Pets

Residents 65 years of age and older are eligible (with proof of age) for a discounted rate of $12.50 per pet licence. The discount does not apply to biting/menacing dogs or Pit Bulls (restricted pit bull, if born before 2005).

​​Once you apply for a pet licence, you will be administered a lifetime tag which will stay with your pet at all times. This tag is used for identification purposes. Please affix the tag to their collar.

King Township recognizes the work that service animals and other working animals do, and have exempted them from paying the licence fees. However, they are still required to be registered with King Township annually. You may be asked to provide proof of service for the animal for the exemption. Online pet licensing is available and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Questions? Call 905-832-2281 or email animal.services@vaughan.ca. 

General ownership responsibilities include providing:

• A clean and sanitary home
• Adequate food, safe drinking water, shelter and care
• Opportunity for physical activity
• Attention, grooming, sunlight and veterinary care as may be required, to keep the animal in good health. 
• Keeping pets safe, including ensuring they do not run at large

Dog owners

• No dog owner shall permit any dog to bark or create any noise that is likely to disturb the inhabitants of the Township or that constitutes a nuisance.
• All dogs must be under full control at all times by being leashed and lead by leash when not on owners property. 
• No dog owner shall allow a dog to run at large.
• Every dog owner is responsible for cleaning and disposing of any excrement left by their dogs. 
• At all times Pit Bulls must be muzzled, a secure leash attached to dog and being lead by handler unless enclosed on property occupied by the owner of the pit bull.
• Information on D.O.L.A. (DOG OWNER'S LIABILITY ACT) and public safety regarding dogs.

King Township allows residents to have several domesticated pets at a time, but limits cats and dogs to a number of four each. Acceptable pets include animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and some small birds among others.  

King Township prohibits certain animals as pets as they are often meant to be in the wild and do not make good pets, including venomous, poisonous and non-domesticated animals. Examples of prohibited animals include snakes, monkeys, and poisonous insects.

Vaughan Animal Services provides animal control, pet licensing administration, and animal shelter services in King Township. The team responds to emergency calls 24/7 and assists in tending to sick or injured domestic animals (i.e. cats and dogs), dogs at large, lost pets, adoption and suspected cases of animal cruelty or neglect complaints. 

Contact information:

Phone: 905-832-2231
Toll free: 1-855-227-7297
Email: animal.services@vaughan.ca​

Suspected cases of animal cruelty, or neglect complaints can also be reported to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) at 1-888-668-7722.

It is a requirement under the Animal Control Bylaw to pick up and properly dispose of pet waste. Failure to do so could result in a monetary penalty. 

Pet waste (including cat litter) is considered organic material, and can be disposed of in certified compostable bags inside of your green bin. For more information about disposal of pet and other waste, visit the Waste Collection webpage.

Stoop and scoop pet waste

As part of an ongoing partnership with Vaughan Animal Services, officers routinely patrol King’s parks, municipal roadways, and sidewalks for animal control issues, including stoop and scoop offences.

To make it easier for pet owners, King Township provides dog waste bags at select locations, including Cold Creek Conservation Area, some locations along King’s 100 kilometres of trails, and dog parks. Attach doggy bags to your pet's lead or use a collar-clipped doggy bag holder for easy access. Dispose of the bags in a green bin at home or a garbage bin when out in the community.

Cleaning up after your dog is the neighbourly thing to do and helps public health and safety. Pet waste can transmit parasites and bacteria that affect both humans and animals and can attract wildlife. It is also a significant source of pollution and can harm landscaping efforts.

King Township’s Animal Control Bylaw requires that all dogs must be on a leash when not on their owner’s property, except in designated off-leash areas. 

King Township is home to two off-leash parks where dogs can run freely: Tasca Park and King City Off-Leash Dog Park. These parks provide a safe and controlled environment for dogs to exercise, socialize and roam freely.

Find a park

Pets are a part of our families and including them in an emergency plan is essential to maintaining their safety. During an emergency situation, it is important to know how to keep our animal companions safe.

Pet Emergency Kits

• Food, portable water, bowls, paper towel and a can opener
• Blanket and a small toy
• Sturdy leash/harness
• Cat litter/pan and plastic bags
• Carrier for your pet
• Medications and medical records (including vaccinations)
• Current photo of your pet
• Current ID tag with your phone number and the name/phone number of your veterinarian
• Copy of the licence
• Ask any friends and relatives outside your immediate area who would be able to shelter your pets in an emergency
• Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency (include a 24-hour phone number).

Animals get nervous during emergencies. If possible, keep your pet in a carrier with a familiar blanket, so they feel as secure as possible. Most importantly, during an emergency you are still responsible for your pet. Keep this kit in the same spot as your family emergency survival kit for easy retrieval. Pets need supplies, too.

For more information about pets and emergencies, visit Ontario Society For the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (OSPCA) or the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Based on feedback from the recent “Wood Chips or Grass?” dog park survey, King Township is transitioning the Tasca Park Dog Park from wood mulch to grass surfacing this summer. The project will be completed in two phases to keep access available where possible, though temporary closures will be required during construction. To help maintain use, large and small dog enclosures will be combined during parts of the work.

• Phase 1 – Large Enclosure: Work includes removing the existing wood mulch, installing grass surfacing, and planting new trees to provide added shade. Construction is expected to wrap up in late spring, with reopening planned for early summer.
• Phase 2 – Small Enclosure: This phase will convert the surface from wood mulch to grass. Completion is anticipated by mid‑summer, with reopening expected in early fall.

As part of King Township's sustainability efforts, removed wood mulch will be reused on site to help establish a new reclaimed naturalized forest area near the dog park.

The Vaughan Animal Services shelter is located at 70 Tigi Crt., Unit 47, Vaughan, ON  L4K 5E4 

Shelter hours:

• Monday to Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Closed Sundays and statutory holidays

Adoption hours:

• Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Closed Sundays and statutory holidays

Contact information:

• ​Phone: 905-832-2281
• Toll free: 1-855-227-7297​
• Email: animal.services@vaughan.ca 

King Township and Vaughan are dedicated to finding safe and happy forever homes for all animals in the shelter. 

Adopting an animal can be a rewarding experience. All family members should come into the shelter before adopting an animal. Adopters must be 18 years of age or older and will need to fill out an application before final approval.

• Dogs available for adoption
• Cats available for adoption
• Small animals available for adoption

Learn more about adoption services

Fees

Fee includes rabies vaccines, sterilization, microchip implantation. For King Township residents, it also includes the first annual pet licence.