FAQs

The Animal Care & Control Centre is a City owned and operated facility funded by the municipal tax levy. Our mandate is to reunite lost and stray animals with their owners, educate citizens on responsible pet ownership and enforce the Animal Licensing & Control Bylaw and the Animal Protection Act. ACCC is a temporary holding facility. Unclaimed animals are transferred to rescue agencies including the Edmonton Humane Society for adoption. 

The Edmonton Humane Society is a not-for-profit that accepts transferred animals from ACCC and provides pet adoption services, accepts owned animals that are surrendered for rehoming, offers education and training services, provides low income spay neuter services, offers cremation services and provides social support to the community through programs such as the Pet Pantry food supply program. EHS relies on donations and the funding of a number of partners, including the City of Edmonton.

Residents’ needs have changed since the Animal Licensing & Control Bylaw was first introduced over 20 years ago. A renewal of the bylaw will promote responsible pet ownership and provide for effective education, compliance and enforcement by addressing the new and emerging trends that impact residents, businesses and our environment.

Attitudes around pets and animals are changing. There is an increasing Interest in urban agriculture - hens, bees and livestock

There is a desire for more pet friendly spaces and fewer restrictions on where animals (including companion animals) can be taken.

There have been changes in the legal landscape. The way in which we view animals is changing, as are their rights. There is a shift towards viewing more animals as sentient beings.

There is also a shift in how we think about our pets. The use of “companion animals” is becoming more prevalent.  Companion animals are domesticated or domestic bred animals whose physical, emotional, behavioural and social needs can be readily met as companions in the home or in close daily relationship with humans. Companion animals may include animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, and fish where they can be legally and responsibly maintained as companions. Companion animals are different from service animals which are provincially regulated.

Support Animal provides emotional support to their owners and helps their owners cope with the challenges associated with emotional and mental health conditions or disorders by providing comfort with their presence. They do not help with a task.

Service Animal is a provincially designated animal that performs specific tasks or behaviours to help people with visible and non-visible disabilities. A service animal is certified in writing as having been trained by a professional service animal institution to assist a person with a disability. 

Service animals are defined under the Service Dog Act and only dogs are recognized as service animals in Alberta according to the Act. Here is information on the provincial website and accreditation Information. 

The City of Edmonton’s Animal Control Peace Officers are responsible for enforcing Bylaw 13145 Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw. This includes: regulations for cats and dogs such as licensing, animals at large, dog attacks, barking, defecation, hens and bees, licensing, etc. 

Animal Control Peace Officers are sworn peace officers, giving them the ability to write tickets and lay charges that require a pet owner to appear in court. 

The City may also apply to the courts for Dangerous Dog Act Orders where a dog has attacked other animals or people. These orders are used to seek additional conditions on the ownership of companion animals or to seek the destruction of a dog.

In 2019, the City of Edmonton took on the enforcement of the Animal Protection Act enabling Peace Officers to respond to animals in distress or those that have been neglected and/or abandoned.

The Animal Licensing & Control Bylaw protects people from pets while the Animal Protection Act protects pets from people. The bylaw ensures the safety of people by monitoring the pet population and placing requirements on citizens to ensure the safe and peaceful enjoyment of Edmonton communities. The Animal Protection Act ensures animals receive adequate care in terms of food, water, shelter, ventilation, and medical care to prevent animals from becoming in distress. 

Responsible pet owners not only look after their pet’s health and wellness, they also make sure their pet is a positive addition to the community and that they adhere to the Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Licensing your pet - all dogs and cats age six months and older must have a valid pet license and tag

• They poop. You scoop

• Prevent excessive dog barking

Although not required by bylaw, we also encourage citizens to:

• Spay/neuter their pets - fixing your pets prevents unwanted litters, improves overall health and reduces aggression.

• Pet ID - In addition to a pet license, pet owners are encouraged to ensure their pet has some sort of identification such as a microchip or tattoo so that we can reunite them with you should they get lost.

The processes that go into renewing the current bylaw including a thorough public opinion research and engagement, integrating feedback into preparing a renewed bylaw draft and City Council submission will take about 24 -36 months. Depending on the decisions made by the City Council and the required changes to internal business unit’s procedures, it could take an additional 10 months for the new bylaw to come into effect.

We do not anticipate there being an increase in pet licensing fees, as our last fee adjustment was completed in 2019 and at the time of review, research showed that our fees were in line with other jurisdictions.

Your pet license provide you the assurance that the City can contact you if your pet gets out and is found along with one free ride home. It also gives back to the community. In purchasing your pet license you help provide:

• Food, shelter, medical care and enrichment and safe-harbour for lost pets and stray animals and those that are victims of cruelty, neglect and abandonment

• Emergency first-aid vet care to lost and stray animals and those that have been neglected, abused or injured

• Support for animal welfare law enforcement addressing instances of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. 

• Support for local rescue organizations and shelters.  The City of Edmonton partners with local rescue groups to ensure transferred pets are spayed/neutered. The city also provides grant funding to support rescue projects, low-income spay/neuter programs and maintenance of Edmonton’s off-leash parks.

Please email animalbylawrenewal@edmonton.ca or call 311 with further questions about this project.