The City of St. Catharines' animal control by-laws detail the rules and regulations around a variety of animal-related issues within the city, including:
- Permitted and prohibited animal species kept
- Permitted number of animals kept, including cats, rabbits and dogs
- Dog licences, leashes and leash-free parks
- Animal noise and waste
Animal complaints and by-law enforcement
Niagara Region Animal Services (NRAS) provides full animal control, care and humane services to the City of St. Catharines. NRAS enforces all animal-related bylaws in the city.
You can contact NRAS by phone at 905.682.0767, email at contact@nras.ca, in-person at 160 Fourth Ave., St. Catharines L2R 6P9, or by fax at 905.682.8133.
Contact NRAS for complaints or issues related to:
- Animal bite investigations and prevention education
- Animal sheltering
- Animal waste
- Barking dogs and animal noise
- Humane education
- Keeping more animals than permitted
- Keeping prohibited animal species
- Off-leash dogs
- Stray animal pick-up and impoundment
- Vicious dogs
Please provide as much detail as you can about your complaint, including name and address of the animal owner, if available. Anyone who is found to be in violation of the City's by-laws may be subject to prosecution in the event of continuing non-compliance.
Animal abuse and neglect
Direct all concerns of animal abuse, neglect or animals in distress to the Province of Ontario's animal welfare call centre at 1.833.9.ANIMAL (264625).
In the event of an emergency where an animal's life is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.
Humane Society of Greater Niagara
The Lincoln County Humane Society has changed its name and is now operating as Humane Society of Greater Niagara, dedicated to the humane treatment of all animals in municipalities across the Niagara Region, including St. Catharines. The humane society helps alleviate animal suffering and neglect, supports the human-animal bond and fosters an environment in which people respect all living creatures.
Humane Society of Greater Niagara provides:
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Animal rescue and control
- Assistance with animal overpopulation and homelessness
- End of life care
- Investigations of cruelty and neglect
- Pet adoption and virtual adoptions
- Pet care education
- Spaying, neutering and veterinary clinic