocation or release of trapped or abandoned wild animals. Trapping and relocation is often ineffective as another animal will quickly move into the newly vacant den or nest. Animals will often injure themselves trying to escape live traps and relocation can be extremely stressful on an animal. Often parents are separated from babies during trapping which can result in the death of their young. There is also the increase risk of infectious diseases transmission when animals are relocated. If you decide to proceed with trapping, please contact a professional pest control company or licensed trapper.

What To Do With A Sick, Injured Or Orphaned Wild Animal

You may encounter a wild animal that may be sick, injured or orphaned and may want to help. However, the animal is better off being left in its natural environment. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) explains what to do if you encounter a sick, injured or abandoned wild animal.

The municipality does not rehabilitate wild animals. Wildlife that is found sick, injured or orphaned will need the specialized care of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator that is authorized by the MNRF. You cannot keep wildlife in captivity without approval from the MNRF. Wildlife rehabilitators in Ontario are authorized by the MNRF to care for wild animals in distress until they can be released back into the wild.

To protect your safety and the safety of wildlife, you should never approach wild animals. Feeding of wild animals is not encouraged as it disrupts the natural feeding process of the wild animal and may encourage the animal to remain in the area or around your property. In some instances, feeding wild animals is a violation of the municipality’s By-Law 2017-039.

Deceased Wildlife On Private Property
A property owner may bring deceased wildlife to any landfill, provided it is not in a bag and was found on private property. It is important to note that residents should not put deceased wildlife in a bag for curbside collection.

Deceased Livestock or Roadkill

Roadkill

You can report roadkill online.

For information on what to do if you find a deceased animal on private property, please refer to the deceased wildlife on private property section above (under wildlife on private property).

Livestock
If you have suffered an injury or kill of livestock or poultry due to predation, please see the predation of livestock and poultry section above.

Animal abuse

To report suspected animal cruelty, neglect, or animals that are injured, in pain, sick, suffering or abused, please contact Animal Welfare Services (AWS) via the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre at 1-833-926-4625 (1-833-9ANIMAL) available 24/7 or follow this link https://www.ontario.ca/page/animal-welfare. AWS can also be emailed at solgen.correspondence@ontario.ca.

The Municipality’s Responsibility for Domestic Animals

The municipality has a regulatory domestic animal control by-law and a responsibility to enforce the By-Law 2021-072 when necessary. In accordance with the animal by-law, animals are not allowed to run free or be walked off leash other than on your own property. If reporting an at large domestic cats complaint, please note that this type of complaint will only be investigated when the address of the cat owner is known. Please note the Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing officers will not pursue a domestic animal that is running free in any area of the municipality.

Animals that are found at large in contravention of the by-law may be impounded by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or Police Officer and taken to a municipal pound/kennel facility. The person in charge of the animal could also be liable and receive a fine for the by-law violation.

If you are encountering a violation of the animal control by-law you may report it to the Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing division by calling 705-324-9411 extension 1212, or by completing the online complaint form. If you need assistance outside of regular business hours, call 705-928-3054 and leave a message with your name, address and phone number as well as a brief description of the issue. Please note that incomplete or anonymous complaints will not be addressed.

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