Animal Care & Control
The Animal Care & Control Centre is where Edmonton’s stray and lost pets are housed.
About the Service
Animal Care & Control helps ensure everyone's safe, healthy and peaceful enjoyment of Edmonton neighbourhoods.
We enforce the Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw which makes owners responsible for their pet’s actions, helps return lost pets to their owners, and ensures pets are a positive addition to the community.
For more detailed information about Animal Care & Control, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (below).
Animal Care & Control Officers
Animal Care & Control Officers help owners ensure their pets are a positive addition to the community. This is done through education programs, mediating neighbour disputes, providing advice, and enforcement.
Officers also patrol neighbourhoods for stray animals and return lost pets to their owners.
Animal Care & Control Officers are sworn peace officers, giving them the ability to write tickets and lay charges that require a pet owner to appear in court.
They assist the Edmonton Police Service with aggressive or injured animals, Provincial Brand Inspectors with loose livestock, and provincial Conservation Officers with wildlife inside city limits.
Animal Care & Control Centre
The Animal Care & Control Centre is where Edmonton’s stray and lost pets are housed. The centre takes care of animals until their rightful owners can be found or until they are transferred to an adoption agency.
The staff at the centre is trained to look after the health and well-being of all pets in our care by providing:
- First aid and veterinary care for animals that come in with an injury
- Quality food
- Kennels that are cleaned and disinfected throughout each day
- Vaccinations to protect from infection
- Speciality care for unique pets by consulting with the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society, Alberta Ferret Society, Wildlife Rehabilitation Society and others.
FAQ
- What obligations do I have as a pet owner under the Animal Control Bylaw?
- What complaints will Animal Care & Control Officers investigate?
- How are pet-related complaints investigated?
- What is a mandatory court appearance?
- When can an Animal Care & Control Officer seize an animal?
- Do Animal Care & Control Officers always seize at-large animals?
- Who should I call if an animal is being abused or neglected?
- What are the possible fines for violating Edmonton’s Animal Control Bylaw?
- How do I get a pet licence?
- Can I own a dangerous dog in Edmonton?
- What should I do if I have found or lost a pet?
- What should I do if I have an unwanted cat on my property?
- How long are animals kept at the Animal Care & Control Centre?
- What does the City do to find a lost pet's owner?
- How many animals go through the Animal Care & Control Centre each year?
- How do I get to the Animal Care & Control Centre?
- 1. What obligations do I have as a pet owner under the Animal Control Bylaw?
Please visit Owning a Pet in Edmonton.
- 2. What complaints will Animal Care & Control Officers investigate?
Animal Care & Control Officers typically investigate complaints of:
- Excessive barking
- Dog bites or attacks
- Pets without a licence
- Dogs or cats at large
- Failure to clean up pet defecation (poop)
- Problem wildlife
- Dead animals on public property
- 3. How are pet-related complaints investigated?
Animal Care & Control Officers investigate complaints by interviewing witnesses, neighbours, complainants and pet owners. When possible, the officer also collects other evidence.
Any investigation can result in a simple warning, a fine or a mandatory court appearance.
- 4. What is a mandatory court appearance?
Animal Care & Control Officers can issue a ticket that requires a pet owner to appear in Provincial Court.
This option is used in cases where owners have received multiple fines for repeat offenses, such as a barking dog or dog at-large, and for extreme instances such as serious dog attacks. The Provincial Court can issue higher fines and can even order the City to seize an animal from an owner.
- 5. When can an Animal Care & Control Officer seize an animal?
Animal Care & Control Officers can seize animals that are found at-large (i.e. stray) within Edmonton city limits or animals that the Provincial Court has ordered them to seize.
Animals seized for being at-large can be picked up by their owner from the Animal Care & Control Centre at 13550 163 Street.
- 6. Do Animal Care & Control Officers always seize at-large animals?
No. Under the City’s Free Ride Home program, at-large pets with a valid pet licence can be taken directly home by an officer free of charge once every 12 months.
- 7. Who should I call if an animal is being abused or neglected?
The Edmonton Humane Society has the authority to enforce the Alberta Animal Protection Act and investigates reports of abuse. They can be reached by calling 780-491-1774.
The City does not have the mandate or legal authority to investigate animal abuse.
- 8. What are the possible fines for violating Edmonton’s Animal Control Bylaw?
Common fines are:
- Excessive barking - $100
- Owning an unlicensed pet - $250
- Animal at-large - $100
- Failure to remove defecation - $100
- Failure to control or leash a dog - $100
- Dog attack causing no injury - $100
- Dog attack causing injury - $500 to $2,500
- 9. How do I get a pet licence?
Please visit Pet Licences.
- 10. Can I own a dangerous dog in Edmonton?
Please visit Restricted Dogs.
- 11. What should I do if I have found or lost a pet?
Please visit Lost Pets.
- 12. What should I do if I have an unwanted cat on my property?
Animal Care & Control Officers do not capture at-large cats because they are generally not a danger to humans. However, stray and at-large cats can be brought to the Animal Care & Control Centre if you trap them humanely.
For information, visit Unwanted Cats on Private Property.
- 13. How long are animals kept at the Animal Care & Control Centre?
Animals with no identification are kept up to three business days and animals with identification are kept up to 10 business days.
After that, adoptable animals are transferred to the
Edmonton Humane Society and other rescue groups.- 14. What does the City do to find a lost pet's owner?
Every animal that enters our Animal Care & Control Centre is searched for tags, a tattoo or a microchip.
When an animal has a valid pet licence and is wearing tags, we can immediately contact the owner. A tattoo or microchip with up-to-date information on file also helps us to contact the owner.
Every animal that enters our facility also has its picture posted on PetLynx, an automated recovery network that matches lost pet and found pet reports.
- 15. How many animals go through the Animal Care & Control Centre each year?
On average, the Animal Service Facility sees over 8,000 animals per year.
In 2008, we reunited 2081 dogs with their owners and sent 691 to the Edmonton Humane Society and other rescue groups for adoption.
We also reunited 537 cats with their owners and sent 2116 to the Edmonton Humane Society and other rescue groups for adoption.
- 16. How do I get to the Animal Care & Control Centre?
The Animal Care & Control Centre is located at 13550 -163 Street, and shares its entrance with the Chappelle Centre for Animal Care, home of the Edmonton Humane Society.
When travelling westbound on 137 Avenue, turn left onto 163 Street. Proceed south along 163 Street until you see the monument signs for the Chappelle Centre for Animal Care and the Animal Care & Control Centre.
When travelling eastbound on 137 Avenue, turn right onto 163 Street. Proceed south along 163 Street until you see the monument signs for the Chappelle Centre for Animal Care and the Animal Care & Control Centre.
Related Information
Pets in Edmonton - Information for residents about pet laws in our city that is useful to both pet owners and everyone else.
Pet Licences - All cats and dogs six months or older must have a valid pet licence. Pet licences are affordable and available online.
Lost Pets - If you have lost or found a pet, we can help.
New Animal Care and Control Centre - Information about the new Animal Care and Control Centre
Wildlife Rehabilitation Society - The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society can respond to injured and orphaned wildlife concerns in Edmonton.
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