Animal Services | Township of Springwater

The Township of Springwater enforces by-laws around animal control, and approves and inspects kennels.

Our Animal Control By-law governs pet licensing and regulations and dangerous dogs in Springwater. For domestic animal concerns, contact our By-law Enforcement Officer at 705-728-4784 x2101 or contact 1-800-489-8956 for after hour concerns.

Licensing

License regulations

pets must wear the tag on its collar at all times
limit of four dogs per household (excluding kennels)
limit of four cats per single residential households or two for multi-residential units

How to apply

The Township has launched a new partnership with DocuPet to provide pet licensing and lost pet services to ensure pets get home safely. Along with this change, your dog's licence will now be valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. Lifetime tags purchased prior to December 31, 2020 will remain valid, however owners are requested to set-up an account with DocuPet.

License Your Dog

Muzzle Order and/or Dangerous Dog Order Appeal

A Dangerous Dog Order or Notice to Muzzle may be issued by the Township of Springwater when a dog has demonstrated behaviour that may pose a risk to public safety or the safety of other animals. These orders outline specific requirements for the dog owner, which may include measures such as muzzling, leashing, confinement, signage, licensing, or other conditions intended to help prevent future incidents.

An appeal can be filed by dog owners who wish to request a review of a Dangerous Dog Order or Notice to Muzzle issued by the Township. The information provided on this form will be used to process the appeal and support the review of the order in accordance with the Township’s applicable by-laws and procedures.

How to Appeal

Submit Your Appeal

An appeal of a Muzzle Order and/or Dangerous Dog Order must be submitted using the prescribed Appeal Form within 15 calendar days of service of the order. All terms and conditions of the Notice to Muzzle Order or Dangerous Dog Order shall remain in effect pending the outcome of the appeal.

The Decision

The decision of appeal will be made by the Clerk or designate and is final. A written copy of the decision will be prepared and delivered by hand or registered mail to the owner at the address shown on the application.

Lost and found pets

All dogs found in Springwater are posted to the Township's Facebook account and taken to a third-party pound facility.

Pet owners claiming their lost pet will be responsible to pay a pound fee.

For more information, contact By-law Enforcement at 705-728-4784 x2101

Leashing your pet

Remember that it's the law to leash your pet when out on public property. Leashed pets are:

rarely hit by cars or attacked by wildlife
less likely to run off and get lost, or eat and drink things that they shouldn't
a sign of a responsible and respectful pet owner—remember to stoop and scoop (By-law 2014-031)

Reporting wildlife and animal abuse

We do not remove wildlife from private property. Property owners should contact a licensed pest control service to assist with the removal of wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks and foxes. If you or your pet has come in contact with a wild animal suspected of having rabies, seek medical attention and contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit at 705-721-7520.

Bear sightings

Call 911 if you feel a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety and:

Enters a school yard when school is in session
Enters or tries to enter a residence
Wanders into a public gathering
Kills livestock/pets and lingers at the site
Stalks people and lingers at the site

In non-emergencies, call the Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327 (between April 1 and November 30). Visit the Bear Wise website for tips on what to do if you encounter a bear.

Animal abuse

To report an animal welfare concern, contact:

The Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre at 1-833-9ANIMAL (1-833-926-4625)
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
Your local Ontario SPCA Animal Centre, affiliated humane society or police

Officers operate on a complaints basis. Help the investigating officer by providing as many details as possible, including the type of cruelty witnessed, the date of the incident, where it took place, and who was involved. All information remains confidential.