Background Living Here

Animal Control & Licensing

Leaving pets in hot vehicles? Not cool. 

On a hot day, rolling down the window or parking in the shade is not enough. An animal left unattended in a vehicle – even with the window down – could face serious illness or death. 

The most dramatic rise in temperature occurs within the first 10 minutes that a vehicle is idle. Even at an outdoor temperature of only 25ºC, the inside temperature of a car can reach 34ºC in as little as 10 minutes and up to 50ºC by the time an hour has passed. A dog’s normal body temperature is about 39°C and a temperature of 41°C can’t be withstood for long. Animals can die of heatstroke within 15 minutes. 

Make sure you are practicing proper heat safety to keep your pets safe and sound: 

  • Limit exercise on hot days. 

  • Shady spots offer little protection on hot days and move with the sun. 

  • Make sure your pet has plenty of water. 

  • Never leave pets unattended by the beach, lake or pool. 

  • Never leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of a car can quickly climb to dangerous levels, even with the windows cracked open or when parked in a shady spot. 

Pets should never be left unattended in a hot vehicle, even for a couple minutes. The City of Orillia Care of Animals By-law sets out enforcement for doing so: 

285.3.2 Animal - inside motor vehicle – distress 

No person shall cause or permit an animal to be in distress while the animal is inside a motor vehicle. Where a Police Officer has removed an animal from a motor vehicle, any Officer may seize and impound the animal to relieve the animal from distress.   

285.2.4 Distress - defined 

“distress” means: 

(a) the state of being in need or appearing to be in need of proper care, water, food, or shelter, or; 

(b) being or appearing to be injured, sick, in pain, or suffering. 

If you leave an animal in a hot vehicle in the City of Orillia, you could be fined: 

  • Up to $25,000 on a first offence; 

  • Up to $50,000 on any subsequent offence. 

Your pets feel the heat just like you do! During hot weather, stay safe and keep your pet at home. 

If an animal is observed in a vehicle and appears in critical distress, call 911. 

  • If it is a non-emergency during regular By-law business hours (Monday to Saturday), call the City of Orillia animal control line at 705-325-2110;
  • If it is a non-emergency outside regular By-law business hours, call the Ontario Provincial Police non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122.

Dogs

Dog Licensing

All dog owners in Orillia must license their dog(s). On December 10, 2020, Council implemented a lifetime dog licence which replaces the former annual/multi-year licensing.
Things You Need to Know
  • Dogs under the age of 12 weeks do not require a licence.
  • You must provide proof that your dog(s) has been inoculated with a non-expired anti-rabies vaccine when you purchase the licence.
  • Please note that Ontario Regulation 567 under the Health Promotion and Protection Act requires all dogs three months of age or over to be immunized against rabies at all times. All aspects of compliance with Ontario Regulation 567 under the Health Promotion and Protection Act, are the exclusive and sole responsibility of the person having care or custody of the animal that is required to be immunized against rabies.

What is the cost for a licence?
  • Lifetime licence - $75.00
Is a licence transferable to another dog?
No.
Where can a licence be purchased?

Orillia City Centre, 50 Andrew St. S. (first floor) or at the following locations:

  • Critter Cove - 180 Front St. S.
  • OSPCA Orillia Branch - 467 West St. N.
Is there a dog limit per dwelling?
A maximum of two dogs is permitted per dwelling unit.
Taking Your Dog for a Walk?
All dogs must be on a leash no longer than 10 feet (3 metres) in length when off its owner's property and must be kept under control at all times. Please remember to stoop and scoop.
Who to call with questions about dog licensing?
Call the Animal Control line at 705-325-2110.
Leash-Free Dog Zones
The City has two leash-free dog zones: Clayt French Park on Atlantis Drive and Kitchener Park on Kitchener Street. There is a limit of two dogs per guardian and dogs must be licenced and vaccinated.
Noise
No owner of a dog shall allow their dog to howl, bark excessively, or become a nuisance. This prohibition is in effect 24 hours per day.
Enforcement - Dogs

Effective April 1, 2022, City of Orillia by-law enforcement will take over providing services related to animal control for dogs from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ontario SPCA) Orillia Animal Centre.

The City's Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers are primarily responsible for enforcing by-law violations related to dogs, including dogs at large, barking and disturbing the peace, and stoop and scoop issues.  They can be reached at 705-325-2110.

The Ontario SPCA Orillia Animal Centre will remain the facility where stray dogs will be sheltered.

Emergency Services - After Hours

The City's Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers provide after-hours emergency services related to dogs such as responding to stray dogs that are injured or sick. To report an emergency, call the animal control line at 705-325-2110.

Enforcement - Dog Bites

If a dog bites a person or pet, the Ontario Provincial Police is the agency responsible for enforcing that matter and be reached at 1-888-310-1122, or 911 (if emergency). When reporting a dog bite, you need to provide accurate information pertaining to the incident (date, time and location), dog owner information and a description of the dog. The Dog Owner's Liability Act outlines the dog owner's responsibility to prevent a bite or an attack.

Enforcement - Animal Cruelty

Who do I report concerns regarding an owned animal that is in distress or being neglected such as injured, in pain, sick, suffering, or abused, or lack of proper care, water, food or shelter?

Contact the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre: 1-833-9-ANIMAL. These situations fall under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act and are enforced by provincial inspectors, as opposed to the City’s Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers.  

Exotic Animals

What animals are prohibited under the Exotic Animal By-law?
The full list of prohibited animals is within Schedule "A" of the by-law. There is a significant range of animals on the prohibited list including poisonous and venomous reptiles, as well as tigers, monkeys, ducks and chickens.
Does the by-law apply to all snakes?
All venomous/poisonous snakes are prohibited, as well as anacondas and all snakes of the families pythonidae and boidae. Furthermore, any snake that is wild and brought captive is prohibited. This means that other snakes such as corn snakes, milk snakes, bull snakes and king snakes are permitted, provided such snakes were not wild and brought captive.
Does the by-law apply to all lizards?
All venomous or poisonous lizards are prohibited. Lizards that exceed two meters in length are prohibited. However, other lizards such as leopard geckos and bearded dragons are permitted, provided they were not wild and brought captive.
I have questions that are not on this list. Who can I call?
Contact the animal control line at 705-325-2110 for more information.

Cats

 Do Cats Need to be Licenced?
No.  There is no by-law in the City of Orillia that requires cats to be licenced. 
 Are Cats Allowed to Run at Large?

There is no by-law in the City of Orillia that prohibits cats from running at large.  To deter cats from entering your property:

  • Plant Rue herb in your garden.  this is a flowering herb available at local nurseries. 
  • Plan Plectranthus Caninus, better known as "Scaredy Cat Plant", in your Garden.  This is also available at local nurseries. 
  • Plan a clean margarine container with holes punched in the lid, with a cloth in it soaked in household bleach in the area where you want to keep cats out.  The odour of the bleach coming through the holes in the container lid is a deterrent. 

If you have any questions regarding these tips, please contact the Orillia OSPCA at 705-325-1304.
 Why Spay/Neuter Your Cat?

Based on the current cat population and the fact that cats reproduce at substantially high rates (up to 18 kittens per cat per year), it is clear that the cat population will not decrease over time unless cat owners do their part by spaying or neutering their cats.  

Benefits of spaying/neutering your cat:

  • Spaying/Neutering helps to reduce the overpopulation of cats in the City and the significant number of cats that are housed at the OSPCA shelter, as well as reduces the burden placed on volunteer rescue groups. 
  • Spayed/neutered cats are more relaxed.  They are not driven to mate and are less likely to roam. 
  • Neutering tends to diminish aggressive behaviour towards other animals and decreases the likelihood of fight-related injuries. 
  • Altered cats are less likely to spray. 

The City encourages cat owners to visit the OSPCA at www.ontariospca.ca to learn more about spaying and neutering and to locate a clinic. 
 Where Can I Adopt a Cat?

If you are interested in adopting a cat, please contact:

  • Orillia OSPCA - 705-325-1304
  • Comfie Cat Shelter - 705-326-1545