Animal Care & Control
Important information on the City's Animal Care and Control Program is found under the following headings:
Animal Care & Control ServicesLicensing your Dog or Identifying your CatClaiming your Pet and Pet AdoptionsLondon Animal Care Centre's (LACC's) WebsiteContact Numbers and other Important InformationAnimal Care & Control Services
The City's Animal Care and Control Program is divided into four main areas with services provided under contract by the London Animal Care Centre (LACC):
1. Animal Control - a function designed primarily for the protection of residents and visitors to London. Specifically the mandate covers control of:
- stray dogs
- sick, injured, or dying domestic or wild animals except those animals provided for by the London Humane Society
- confined cats
The services are delivered seven days a week, with some conditions. Other key features specified include:
- all animal related matters affecting public safety
- rescue matters where animals are in distress
- 24 hour "Emergency" service
2. By-law Enforcement which covers:
- enforcing two City of London by-laws
o
PH-3 Animal Control By-law, and
o
PH-4 Dog Licensing & Control By-law - issuing Provincial Offences Notice (PONs) as follows:
o Part I Certificates (can be paid out of court)
o Part I Summons (requires the recipient to appear in court)
o Part III Summons (requires the recipient to appear in court) - issuing Notice of Contravention (NOCs) - typically issued to allow a pet owner time to purchase identification
- issuing Verbal and Written warnings:
o PH-3, Animal Control By-law
o PH-4, Dog Licensing & Control By-law
3. Dog Licensing and Cat Identification Program which includes:
- obtaining all necessary particulars before issuing the dog licences and cat identifications
- issuing all dog licences and cat identifications, and
- receiving and collecting licence and identification fees including the renewal process
4. Shelter (Pound) Services for stray animals - the facility, located at 121 Pine Valley Boulevard, is designed to receive stray animals primarily from animal control officers, and, to a lesser extent, from the general public. The pound is operated in accordance with the provisions of the Public Pound by-law, the Pounds Act, Animals Research Act, the Municipal Act and all other applicable legislation. The pound is constructed and maintained in accordance with Ontario regulation 17/80. Care and cleanliness within the pound complies with the standards designated by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF).
All the above services are delivered under contract to the City by the London Animal Care centre (LACC). In addition, the following services are provided directly by LACC:
- Pet adoption
- Outreach activities
Licensing your Dog or Identifying your Cat
Be sure that your pet is wearing a current dog or cat tag. It is mandatory. Licences or tags are one of the best investments you can make to protect your pet. Licence applications can be made by mail or in person at either of the following locations:
- London Animal Care Centre, 121 Pine Valley Boulevard - 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday; and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday.
- City Clerk's Office, 3rd Floor, City Hall, 300 Dufferin Avenue - 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday
(for renewals only).
If your dog has been spayed or neutered the fee is $31.00 and cats are $20.00. Fees are higher for animals that have not been sterilized and for pit bull dogs. Applications for reduced tag fees must be accompanied by proof of sterilization.
The licensing of pets comes under By-law PH-3 (pdf) with the objective: "to provide for the regulation, restriction and prohibition of the keeping of animals in the City of London." By-law PH4 (pdf) specifically concerns dog licensing and control. Pit bull dogs have additional license fees and restrictions under By-law PH-12 (pdf). You'll also find additional information on licensing at the London Animal Care Centre Web site.
London Animal Care Centre (LACC) keeps all strays for a minimum of four days as part of the claim period. Three days are required under provincial regulation. These four days allow time for the owner to claim their pet at the shelter. Contacting LACC at 519 685-1330 during this period to see if your pet has been sheltered at their facility is key.
Located on mycommunityinfo.ca (a website designed to access community and government information in the City of London and Middlesex County), is the Lost Pets web page that provides assistance and advice when pets are lost or found.
If the owner for some reason does not to claim a pet during these four days, LACC becomes the custodian of the animal. It is after this period that LACC can start its adoption process and find new homes for many of the animals. Contacting LACC at 519 685-1330 or visiting their website is a great place to look for adoptable animals.
LACC's website contains very important information including:
- Pet protection and public safety - "your pet, the law and you"
- Safety around dogs
- LACC Pet Adoption Centre including tips for caring for your adopted dog or cat
- Frequently asked questions and answers about animal care, pet adoption, by-laws, cat identification dog licensing, personal safety, service and wildlife.
Contact numbers and Other Important Information
For Animal Care & Control and your pet related questions and concerns,
contact London Animal Care Centre
:
Phone: 519 685-1330
Fax: 519 685-6940
Location: 121 Pine Valley Boulevard
Barking Dogs - If you need to file a complaint about a Barking Dog,
please or call 519 661-4660. Please do not call LACC about barking dogs as this falls under
the City of London Noise By-law. As a last resort, contact the London Police at 519 661-5670 to report excessive barking by a dog. Based on experience, the advice will be to discuss the matter, if possible, with the dog owner before police officers are asked to respond.
Contact the City of London if your questions have not been addressed or
if we can be of further assistance:
Phone: 519 661-2500 ext. 7368
Fax: 519 661-2354
Contact the London Humane Society (LHS) to report any cases associated with animal cruelty. LHS also operates an adoption centre:
Phone: 519 451-0630; Investigations: 519 451-0500
Fax: 519 451-8995
Location: 624 Clarke Road