Newmarket Animal Services is now in-house
Our Animal Services team is here to ensure Newmarket’s pets and wildlife are well cared for.
Call us because:
- You've found wildlife or a stray pet that is sick, injured or in distress
- You've found a pet roaming without its owner
- You work in community services and need assistance with temporary care of an animal
- You've found deceased wildlife on public property
- You've found a deceased pet on public or private property
- A wild animal has scratched or bitten an animal or human (to report potential rabies exposure)
- You've been bit by a dog or had an aggressive dog encounter
- You have questions, concerns or want to make a report related to our Animal Control By-law
Contact us through the Town’s Central Customer Service Centre:
- Call: 905-895-5193 (press 3 after hours)
Information on avian influenza (H5N1)
Many municipalities across Canada, including Newmarket, are seeing cases of birds that have died or are infected with presumed avian influenza (H5N1), also known as bird flu.
Helpful links
How to report a lost or found pet
Complete our online forms to report a lost or found pet by clicking one of the options below.
Here's when to contact other services:
- Animals in hot cars: Call York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423 or 911 if it is an immediate medical emergency
- Nuisance wildlife on private property: Contact a private wildlife control company to assist with the safe and humane removal of healthy wildlife
- Animal neglect or cruelty: Call the provincial animal welfare services at 1-833-926-4625
- Barking dogs after hours: Call York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423 for an immediate response. Email the Town if you're seeking a follow up investigation per Animal Control By-law
Our Animal Services team also conducts proactive education initiatives to support responsible pet ownership.
If you own a dog/cat in the Town of Newmarket, you are required to
license them each year. It’s simple and can be done online, over the phone, by mail or in-person too!
Hours of operationAn Animal Services Officer will be on duty Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Residents can call the Town’s Customer Service Centre at anytime at 905-895-5193 and press 3 after standard customer service hours. An after hours representative will direct the call.
Transparent Wildlife Care InitiativeWe care about animals too! In our commitment to animal welfare, the Town has created the Transparent Wildlife Care Initiative. Through this initiative, the Town will track the journey of wildlife that comes into its care and will share it with residents (upon request). This gives residents the peace of mind that the animals are well cared for and the opportunity to contribute to the animal’s ongoing care and treatment by donating to the specific wildlife rehabilitation facility providing that care.
Standards of Pet Care in NewmarketBasic wellbeing
- Animals must have a clean and sanitary environment
- Adequate food and clean water supply
- Appropriate shelter to escape the elements
Veterinary care
- Owners must provide veterinary care to pets to relieve distress from injury neglect or disease
Tethering
- Animals must not be tethered for a period exceeding (3) hours within the same calendar day.
- Tethers must be an appropriate length for the animal, but never less than (3) meters.
- Tether must allow the animal to move safely, and unrestricted.
Automobile travel
- Animals cannot be left in a motor vehicle in weather conditions that are not suitable for the animal and may cause distress and/or death
- Animals must have suitable ventilation
- Animals must have access to food and water
- Animals must be restrained to prevent contact between the animal and the public
To report cases of animal neglect or cruelty, please call the provincial animal welfare services at
1-833-926-4625
Common Animal Questions
We support safe and responsible pet ownership practices through public education and enforcement of the Animal Control by-law 2020-30
Why is it important to keep my dog on a leash in public spaces?Keeping your dog on a leash prevents them from:
- Getting lost
- Traffic-related hazards
- Coming in contact with harmful materials (i.e. toxic plants, rodent poison, other animal waste)
- Conflict with people or other animals
- Scaring people or other animals who may have a fear of dogs
Why is it important to keep my cat indoors?Did you know that the average lifespan of an outdoor cat is only 2-5 years, whereas indoor cats are 10-15 years?
Keeping your cat indoors protects them from:
- Predators
- Traffic
- Harmful materials
- "Unintentional adoption" – someone mistaking animal as homeless and keeping it
- Unwanted pregnancy / contributing to feral cat populations
Help protect our wildlife!
Did you know that is estimated that between 105 million to 348 million birds are killed each year by feral cat populations in Canada alone?
My dog bit a person or animal. What do I do?- Ensure your animal is properly restrained by means of a leash or appropriate confinement
- Provide your contact information to the victim party
- Make note of the incident date, time, location, and any other information that might be relevant
- If the victim is a human and the dog bite drew blood, isolate your dog within your household until contacted by York Public Health.
- Report the incident to Animal Services by calling 905-895-5193 or emailing info@newmarket.ca
Help! I found an animal in a hot car. What do I do?- Call York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423 or 911 if it is an immediate medical emergency
- Call Newmarket Animal Services at 905-895-5193
Make note of:
- Vehicle License Plate
- The time you first saw the animal in the vehicle
- The current temperature
- And any signs of distress that the animal is exhibiting
The Town of Newmarket has the ability to lay charges under Section 5 (3) of the Animal Control By-law 2020-30
5 (3) No Person shall allow an Animal to remain in a Vehicle unless:
- the Animal is secured in a manner that prevents contact between the Animal and any member of the public;
- the Animal has suitable ventilation; and
- the Animal is not exposed to temperatures which can cause distress and/or death.
The Town of Newmarket does not have the authority to remove animals from hot vehicles.
The Provincial Animal Welfare Services or the Police under their direction, have the ability to enter a vehicle and remove an animal under Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act if the animal is exhibiting signs of "critical distress"
"Critical distress" means distress that requires immediate intervention in order to prevent serious injury or to preserve life.
