Animal Care and Control

All dogs in New Westminster are required by law to wear a current dog licence. There is no minimum age so be sure to get your new puppy's licence right away. There is a limit of three dogs on any parcel of land or real property. Annual licence fees, forms, and general information can be found on the dog licensing page.

Municipal dog licences are a valuable form of identification for your dog, and serve as proof of ownership. Dog licensing statistics provide important data when it comes to planning and developing dog-related services, such as off-leash areas. Also, the revenue from dog licensing fees helps fund the operation of the animal shelter, where we care for abandoned and unwanted animals.

Many off-leash dog areas have been created throughout the city to help exercise your four-legged friends. With the exception of these designated areas, dogs are required by law to be leashed when off their owner’s property. Our animal services officers patrol city parks and trails to uphold the leash bylaw. A full list of designated off-leash areas and rules can be found at www.newwestcity.ca/offleashareas. 

You are required to carry with you the suitable means to remove your dog's waste when you are not on your own property. Dog waste must be disposed of in a trash bin – not left on the sidewalk, not tossed in the bushes, not hidden in long grass. And no, it does not wash away with rain or melting snow. 

Dogs bark occasionally. We understand. However, it is up to you to ensure that your dog is not causing a disturbance in your neighbourhood with excessive barking or vocalization. We see an increase in barking reports when the weather warms up. Not leaving your dog unattended outside, and reducing their visual and aural triggers will help. If your dog has anxiety about being left alone, a professional trainer can help.

You are responsible to ensure that your dog does not display aggressive behaviour toward, or cause an injury to, people or other animals. This is another important reason to keep your dog leashed.

In New Westminster, there is a tiered classification system for dogs who pose a risk to the public, based on investigated incidents of the dog’s behaviour. As the owner of an aggressive, vicious, or dangerous dog, you are required to follow specific handling and housing regulations and are subject to significant fines and possible legal action if not in compliance. The intent of this is to ensure public safety and promote responsible pet ownership.

More information regarding each classification and the regulations can be found in the Animal Care and Control Bylaw.

All cats are required to have traceable permanent traceable identification (such as a tattoo or microchip). Even indoor-only cats can escape, and permanent ID helps us reunite lost cats with their families. 

Microchips are implanted under the skin at the scruff of the neck, and can be scanned by any vet clinic or animal shelter. Keep the microchip registration information (such as your phone number and address) up-to-date to ensure a quick reunion!

Tattoos are done in the cat’s right ear. The vet clinic that did the tattoo keeps a registry of the pets and their owners. However, keep in mind that tattoos can become illegible, which would render them useless.

A GPS tag is a good back-up for cats who will wear a collar and who might escape or wander too far.

We advocate for cats to be kept safely indoors, as they can have long and healthy lives, especially when provided with mental and physical enrichment. Cats who are allowed outdoors face many risks, such as predators and traffic.

If you allow your cat to venture outdoors, it must be spayed or neutered. This prevents the cat from contributing to the overpopulation issue in B.C., as well as protecting your pet from a variety of reproduction-related health issues, such as reproductive cancers and uterine infection, and reducing unwanted behaviours, such as extensive roaming, fighting, and spraying. Learn more about spaying/neutering your cat here.

While sterilized cats with permanent ID are allowed to roam freely in New Westminster, keep in mind that there are many risks for outdoor cats in our communities. It is the unfortunate responsibility of our Animal Services staff to take lost cat reports, and to pick up injured and deceased cats. Risks for outdoor cats include: 

• Parasites: fleas and ticks carry diseases, and are prevalent in our area.
• Conflict with other pets: Fights with other cats can cause serious injuries or disease. And of course, dogs are a natural predator of cats. We have received reports of cats jumping into yards where dogs reside, only to meet a fatal outcome.
• Cars: Even on side roads, cats can be struck by a vehicle. If they don’t succumb to their injuries right away, they can bolt, and may not be found. Even if found, you are looking at potentially life-threatening injuries and very costly vet bills.
• Predators: We have urban wildlife across our city who will prey on cats if they have the opportunity. Coyotes are the primary killer of domestic cats, but raccoons can maim or kill cats as well.
• Poison: Cats can become victims of secondary poisoning by hunting poisoned prey animals. Unfortunately, some cats can also get into the poison or other toxic chemicals and become very ill or die.
• Going missing/being stolen: Sometimes, you might not know where your cat has disappeared to, and you might never find out. The lack of closure can be devastating.

We strongly encourage you to keep your cat indoors as much as possible. Indoor cats live on average 10 - 15 years, versus the 2 - 5 years that outdoor cats live.