Animal Services
2025 Dog Licences Now Available for Purchase
It’s that time of year again – Purchase your 2025 dog licences early and it will be mailed to you in January 2025.
Please note, dog licences are currently available online only. In February, dog licences will also be available for purchase from our Main Municipal Offices, community centres and pet stores/vet clinics.
Richmond Hill requires all dogs to be licensed. Licence tags are easy to get and cost effective. They are valid from January 1 to December 31 each year.
Your pets are members of our community and we want them to be safe and enjoy living in Richmond Hill. Our Animal Control By-Laws keep our community and companion animals safe by making sure pet owners understand their responsibilities.
Learn about being a good pet owner in Richmond Hill:
Animal Services
Richmond Hill has a partnership with the City of Vaughan Animal Services that provides animal control and animal shelter services. Officers respond to calls about wildlife and pets.
You can contact them for:
- animal by-law violations
- off leash or stray animals
- a lost/found pet
- injured animals
- dog bite or attack
- complaints about barking dogs or poop and scoop
- to report dead animals on public property, including the road (note that private property owners are responsible for addressing dead and nuisance wildlife on private property)
- animal cruelty concerns
Contact Vaughan Animal Services
Website: www.vaughan.ca/animalservices
Telephone: 905-832-2281 (press "0" to speak with Access Vaughan)
Toll free: 1-855-227-7297
Email: animal.services@vaughan.ca
Note: Vaughan Animal Services responds to emergency calls 24/7.
Microchip and Rabies Clinics
Check back for upcoming clinic dates and times.
Animal Services By-laws Review
Animal Services By-laws protect the health and well-being of pets and the public by regulating pet licensing, vaccinations, and registration. They also promote the humane treatment of all animals, both wild and domestic.
The City of Richmond Hill is currently undergoing a review of its Animal Services By-laws to modernize existing regulations and gain insight into topics such as maximum pet limits, humane care, wildlife interactions, pet licensing, and prohibited animals.
If you would like to provide feedback on the Animal Services By-laws Review, please email bylaw@richmondhill.ca
Dangerous Dogs
Provincial Offences Officers have authority to designate a dog as dangerous, and require the dog’s owner to comply with requirements as set out in a Dangerous Dog Notice to ensure the dog does not pose a risk to the community. A dangerous dog means a dog that, in the absence of any mitigating factor, has bitten a person or domestic animal.
A dog owner may contest the requirements of a Dangerous Dog Notice through an appeal hearing. A request for an appeal hearing must be made in writing within five days of receipt of the Notice. Once an appeal request is reviewed and approved, the appeal hearing will be scheduled upon payment of the Dangerous Dog Hearing Fee.
Dangerous Dog Notice appeal hearings are conducted by the City’s appointed Hearing Officer, and in accordance with the Statutory Powers and Procedures Act. Upon review of the Dangerous Dog Notice, the Hearing Officer may confirm, amend or rescind the requirements set out in the Notice. Should the Dangerous Dog Notice be rescinded in its entirety, the Dangerous Dog Hearing Review fee will be refunded.
While a hearing request may be made, the Dangerous Dog Notice requirements take effect once the order is served, and remain in effect until a hearing is held and a decision is provided.
Avian Influenza (H5N1) - Bird Flu
Report sick or dead wild birds: With geese starting to return to the community, York Region municipalities including Richmond Hill, may see wild birds that have died or are infected with avian influenza (H5N1), also known as bird flu.
Just a reminder that if you come across sick or dead geese, ducks or other wild birds in Richmond Hill:
- Do not touch them
- Report them to our animal services provider, Vaughan Animal Services at 905-832-2281 or animal.services@vaughan.ca
For more information, visit our Wildlife in the City page.
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Frequently asked questions about pets in Richmond Hill
| How many pets can I have? |
| You can have up to four dogs and six cats when you live in Richmond Hill. |
| What is the 'Free Ride Home' program? |
| Each year, Animal Control Officers will give one free ride home to licensed dogs in Richmond Hill if they are found in the community. This means they won't have to go to the shelter. |
| What kind of pets need to be licensed in Richmond Hill? |
| All dogs must be licensed each year in Richmond Hill. Learn more about licensing your dog. |
| Where can I buy a dog licence? |
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Purchasing or renewing your dog licence is easy:
Lose your dog tag? Purchase a replacement tag online. To obtain a dog licence for a Service Dog, please contact us at 905-771-0198 |