Dogs and cats are required to be licensed within the City of Whitehorse. Having a licensed animal will assist in getting your furry friend home safely if it gets lost.

You can obtain a licence by:

• Emailing [email protected] with copies of your pet’s spay/neuter certificate and microchip papers. Please indicate if you want to pick up the licence at City Hall or have it mailed to you, how you prefer to pay (do not include payment information in email) and a contact number.
• Going to City Hall in person with the above information.
• Placing the above information into the Blue Drop Box in front of City Hall.
• Calling 667-6401 to make arrangements to obtain the licence from City Hall.

City Hall is located at 2121 Second Avenue. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding Statutory Holidays).

Licence Cost

• Lifetime tag $27.50 (animal is spayed or neutered)
• Yearly tag $50 (animal has not been spayed or neutered)
• Animals with yearly tags must be renewed at the beginning of each calendar year.
• If your animal is microchipped and spayed or neutered your Lifetime tag is free.
• Please remember to bring proof of spay/neuter/ vaccinations and microchip if you have it when purchasing the licence.

Winter Pet Safety

Dogs are individuals. An outdoor temperature that feels downright balmy to one dog might send another in search of shelter. Coat type and colour, size, weight, conditioning, age, and health are all variables that affect a dog’s cold weather tolerance.

In general, cold temperatures should not become a problem for most dogs until they fall below 7°C, at which point some cold-averse dogs might begin to feel uncomfortable. When temperatures fall below 0°C, owners of small breed dogs, dogs with thin coats, and/or very young, old, or sick dogs should pay close attention to their pet’s well-being. Once temperatures drop under -7°C, all owners need to be aware that their dogs could potentially develop cold-associated health problems like hypothermia and frostbite.

Here are some helpful tips for cold days:

• Ensure your dog has a well-insulated house
• Use straw for bedding
• Provide extra food
• Ensure their water has not froze, and avoid metal bowls

See more advice from the Alberta SPCA.

The best way to monitor dogs when it’s cold is to keep a close eye on their behavior. If you notice your dog shivering, acting anxious, whining, slowing down, searching out warm locations, or holding up one or more paws, it’s time to head inside.

Summer Pet Safety

It’s important to keep your pets safe from hot temperatures.

Don’t leave your pets unattended in vehicles during hot summer months, as temperatures can rise in a matter of minutes. Lowering windows does little to protect them in these situations.

If you see a distressed animal in a parked vehicle, write down the licence plate, vehicle colour, make and model, and ask nearby businesses to help find the owner to return to their vehicle immediately.

If the owner cannot be located, call the City’s trouble line at 667-2111. Do not attempt to break the window as you are not authorized to do so, and you are not only putting yourself at risk, but the animal as well.

Don’t forget that when travelling with your pets, please ensure they are safely secured inside your vehicle. It is both dangerous and a bylaw offence to travel with an unsecured animal in the bed of a truck.

Bylaw Services Constables are on duty from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week, and from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. To report a complaint or for after-hours assistance, please call the trouble line at 667-2111.

Bylaw Services is located at the Public Safety Building, 305 Range Road, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 3E5.

If an offence is observed please contact the trouble line at 667-2111 or email [email protected].

Attention dog owners! When you are out for a walk, please keep your dogs on a leash and bring a bag to clean up after them.

Cat owners are also reminded that cats are not permitted to leave their properties unless on a leash. If your cat tends to wander, please keep it inside or secured while outside.

Canine Bluffs Off Leash Park

Located at the end of Sixth and Main next to Teegatha’ Oh Zheh Park, Canine Bluffs is an ideal setting for dog owners and dogs in our community.

Dog owners are encouraged to gather in this park to spend time with their dogs, connect with other owners, and watch their dogs play and interact. Off leash dog parks offer tremendous social and recreation benefits for dogs and their owners.

Parks have a new dog bag dispenser program in certain neighbourhoods where residents are asked to bring gently used bags from home to place in these dispensers. Dog owners can then reuse these bags to pick up after their pets and dispose in provided containers. Special thanks to the Porter Creek Citizens Association for piloting this program!

“EXOTIC ANIMAL” means an animal of a species or type that is not indigenous to the Yukon and that in its natural habitat is usually found wild in nature.

The Animal Control Bylaw states the following about Exotic Animals:

134. Every owner of an exotic animal shall register their animal with the City by providing the following information for each exotic animal that is under their care:

1. Name, street address, postal code and telephone number of the owner;
2. Name and description of the exotic animal; and
3. Such other information as may be required by the City.

135. The Manager of Bylaw Services shall, within 30 days of registration, deliver in writing to the registered owner of an exotic animal any conditions that the Manager of Bylaw Services deems necessary for the proper care and maintenance of the exotic animal. Failure by any person to comply with the conditions placed on them pursuant to this section is an offence.

Pamphlets

• Animal Control Pamphlet
• Barking Dog Pamphlet
• Bite Free Pamphlet
• Off Leash Pamphlet
• Tips for Cat Owners
• Three Dog Permit
• Weather Pet Tips

Regulations

• Regulations for hens and roosters
• Regulations for beekeeping