Responsible Pet Ownership
HEAT ALERT: If you see an animal in a car or left outside for a long period of time, please report it to Service Vaughan (Vaughan Animal Services, our animal services provider) at 905-832-2281.
Pet owners in Richmond Hill must follow our local rules and regulations to ensure pets are properly cared for, loved and a welcome part of the community. Follow local by-laws to be a responsible owner, a good neighbour and to show proper care for your pet.
New Animal Regulation By-law
The Responsible Pet Ownership and Animal Regulation By-law supports the health and safety of animals and the public, demonstrating our continued commitment to responsible pet ownership, public safety and animal welfare.
New changes in the by-law include:
- Cat Licensing – As of June 1, 2025, all cats (in addition to dogs) need to be licensed and wear a visible tag
- Modernized Dangerous Dog Restrictions and Owner Requirements
- Reduced Household Pet Limits: a maximum of seven animals per household, including no more than three dogs and four cats
- Positive Pets List: outlines approved types of animals that may be kept as household pets
- Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) enforcement for violations
Pet owners who fail to comply with by-law regulations may be ticketed and fined.
Pet Owner Responsibilities
As a pet owner in Richmond Hill, you must:
- Licence your dog and cat every year and make sure they always wear a collar with the licence attached.
- Stoop and Scoop – Pick up any mess made by your pet and place it in the correct waste container.
- Keep your pet on a leash whenever you're in a public area, unless you are at an official off leash dog area.
- To keep cats safe and prevent trespassing, please limit outdoor activities to your own property. Roaming and trespassing cats can lead to property damage, harm to wildlife and to the cats themselves.
Additional tips for responsible pet owners:
- Spay or neuter your pet to reduce pet overpopulation and to get a discount on your annual dog and cat licence.
- Discourage consistent barking, howling or whining.
- Exercise and socialize your pet, remember to keep your dog leashed when out in public spaces.
- Provide your pet with appropriate food and clean fresh water every day.
- Provide your pet with medical care, including up-to-date vaccinations and annual check-ups.
- Give your pet lots of love and attention every day.
Together, Let’s Keep Our City Clean, Safe and Pet-Friendly
We’ve heard your concerns loud and clear, including pets being off-leash in public spaces and people not picking up after their pets. These concerns impact the enjoyment, cleanliness and safety of our shared spaces. We’re asking all residents to work together to keep our parks and neighbourhoods welcoming for everyone — two-legged and four-legged alike.
Please leash your pets where required and clean up after them. It’s a small act that makes a big difference.
Other guidelines to keep in mind:
Parked cars heat up fast, and even quick stops can be dangerous. If you can’t take the heat, neither can your dog. Even a quick stop can turn deadly in a parked car. Keep your pets safe. leave them at home. If you see an animal in a car or left outside for a long period of time, please report it to Service Vaughan (Vaughan Animal Services, our animal services provider) at 905-832-2281.
Cleaning up after your pet in public spaces keeps Richmond Hill clean and safe for everyone.
- People often think dog waste is safe, natural and compostable. It’s not. In fact, dog poop can pose serious health risks to humans, impacting local ecosystems. It can also attract coyotes and rodents like rats.
- Dog poop takes months to break down and when left on the ground, it cannot be used as a fertilizer. Instead, when it rains, it soaks into groundwater or flows with rain and meltwater into the City’s stormwater system, which flows to nearby streams, creeks, rivers and eventually to Lake Ontario.
It’s your doo-ty - don’t dodge it. Pick up after your pup… even in natural areas. And don’t forget to bring your filled bags out of the park with you to safely dispose. Help keep our park spaces and sidewalks clean.
Dogs must be on a leash unless in a fenced yard or off-leash park. It’s the law and keeps tails wagging safely. Let’s work together to keep our community, pets and wildlife safe.
Off-leash dog parks for licensed dogs
Off-leash parks are for fun, but only when everyone plays by the rules. Did you know that all dogs using one of the City’s off leash dog parks must be licensed? And while there, make sure to pick up after your pup and help keep our parks safe, clean and wag-worthy.
Keeping Your Pets Safe and Warm in Winter
Tips to keep in mind, with information from the Toronto Humane Society's Animal Talk Fact Sheet:
- If you need to bundle up, so does your pet! In very cold weather, put a warm coat on your short-haired dog and take short walks (only a few minutes).
- Long-haired dogs should not be outside for more than 20 minutes in very cold weather. They are just as susceptible to sudden temperature changes as you are.
- Animals can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite is most common on your pet's paws. Symptoms of frostbite may not appear until a couple of days after exposure. Signs to watch for are swollen paws and your pet fussing over the area. If this happens, take your pet to your veterinarian immediately. On the way, wrap your pet in dry warm blankets and apply a warm (not hot) water bottle to the affected area.
- If your dog is outside with you a lot in the winter, he will need more calories to produce body heat, so increase the amount you feed him.
- If your pet gets very little exercise during the winter, decrease his calorie intake to avoid excess weight gain.
- Antifreeze tastes good to pets, but it's a deadly poison. Keep an eye out for antifreeze puddles. If you suspect your pet has ingested antifreeze, rush him to your veterinarian immediately. The most likely source of the poison is a radiator drainage spot in a garage or parking area, which should be flushed with water immediately.
- When you're outside with your pet, watch out for chemicals used to melt snow on sidewalks - they can irritate your pet's paws. Always remember to wipe his paws with a wet cloth after an outing and remove the ice between his paw pads. If your dog's paws look sore or irritated, apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly. You can also purchase commercial boots to protect his paws from the elements.
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