Modern Mississauga and the City of Mississauga have come together to present an ongoing series called “Ask the City.” We’ll share relevant information here and answer your questions about our city.

Today’s question is about pet licensing.

Why do I need to license my dog or cat?

As a dog or cat owner, it’s important to make sure you’re taking all necessary precautions to keep your pet safe, this includes licensing. A pet licence is your pet’s identification and must be visible on your pet’s collar. It contains vital information about your pet that will help Mississauga Animal Services return them to you if they do go missing. It is also a requirement as per the Animal Care and Control By-law.

As a pet owner, you are responsible for buying or renewing your pet licence every year (or two).

Pet licence fees also help Animal Services to:

Care for and feed homeless pets
Return lost pets to their homes
Provide veterinary services to animals in our care
Rescue sick, injured domestic animals and wildlife
Provide 24/7 emergency animal rescue services
Investigate animal care issues
Keep neighbourhoods safe for people and pets
Conduct community education programs

If your pet is not licensed, as an owner you may be fined an administrative penalty.

You can buy a new one or two year pet licence or renew an existing licence online or by phone at 905-896-5858 (choose option 4). If you are not able to buy or renew a pet license online or by phone, you can book an appointment to submit an application in person at the Animal Services shelter.

If you have licensed your pet before, you can also view your order history and update your account information.

There is no licence fee for service dogs, however you must provide documentation when you apply for the licence.

We offer a fee assistance program to help citizens who can’t afford the licence fee. Please contact Animal Services at 905-896-5858 for more information.

If you’ve got a question about the City, we want to hear from you!

Please send your questions to info@modernmississauga.com with “Ask the City” in the subject line.