According to the Toronto Municipal code all cats and dogs kept as pets must licensed.
The licenses are used by the Toronto Human Society to help reunite lost pets with their owner. Failure to license your cat or dog could result in a $240 ticket and, if you are taken to court, could cost you up to $5,000.
Even so, according to estimates by the City, only 30 per cent of dogs and 10 per cent of cats in the City of Toronto are licensed and wearing the associated tag.
In an effort to increase these low-percentages, the City has now made it easier for Torontonians to register their pets.
Whereas pet owners could once only purchase licenses through the City itself, a new program rolled out in partnership with the Toronto Humane Society means that dog and cat owners can now purchase the needed licenses directly from the Humane Society, and in some instances, directly from their veterinarians.
Licenses will still be sold at the four Toronto Animal Services' shelters and on the City's website through the
e-Pet portal.
Pet licenses can range from $15 to $50 dollars (depending on whether or not an animal is sterilized) and are even lower for guide dogs or for pets belonging to senior citizens. All fees go directly to Toronto Animal Services.
"Each year, Toronto Animal Services reunites more than 2,200 pets with their owners," stated Councillor Cesar Palacio (Ward 17 Davenport), chair of the Licensing and Standards Committee, in a press release accompanying the rollout of the program. "When pets are licensed, the animal care and control officers on the street do not ever have to bring the animal to the shelter. The pet and owner can be reunited almost immediately."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: City of Toronto