Animal Services

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

Emergency Calls

Between 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:

• An injured animal (domestic) that requires immediate medical treatment;

• An animal carcass on a Township roadway that poses an imminent hazard to motorists (this should be directed to the Public Works Department after hours number at 1-833-951-3836

• An animal carcass on a Regional roadway that poses an imminent hazard to motorists (this should be directed to the Region of Durham after hours number at (905-576-9991);

• An aggressive dog that is at large that has bitten or attacked a person or another animal and is currently still at large ;

• A request from Durham Regional Police or a local Fire Department for an Animal Services Officer to attend a location that is deemed to be an emergency; or

• Any other situation that the attendant deems to threaten public safety.

The After Hours Service will directly dispatch the Animal Services Officer on call.

Non-Emergencies

Callers 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:

• A dog or cat at large;

• A barking dog;

• Carcass on the roadway that is not creating an imminent hazard to motorists;

• A stray dog that the complainant has taken control of (Animal Services will make arrangements to pick up the dog the following day);

• Dog that has not been licensed. 

 Animal services have staff on duty from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. seven (7) days a week. 

• Animal carcass on private property, please refer to Yellow Pages for Pest Removal or call private Wildlife Control Company.

• Wildlife on private property such as raccoon, skunk, snake, etc. Please refer to Yellow Pages for Pest Removal or call private Wildlife Control Company

• Animal cruelty, neglect or mistreatment: Call 1-833-926-4625 Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS), Province of Ontario 

• For a person at risk of potential rabies exposure. For human contact with a suspect rabid animal please call your local Health Department Durham Region at 905-723-3818 or 1-888-777-9613

• Domestic Animal with potential rabies exposure (domestic pet or livestock): Call the OMAFRA Agricultural Info Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300.

• Wildlife with suspected of rabies, with no known contact with human or domestic animals: Call the MNR Rabies Hotline at 1-888-574-6656

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. 

 No, the Township’s Animal Control By-law does not require you to licence your cat. 

 Yes, the Township’s Animal Control By-law does require you to licence your dog. 

The Dench Animal Shelter does not board pets. Our facilities are used to care for stray or abandoned animals.

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.