Our animal control bylaw aims to ensure the safety and regulation of animals in the County of Brant.
The following are summaries of our various animal regulations. For details on all of our animal related regulations, read the full animal control bylaw.
Pet Keeping
No person is permitted to keep more than three dogs that are over the age of three months, or more than three cats over the age of two months at any premises or in/ around any household. Exotic pets are prohibited.
Dog Licensing
All dog owners must register their dog(s) within 10 days of becoming the owner, and renew this licence each year on or before March 31. Get more information about fees and additional regulations about dog licensing.
Stoop and Scoop
All dog owners are required to remove and sanitarily dispose of any waste left by their dog(s) immediately. This rule does not apply to waste left by assistance dogs during the performance of their duties.
Pitbull Regulations
Special criteria apply to pitbull licensing, including control and sterilization. Read the Dog Owner's Liability Act for the information you need to know about owning a pitbull.
Dog Bites
If you have been bitten by a dog, get medical assistance immediately. Report to the Brant County Health Unit at 519-753-4937 ext.470 and contact the Bylaw Enforcement Department. Reporting the incident ensures verification of rabies vaccination status. Rabies is fatal if left untreated.
Prohibited Animals
It is against our bylaw to keep an animal or animals of any of the following classes anywhere within the County of Brant:
- all marsupials (such as kangaroos and opossums);
- all non-human primates (such as gorillas and monkeys);
- all felids, except the domestic cat;
- all canids, except the domestic dog;
- all viverids (such as mongooses, civets, and genets);
- all mustelid, except the ferret (such as skunks, weasels, otters and badgers);
- all ursids (bears);
- all aritodactylus ungulates, except domestic goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, alpacas and llamas kept as part of a legal livestock operation on lands zoned agricultural;
- all procyonids (such as raccoons, coatis, and cacomistles);
- all hyenas;
- all pinnipeds (such as seals, fur seals and walruses);
- all snakes of the families pythonidae and boidae;
- all venomous reptiles;
- all ratite birds (such as ostriches, rheas, cassowaries), except Emus kept as part of a legal livestock operation on lands zoned agricultural;
- all diurnal and nocturnal raptors (such as eagles, hawks and owls);
- all edentates (such as anteaters, sloths and armadillos);
- all pteropodidae (bats);
- all crocodilians (such as alligators and crocodiles);
- all arachnids (such as tarantulas);
- all perissodoactylous ungulates, except the domestic horse and donkey kept as part of a legal livestock operation on lands zoned agricultural;
- all elephantidae (elephants);
- all erinacidae (except hedgehogs)
Animal Complaints
To register a complaint, report a dog bite or if you have questions or concerns, contact Bylaw Enforcement using the contact information on this page.
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