Animal Care and Control helps to ensure safe, healthy and peaceful neighbourhoods by protecting the welfare of both pets and residents.
They promote responsible ownership and resolve community issues like noise and public safety concerns through bylaw enforcement, public education and proactive, specialized care for stray or injured animals.
Animal Care and Control Centre
Edmonton’s stray and lost pets are housed at the Animal Care and Control Centre. The facility takes care of animals until their rightful owners can be found or until they are transferred to an adoption agency.
Care Provided
Staff provide comprehensive pet care, including:
- First aid and veterinary care for injured animals
- Quality food
- Kennels (cleaned and disinfected daily)
- Vaccinations to protect from infection
Specialty care for unique pets is coordinated with groups like the Edmonton Reptile and Amphibian Society, Alberta Ferret Society and Wildlife Rehabilitation Society.
Animal Control Peace Officers
Animal Control Peace Officers help owners ensure their pets are a positive addition to the community through education programs, mediating neighbour disputes, providing advice and enforcement.
Roles and Responsibilities
- They enforce the Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw (See Bylaws - A) making owners responsible for their pet’s actions
- Officers also enforce the Provincial Animal Protection Act to ensure pets are well cared for by their owners (previously enforced by the Edmonton Humane Society)
- They patrol neighbourhoods for stray animals, return lost pets to their owners and respond to animals in distress or animals that have been abandoned
- Assist the Edmonton Police Service with aggressive or injured animals, Provincial Brand Inspectors with loose livestock and Provincial Conservation Officers with wildlife inside city limits
Common Complaints Investigated
Animal Control Peace Officers typically investigate complaints of:
- Excessive barking
- Dog bites or attacks
- Pets without a licence
- Dogs or cats at large
- Failure to clean up pet defecation (poop)
- Problem wildlife
- Dead animals on public property
- Abuse or neglect
Common Fines under the Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Excessive barking | $100 |
| Owning an unlicensed pet | $250 |
| Animal at-large | $100 |
| Failure to remove defecation | $100 |
| Failure to control or leash a dog | $100 |
| Dog attack causing no injury | $100 |
| Dog attack causing injury | $500-$2,500 |
The penalties for non-compliance with the Animal Protection Act may include monetary penalties up to a maximum of $20,000, prohibition of animal ownership for a period determined by the courts and any other terms and conditions a court deems appropriate.
Location
13550 163 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5V 0B2
Building Hours
| Monday |
10am-6pm |
| Tuesday |
10am-6pm |
| Wednesday |
10am-6pm |
| Thursday |
10am-6pm |
| Friday |
10am-6pm |
| Saturday |
10am-6pm |
| Sunday |
Closed |
Holidays: Closed
Picking Up a Lost Pet
To reclaim your lost pet, we recommend making an appointment via 311.
Please arrive no later than 5:30pm (4:30pm on weekends) to allow enough time to process your pet's release before closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Animal Control Peace Officers investigate complaints by interviewing witnesses, neighbours, complainants and pet owners. When possible, the officer also collects other evidence.
Any investigation can result in a simple warning, a fine or a mandatory court appearance.
Animal Control Peace Officers can issue a ticket that requires a pet owner to appear in Provincial Court.
This option is used in cases where owners have received multiple fines for repeat offences, such as a barking dog or dog at-large, and for extreme instances such as serious dog attacks. The Provincial Court can issue higher fines and can even order the City to seize an animal from an owner.
Animal Control Peace Officers enforce the Animal Protection Act (APA) which deals with concerns of animal abuse, neglect and abandonment. In severe cases, animals may be seized and/or criminal charges laid.
Animal Control Peace Officers can seize animals that are found at-large (for example, stray) within Edmonton city limits or animals that the Provincial Court has ordered them to seize. They can also seize animals under the Provincial Animal Protection Act (APA).
Animals seized for being at-large can be picked up by their owner from the Animal Care and Control Centre at 13550 163 Street.
No. Under the City’s Free Ride Home program, at-large pets with a valid pet licence can be taken directly home by an officer free of charge once every 12 months.
Please refer to the Animal Protection to see who to call if you see any animal in distress, abused or neglected.
Animal Care and Control Officers do not capture at-large cats because they are generally not a danger to humans. However, stray and at-large cats can be brought to the Control Centre if you trap them humanely.
For information, visit Unwanted Cats on Private Property.
Animals with no identification are kept up to three business days and animals with identification are kept up to 10 business days.
After that, adoptable animals are transferred to the Edmonton Humane Society and other rescue groups.
Every animal that enters our Animal Care and Control Centre is searched for tags, a tattoo or a microchip.
When an animal has a valid pet licence and is wearing tags, we can immediately contact the owner. A tattoo or microchip with up-to-date information on file also helps us to contact the owner.
Every animal that enters our facility also has its picture posted on our Found Pets search tool.
Contact Us
Animal Care and Control Centre
Phone 311 | Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Fax 780-496-8824
Link Contact 311