Animal Services
The Township of Brock promotes a safe and healthy environment for people and all animals, and are committed to providing quality care to animals in distress – whether in our care or in the wild. The Township owns and operates the Dench Animal Shelter, and investigate animal complaints and enforce animal by-laws in the community.
Our staff provide the following services for our community: adoption, fostering, impounding animals, sheltering, promoting responsible pet ownership, taking injured wildlife to veterinarians or wildlife rehabs and caring for all animals at the shelter.
The Township’s animal services staff is combined with our by-law enforcement department. The animal services/by-law department is comprised of a full-time supervisor, two full-time and four part-time officers. One officer is always dedicated to animal services from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. seven days a week.
For emergencies please contact the Animal Control Department through the after hours number 1-833-951-3836.
Licensing
In order to keep your pets safe, the Township of Brock promotes responsible pet ownership through a variety of animal services. We issue the following licenses:
Dench Animal Shelter
The Dench Animal Shelter is located at 99 Elliott Street, Cannington. Animal Services staff are on shift seven (7) days a week from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Due to COVID-19, the shelter is open to the public by appointment only.
Sick and Injured Animal Fund
100% of donations received are used to directly support the emergency medical treatment of sick and injured animals that arrive at the Brock Animal Shelter. The fund also supports spay, neutering, vaccination and enrichment of shelter animals.
Lost and Found Pets
If you lose or find a pet, please call us immediately at 705-432-2355 x 262. We will set up a time for you to drop the animal off at the animal shelter, located at:
99 Elliott St.
Cannington, ON L0E 1E0
We will care for all lost pets until we can find the owner. If we are unable to reunite the pet with their owner, we will put the animal up for adoption.
Make sure that your dog has a dog license. A dog license allows us to reunite dogs with their owners much faster.
Sheltering Fees
If your dog or cat goes missing and is brought into the animal shelter, you need to pay a fee before we will release your pet.
Number of Times Impounded | Cost |
1 | $73.45 |
2 | $163.85 |
3 | $265.55 |
All additional impounds | $525.45 |
It costs an additional $22.60 per day for each day that your pet is at the shelter.
Report a Dog Bite or Attack
You can report a dog bite online or give us a call at 705-432-2355 if you've been bitten or attacked by a dog. Once notified, we will meet with you to investigate the incident. We will then decide an appropriate response based on the Animal Control By-law and the Dog Owner's Liability Act.
We will notify the Region of Durham Health Department and they will determine the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Below are frequently asked questions about Animal Services in the Township of Brock.
What do I do if I encounter a sick or injured wild animal? |
Animal Control staff responds to sick and injured wild animals during regular business hours for the purposes of assisting wild animals that are in a state of distress and to protect the safety of the public. Wild animals sick and injured are assessed and either taken to veterinarian or a licensed wildlife rehabber. After hours Wildlife emergencies are only attended via a call for assistance by local Police. If you have questions or concerns about wildlife you may also call the Toronto Wildlife Hotline at (416) 631-0662 and follow the appropriate prompts to leave a message. They aim to return emergency calls within the hour between 9am and 6pm. Alternatively you may find a licensed rehabilitation centre closer to you by going to the following website www.ontariowildliferescue.ca/wildlifecentres/ If the wild animal is very active and mobile, keep children and pets indoors until it moves on. Remove attractants from your property i.e. outdoor cats, food, garbage. If you feel unsafe or feel you may be in immediate danger please contact the Durham Regional Police for assistance. More information can be found on our Wildlife page |
What is the protocol for after hours calls? |
Emergency CallsBetween the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. 7 days a week, Animal Services staff will only respond to Emergency Calls dispatched by the After Hours Answering Service. “Emergency calls” means any of the following:
The After Hours Service will directly dispatch the Animal Services Officer on call. Non-EmergenciesCallers should be directed to leave a message at 705-432-2884 that will be picked up by an Animal Services Officer between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 7 days a week. Animal Services does have staff on duty to address non-emergencies. Any messages left after 4:30 p.m. will be retrieved the following day.Non-emergency calls mean any of the following:
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What are the hours of services for animal services? |
Animal services have staff on duty from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. seven (7) days a week. |
What types of calls should be referred to alternate agencies? |
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What are the hours of operation of the Dench Animal Shelter? |
Animal Services have staff on duty from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven (7) days a week. The shelter is only open to the public by appointment only. Please contact the shelter at 705-432-2355 x 262. |
Do I have to get my cat licensed? |
No, the Township’s Animal Control By-law does not require you to licence your cat. |
Do I have to get my dog licensed? |
Yes, the Township’s Animal Control By-law does require you to licence your dog. |
Can I board my animal at the shelter? |
The Dench Animal Shelter does not board pets. Our facilities are used to care for stray or abandoned animals. |
How long do you keep strays at the shelter? |
We do not limit how long we keep strays at the shelter. We hold strays for five (5) days to allow their owners time to reclaim them. After five (5) days, animals may be put up for adoption, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays. We take care of them until they get a new home. |