Having a pet as part of your family is rewarding, but it comes with many responsibilities – including cleaning up after them when you are out for a walk.
Stooping and scooping dog waste is an easy way to keep King Township clean and ensures a pleasant experience for everyone on footpaths and in parks. It’s also the law.
King Township’s Animal Control Bylaw #2016-85, section 4.12, mandates that individuals must collect their pets' 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 those relating to stoop and scoop offences. The fine for not picking up after your pet is $200.
King Township provides dog waste bags at select locations including Cold Creek Conservation Area, some locations on the municipality’s 100 kilometres of trails and dog parks. To ensure easy access, attach doggy bags to your pet's lead or use a collar-clipped doggy bag holder. The bags then need to be disposed either in a green bin at home or a garbage bin when out in the community.
The simple act of cleaning up after your dog is the neighbourly thing to do. There are also health implications to consider:
- The main cause of parasite transmission between pets is through ingesting infected eggs/larva, which can be found in animal feces.
- Excrement may also contain bacteria and parasites that can affect humans and can attract wildlife, such as coyotes.
- Pet waste is a significant source of pollution, potentially containing harmful organisms such as Giardia, Parvovirus, Salmonella and E. coli, which can be transmitted to humans and other animals through contaminated water.
- Pet waste degrades slowly, accumulating faster than it breaks down, creating a hygiene concern.
- Dog waste is not a fertilizer and can impede landscaping efforts, harming grass over time if left unattended.
To report pet waste on public property, contact Service King at 905-833-5321 or serviceking@king.ca. For more information on how to properly dispose of pet waste, visit king.ca/pets.
For regular updates on Township programs and events, follow the official corporate social media channels on X and Facebook, subscribe to King’s monthly e-newsletter or visit king.ca.
-30-
Media Contact
Township of King
Jason Ballantyne, Communications Officer
Township of King | Phone: 905-833-5321 | Email: media@king.ca