Toronto City Council modernizes animal bylaw, improves welfare of animals and wildlife in Toronto – City of Toronto – Toronto

Toronto City Council today adopted amendments to modernize the Animal Bylaw, which include prohibiting the feeding of wildlife, limiting the number of domestic guinea pigs, rabbits and pigeons a person may keep and other amendments to support the welfare of animals and wildlife.
The bylaw amendments include:
Cats continue to be permitted outdoors and are not required to be leashed. A committee recommendation that required cats to be kept indoors and kept on a leash when outdoors was rejected by Council.
All cats and dogs in Toronto are required to have a valid pet licence that must be renewed annually. A microchip for cats and dogs is also strongly encouraged. More information is available on the City’s Pet Licensing webpage.
Currently, feeding wildlife is prohibited in all City parks. As of April 1, 2023, feeding wildlife will be prohibited across Toronto and on private properties. Feeding wildlife can lead to public safety issues and negatively affect wildlife and the broader ecosystem. It is also the most prevalent cause of any conflict between wild canids (i.e. coyotes, foxes) and humans and their pets. A public education campaign will be launched in the fall of 2022 to educate residents about the new regulations around feeding wildlife and why it is harmful to wildlife and leads to conflicts with humans.
The new rules around the limits to the number of guinea pigs, rabbits and pigeons permitted to be owned will go into effect on December 1, 2022. However, the limitation will not apply to rescue groups caring for rabbits, guinea pigs or pigeons. Residents with more than four guinea pigs or rabbits as of December 1, 2022 will be permitted to keep up to 10 pets for their lifespan. All other bylaw amendments come in effect immediately. City staff will work with owners to educate them about the new rules, ensure compliance and support the welfare of their pets.
The City has also introduced new fees and amended existing fees related to animal impoundment, surrender and protective care. This includes:
The Animal Bylaw Review responded to Council directives and the amendments were recommended after comprehensive research and extensive stakeholder consultations. As part of this work, the City reviewed best practices from other municipalities, obtained feedback through a public survey and third-party public opinion research, and conducted analysis of licensing, complaint and enforcement data. More information is available on the City’s Animal Bylaw Review webpage.
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