NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF ORILLIA
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Effective April 1, City of Orillia bylaw 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.
“We are pleased to be continuing the long-standing relationship with the Ontario SPCA Orillia Animal Centre through shelter services and we are committed to maintaining the excellent level of animal control to Orillia residents by bringing the enforcement services in-house effective April 1,” said Mayor Steve Clarke.
In 2021, the Ontario SPCA Orillia Animal Centre notified the city they would discontinue providing animal control services at the end of their current contract, which expires March 31.
As a result, during 2022 budget deliberations, council approved hiring two animal control officers to provide 40 hours per week of service, consistent with the level of service provided by the Ontario SPCA.
Effective April 1, the City of Orillia will begin enforcement and administration of bylaw restrictions related to dog control services, including dogs at large, barking and disturbing the peace, and stoop-and-scoop issues.
The city is also providing after-hours emergency services related to dog control. The Ontario SPCA Orillia Animal Centre will remain the facility where stray dogs will be sheltered.
Concerns regarding an owned animal that is in distress or being neglected, such as injured, in pain, sick, suffering, abused, or lack of proper care, water, food or shelter, should be reported to the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre at 1-833-9-ANIMAL. These situations fall under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act and are enforced by provincial inspectors.
“The city’s Legislative Services Division is well-prepared to take on dog control services and as part of the transition, we have hired two animal control officers,” said Shawn Crawford, manager of legislative services.
All dog owners in Orillia must license their dog(s). No owner of a dog shall allow their dog to be at large, howl, or bark excessively.
The city does not provide animal control services related to cats.
In addition to the new dog control services, the city’s animal control officers will enforce existing animal control bylaws related to dog licensing, hen coops, processing hen coop licence applications, and harbouring prohibited exotic animals.
Exotic animals, including poisonous and venomous reptiles, tigers, and monkeys, are prohibited in the City of Orillia. For the full list of prohibited animals, please visit orillia.ca/animalcontrol.
Who to call:
- Animal control services related to dogs, dog licensing, hen coops, and exotic animals: City of Orillia animal control line, 705-325-2110
- After-hours emergency services related to dog control: City of Orillia animal control line, 705-325-2110
- To report an owned animal that is in distress or being neglected: Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre, 1-833-9-ANIMAL
- Shelter services in the City of Orillia: Ontario SPCA Orillia Animal Centre, 705-325-1304
Information about the city’s animal control services and enforcement is available at orillia.ca/animalcontrol.
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