Animal Control and Services

The Stratford Perth Humane Society has been providing animal control services for residents in the Municipality of West Perth since November 1, 2019. These services are limited to regulating dogs. Details can be found in the Canine Control and Kennel By-law 17-2017 or by reading the information provided below.

Residents of the Municipality should call the Stratford Perth Humane Society at 519-273-6600 for the following:

• To report by-law violations (except barking dogs)
• To report stray animals
  • The Stratford Perth Humane Society can accept stray cats however they strongly suggest people call first as they may not have space available and cats may have to be placed on a waiting list. Stray cats will not be picked up and must be brought to the Stratford Perth Humane Society. 
• To report a lost or found pet
• To report sick/injured animals
  • The Stratford Perth Humane Society can help with sick/injured cats and sick/injured wildlife. 
• To report a dog bite
• To report a dead domestic animal
• To report dead wildlife (dead wildlife on public property is collected at no charge)

The Stratford Perth Humane Society is located at 125 Griffith Road, Stratford.
They can be reached by phone at 519-273-6600

Dog owners are required to obtain a licence and tag for their dog. In 2021, the Municipality moved to a generic dog tag system with no year on the tag. You are issued an annual invoice for the dog fees as per the Animal ByLaw. Your dog will have the same tag while they reside in West Perth.  (see By-law 17-2017 Part 1). 

2023 Dog licence fees are due February 28, 2023. 
If your fees are not paid before May 31, 2023 the fee will double, as a penalty.

Invoices are sent out at the beginning of each year to registered dog owners, and payment is due before the end of February. Please ensure that the tag is attached to the dog at all times when it is off your property.  A dog tag is the best form of ID for your dog, as it will assist in recovering your dog if it is lost.  If you are unsure if your dog is registered, contact the Municipal Office.

If this is a new dog: 

We will require the Dog Tag Application to be completed. Payment can be made at the Municipal Office, or by mailing the application form and a cheque for payment to the Municipality of West Perth. We will register your dog and send the tag to you by mail, or you can pick it up at the Municipal Office. Owners must make rabies shot information available to the Municipality on request.

If your dog already has a tag: 

You don't need to re-submit an application. There are a number of ways to pay your annual dog fees:

• Mail a cheque: payable to The Municipality of West Perth to 169 St. David Street PO Box 609, Mitchell ON, N0K1N0;
• Municipal drop-box (cheques only): located at 169 St. David St. Mitchell to the right of the ground-level entrance;
• Telephone or online banking: Select "West Perth (Mun) Water/Sewer" as the payee and use your 10-digit customer number on your invoice;
• E-transfer: to finance@westperth.com. Please reference your 10-digit customer number when paying through e-transfer. Contact us at 519-348-8429 for instructions on how to use this service;
• Your financial institution: can also make these payments if you provide them with the invoice.

If you no longer have a dog(s): 

We ask that you please notify the Municipal Office so it may be removed from our database, preventing you from receiving an invoice the following year.

 Happy Dogs have Tags!

Kennel Licence:

Anyone who wishes to obtain a kennel licence must complete an application form (see By-law 17-2017).  Forms are available at the municipal office.  It is important to contact the municipal office prior to building any type of kennel structure, etc. as there are certain zoning requirements and standards in place.

Dog and Kennel licence fees 

If you see a dog running at large, please contact the Stratford Perth Humane Society. More information about lost and found pets is available on their webpage.

The Stratford Perth Humane Society tries to reunite all lost pets with their owners, however if they are unable to, they hope to adopt them out to new forever homes in the community.  

Barking dogs are considered a noise violation and are handled by Municipal By-Law Enforcement Services or the police. If you are experiencing a disturbance in the Municipality of West Perth and are looking to report a noise complaint, please call 519-348-8429 ext 232.

Please note that all complaints are made confidentially, and that the municipality is unable to investigate complaints where the location of the dog is unknown. 

If you think an animal is in distress or being abused contact the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre at
1-833-9-ANIMAL or 1-833-926-4625 for assistance.

The Ontario Government has released updates to the Standards of Care for Outdoor Dogs in Ontario. The updated standards of care create more comprehensive requirements related to general care, outdoor dog shelters, use of tethering, use of housing pens and more. These new standards will come into effect on July 1, 2022. For more information, please check out their website. 

If you witness cruelty, abandonment or neglect, please report it right away to Ontario's Provincial Animal Welfare Services 24/7 reporting hotline: 1-833-9ANIMAL

The Municipality pays owners for the cost of livestock killed or injured by coyotes through the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program. If you are interested in more information about the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program please visit the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' website.

To apply for payment farmers must:

• Have a valid farm business registration number (FBR)
• Have a premises ID number
• Report the kill within 48 hours
• Retain remains of the kill for inspection by the Municipality's Livestock Valuer
• Call to report a kill or request more details

Provincial regulations on deadstock disposal.