Pet licensing FAQs

Fees are listed on our Fee Listing webpage.

Information about purchasing a license can be found on the Pet Licensing webpage.

If you have purchased a new license, you will receive your license tag and receipt in the mail.

If your pet is deceased, you can cancel your pet licence online.

No. Contact the local municipal office for information on their licensing by-law.

Depending what option was selected, a pet license is valid for one or two years.

No - Pet Licenses are non-refundable or transferrable. This is indicated online and on mailed paper invoices. Remaining monies stay with Animal Services to help animals in their care.

Yes, the Animal Services Agency will email or send a courtesy invoice to the address we have on file in the month prior to your license expiring; however, it remains the pet owner's responsibility to ensure that their pet has a current license. Failure to purchase or renew your pet's license can result in legal proceedings.

Please contact Animal Services at 311 to request a duplicate copy via email.

The license tag that was originally issued to you is kept for the life of the dog or cat. More information on lost pet license tags.

Dog and cat licenses are not transferable from one dog/cat to another. You will have to purchase a new license for your pet.

Yes - if you have multiple pets you can combine multiple pet licenses to renew at the same time.

Visit the Animal Services fine listing for information.

The Animal Services Agency follows up on all reports of unlicensed dogs and cats. In addition, Animal Services Officers canvas neighbourhoods and follow up on expired licenses. Citizens are encouraged to call 311 to report an unlicensed dog or cat. An Animal Services Officer will investigate.

Call the Animal Services Agency at 311 to register an animal-related complaint.

All dogs and cats over the age of six months within the City of Winnipeg must be licensed. Call 311 to report an unlicensed dog or cat.

No. That information is confidential. If you suspect your neighbour's dog or cat is unlicensed, call 311 to report a suspected unlicensed dog or cat.

If you have lost your pet's license tag, replacement tag fees apply.

• Purchase a replacement tag online
• Contact 311, or
• Replacement tags can be issued in-person at the Animal Services Agency, 1057 Logan Ave.

To be in compliance with the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law. By purchasing and annually renewing your dog's license, you avoid a ticket and help fund programing at Animal Services.

• A dog license tells our community that your dog is not homeless and is easily reunited by 311.
• A lost dog wearing a license tag is almost always re-united with its owner when found.
• Every licensing period your dog is eligible for one “Free Release” if:
  • You have voluntarily and proactively purchased a license
  • Your dog is found at large wearing a current license
  • You have no additional Responsible Pet Ownership By-law violations within the licensing period

If your dog is lost, contact 311, visit Animal Services, and make a post on Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert on Facebook.

100% of dog license fees stay with the Animal Services Agency to help offset Agency costs. Your license fee allows the Animal Services Agency to:

• House and care for lost pets.
• Reunite lost pets with their owners.
• Provide emergency attendance at house fires, car accidents, and police incidents to help in the removal and care of pets.
• Operate a pet adoption program.
• Educate the public about Responsible Pet Ownership.

Yes, your service dog must be licensed. Contact 311 to get a license.

The Responsible Pet Ownership By-law requires that every dog over the age of six months must be licensed and must wear its City of Winnipeg license tag. Even pets that 'never leave the house' or property have a way of getting out through doors, gates, or windows that are accidentally left open. Also, a crisis situation like a flood or fire may cause your pet to flee the safety of your property. Having a license tag on its collar will help reunite your lost pet with you.

Yes - to be properly licensed and in compliance with the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law, a dog must wear its license tag.

You can exchange your regular-sized tag for a smaller tag by visiting the Animal Services Agency at 1057 Logan (regular business hours).

The implementation of a Cat Licensing Program will help to begin to curb the cat overpopulation problem in Winnipeg and assist in promoting responsible cat ownership, as well as enable the enhancement of low cost spay/neuter programs. Approximately 40% of gross revenues from Cat Licensing are dedicated to help fund low-income cat spay/neuter programs.

311 customer service representatives are able to assist in reuniting lost licensed cats with their owners 24/7 for cats wearing license tags.

50% of the gross revenue from the Cat Licensing Program is directed to the expansion of local cat spay/neuter programs.

Any additional net revenue from cat licensing will help the Animal Services Agency continue to provide quality animal care and control services.

The Responsible Pet Ownership By-law requires that every cat over the age of six months must be licensed and must either wear its City of Winnipeg license tag or have a legible tattoo or imbedded microchip that is registered with the Animal Services Agency. Even pets that 'never leave the house' or property have a way of getting out through doors, gates, or windows that are accidentally left open. Also, a crisis situation like a flood or fire may cause your pet to flee the safety of your property. Having a license tag on its collar, and/or a registered microchip/tattoo, will help reunite your lost pet with you.

Yes - you still need your cat licensed. However, if your cat has an identifiable microchip or a legible tattoo that is registered with the Animal Services Agency, they are not required to wear a license tag.

We suggest that all licensed cats wear a breakaway collar with a license tag. Unfortunately, some cats cannot tolerate wearing a collar. If a licensed cat is identifiable by a legible tattoo or imbedded microchip that has been registered with the Animal Services Agency, the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law does not require the cat to wear its license tag.

The Responsible Pet Ownership By-law requires all cats over the age of six months to be sterilized unless a current license for an intact cat has been issued for the cat. It is recommended that your pet be spayed/neutered any time after the age of four months. For female cats, it is ideal to spay them before their first heat.

Owners should consult with their veterinarian to arrange for their cat to be spayed or neutered. Low income families living in Winnipeg can apply for the Winnipeg Humane Society's SNAP program to get their cat spayed or neutered for around $30. Call 204-888-SNAP (7627) to see if you qualify. You will be required to provide proof of household income (most current income tax information for all occupants) or proof of social assistance in order to participate in SNAP.

No - licenses are not required for cats/kittens that are living in a home temporarily.

Over 5,000 cats are impounded each year at Winnipeg area animal shelters and rescues. Many of these impounded cats are owned cats that are never reunited due to lack of licensing and identification.

Yes - cat licensing has been implemented in most major Canadian cities.

No, there is no by-law prohibiting the feeding of feral or stray cats.

If you harbour a cat or a dog or allow it to remain on your premises, you become the owner of the animal and must fulfill the responsibilities of a pet owner as outlined in the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law.