Calgary peace officers are set to increase enforcement of pet licensing this spring as warmer weather draws more pets and their owners outdoors. The initiative aims to ensure pets are protected and can be quickly reunited with their families if they become lost.
Licensing Blitz Focuses on Awareness and Enforcement
Sergeant Mel Parkinson of Calgary Community Safety emphasized that the campaign will combine public education with strict enforcement. "If your pet ever gets loose, a current licence is its fastest ticket home," Parkinson said. He noted that in 2025 alone, 1,482 lost pets were reunited with their owners through the city's return-to-owner program, many without ever needing to stay at the shelter.
Under the city's Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw, all cats and dogs aged three months or older must be licensed. Owners of unlicensed pets may face a $250 fine.
Increased Patrols During Warmer Months
The warmer months typically see a rise in tickets issued as more people visit parks and outdoor spaces with their pets. Peace officers will conduct checks in public areas and during investigations throughout the spring. "We just want to promote awareness and encourage citizens to purchase or renew their licences and keep their information up to date," Parkinson added.
Benefits of Licensing
Licensing fees support essential services, including safekeeping and return of lost pets, shelter care, adoptions, no-cost spay and neuter surgeries, and outreach programs promoting responsible pet ownership and bite prevention. Last year, 689 animals were adopted through the city's Animal Services Centre, and 347 cats were spayed or neutered at no cost.
Annual licence fees range from $45 to $71 for dogs and $22 to $44 for cats, depending on age and spay/neuter status. "For most people, the cost of licensing is small compared to the cost and heartbreak of missing their pet," Parkinson concluded.
