The Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw helps ensure Calgary’s cats, dogs, and citizens can live together safely and harmoniously.
Under this bylaw, all cats and dogs living in Calgary must be licensed by the age of three months, regardless of whether they are considered indoor or outdoor pets. Owners must also ensure their pets do not stray from their property unless under their control.
Why the need to license indoor pets? Firstly, accidents do happen, and sometimes indoor pets get out. Your pet’s license is its ticket home, should this happen. A bylaw officer’s first response when coming across a cat or dog at large in the community is to try to get that pet back home. Being able to reference your contact information from your pet’s license makes this process much quicker and easier for everyone.
The second reason for having your pet licensed is that licensing fees, not tax dollars, fund many of the services provided by Animal Services including, but not limited to:
- Educating citizens about responsible pet ownership and enforcing the bylaw
- Housing, feeding and providing medical care for impounded cats and dogs in our vet-operated facility
- Managing our animal adoption program
- Helping neighbours resolve their animal related conflicts
- Providing funding to veterinary clinics for emergency medical care for injured stray cats and dogs
- Operating the No Cost Spay/Neuter program for the cats and dogs of eligible Calgarians.
Help us keep your pets safe – license them annually! Visit calgary.ca/animalservices for details.
