Animals and Wildlife

The City of Cornwall's Animal Control By-law helps to protect the health and safety of our community and all animals, both pets and wildlife. Learn everything you need to know about reporting an animal-related issue, getting dog and cat licences, and understanding the different animals you may find in your neighborhood.

Report an animal issue

You can report animal issues online or call 613-930-2787 ext. 2310 to report:

Barking dogs
Dogs that are a public safety risk
Dogs without a tag
Stray or trespassing dogs
Dog waste on City property
Coyotes

Please give as many details as you can. This helps us respond accurately and quickly.

Report animal cruelty

If you think an animal is in distress or is being abused, you can call 1-833-9-ANIMAL. You can visit the Province of Ontario to learn more about animal welfare.

Report a dead animal

To report a dead animal on public property for removal, please call Municipal Works at 613-932-5354.

Report a wildlife issue

To report a wildlife issue, please visit the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry or call their Kemptville office at 613-258-8204.

Dog and Cat License and Tags

When you buy or adopt a new dog or cat, you must buy a license and put its tag on within 14 days. You may have up to five cats or dogs in total, with a maximum of three dogs. Tag licenses expire on January 31 and you need to renew it each year.

Each tag has a serial number, your name, address, and phone number. If your pet gets lost, this information helps us contact you. It is your responsibility to put the tag on your pet's collar.

You can buy tags at:

Building and Bylaw Department at 100 Water Street East (Civic Complex) - 613-930-2787 Ext. 2310
Fence Depot at 3045 Pitt Street
Pet Smart at 424 Ninth Street West
Pet Valu at 1400 Vincent Massey Drive
Pet Valu at 1380 Second Street East
Ren's Pets at 501 Tollgate Road West
St. Lawrence Valley Animal Hospital at 435 Pitt Street
Stacy's Pet Depot at 805 Sydney Street, Unit 1

Tag and license costs

License/Tag	Date	Cost
Spayed or neutered dog or cat	Before April 30	$25
Spayed or neutered dog or cat	As of May 1 or later	$35
Spayed or neutered dog or cat	New to owner after September 1	$15
Unaltered dog or cat (not spayed or neutered)	Before April 30	$50
Unaltered dog or cat (not spayed or neutered)	As of May 1 or later	$60
Unaltered dog or cat (not spayed or neutered)	New to owner after September 1	$25
Replacement tag	-	$10
Kennel Licence	-	$55 for the first dog and $10 for each additional dog (six months of age or older)

Animals in our Community

Our community is home to all kinds of animals, from our own pets to wildlife visiting our backyards. Learn about the animals you might see and how to live alongside them safely.

Cats

The Cat Control By-law aims to reduce the feral cat population in our community by subsidizing cat spay and neuter surgeries for low-income families. We do not pick up stray cats. Please contact local shelters or foster organizations for help.

Coyotes

If you see coyotes in your community, you can report sightings online. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, coyotes are not considered a threat to humans. Coyotes are omnivores that consume plants, small rodents, hares, and cottontails.

You can avoid attracting wildlife to your property by:

Keeping pet food indoors
Not leaving food out for birds and squirrels, as these can attract larger predators
Using secure lids on your garbage cans and storing them in a closed structure
Using enclosed composting bins rather than exposed piles
Using motion sensor lights outside
Closing off spaces under porches, decks, and sheds
Clearing away bushes and dense weeds near your home

Dogs

Please always keep your dog on a leash that is no longer than 2 metres (6.5 feet)

We do not allow dogs in City parks, except for:

Guindon Park roadways and Trillium Picnic area, but no other picnic areas or the nature and ski trails
Boals Drain Linear Park from Emma Avenue to Meadowvale Crescent
Cedar Rapids corridor from Optimist Park to Brookdale Avenue and from Power Dam Drive east to Vincent Massey Drive
Lamoureux Park

Pigeons

The Pigeon Control By-law encourages the health and safety of the public, pigeons and the Pigeon Keeping Association.

Rats

Cleaning up and getting rid of clutter can help to prevent rats. When you remove garbage and debris from your home and property, you take away their places to hide, sleep, and reproduce. If you believe a property standards issue is leading to a rat problem in your neighbourhood, you can report the issue online.

Make sure that you:

Cut down tall grass
Keep the ground around your foundation clear
Remove trash from your gardens and make space between plants
Keep your trash in garbage cans with tight-fitting lids
Keep all food in tightly sealed containers
Don't put out food for stray cats, pigeons, or squirrels
Seal holes and cracks in foundations, walls, floors, underneath doors, and around windows

Getting rid of rats

Rats multiply quickly, so you need to act fast to get rid of them. You have three main options: traps, poison, or hiring a professional.

Using traps

You can use traps with bait like dried fruit, peanut butter, oats, or cheese. Always wear gloves when handling a trap or a caught rat. Put the dead rat in two plastic bags before throwing it in the trash. If you wear gloves, you can reset and reuse the trap.

Using poison

If you choose to use poison, read the product label carefully to ensure it's the right one. Be careful, as this method has risks. Poisoned rats can crawl away and die inside your walls, which causes bad smells. The poison can also be dangerous for pets, wildlife, and children.

Hiring a professional

You may hire a pest control company. You can ask friends and family for a recommendation. When you find a company, ask them for references and a price quote.