Brampton Animal Services runs the City’s animal shelter at 475 Chrysler Drive, sells dog and cat licences, handles lost and found pets and adopts out animals. A one-year licence costs from $13 to $60 depending on the pet and whether it is spayed or neutered and microchipped, and every dog and cat in Brampton must have one.
At a glance
- Where: Brampton Animal Shelter, 475 Chrysler Drive, Brampton, L6S 6G3
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Closed Sundays and holidays. No appointment needed
- Phone: 905-458-5800 · Email: animal.services@brampton.ca
- Pet licence: required for every dog and cat. One-year dog licence $25 to $60, cat $13 to $40 (lower for owners 55+)
- Limit: six cats and dogs per household, with no more than three dogs
- Off-leash fine: up to $5,000 per offence for a dog running at large
- Report other animal problems: call or use Brampton 311
Table of Contents
What does Brampton Animal Services do?
Brampton Animal Services is the City of Brampton department that runs the animal shelter at 475 Chrysler Drive and licenses pets under the Animal Services By-law. Residents use it to buy or renew a dog or cat licence, report or reclaim a lost pet, adopt an animal, or get emergency pet food.
The shelter is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, for stray animal reclaims and general questions, according to the City’s hours page. It is closed on Sundays and holidays.
The City also lists programs for backyard hens and pigeons, feral cat trap-neuter-return volunteers, coyote information and off-leash dog areas on its Animal Services site.
Do you need a pet licence in Brampton?
Yes. Under the City of Brampton’s Animal Services By-law, every dog and cat must be licensed with the City. The licence page says the tag is the quickest way for someone to contact you if your pet gets lost, and the shelter can get a licensed pet home faster.
Licence fees go back to Brampton Animal Services. The City says they help pay for adoptions, spaying and neutering, and medical care for lost and homeless pets. That money is separate from your Brampton property tax bill.
How much is a pet licence in Brampton?
A Brampton pet licence costs less if your pet is both spayed or neutered and microchipped, and less again if the owner is 55 or older. You can buy a one-year or a two-year licence.
Dog licence fees
| Dog licence | 1 year | 2 years |
|---|---|---|
| Sterilized and microchipped | $25 | $40 |
| Sterilized and microchipped (owner 55+) | $15 | $20 |
| Unsterilized and/or not microchipped | $60 | $90 |
| Unsterilized and/or not microchipped (owner 55+) | $40 | $60 |
Cat licence fees
| Cat licence | 1 year | 2 years |
|---|---|---|
| Sterilized and microchipped | $13 | $20 |
| Sterilized and microchipped (owner 55+) | $6 | $10 |
| Unsterilized and/or not microchipped | $40 | $60 |
| Unsterilized and/or not microchipped (owner 55+) | $20 | $30 |
Source: City of Brampton, Getting your licence page, checked October 23, 2026.
Worked example: what the two-year licence saves
Say you’re 55 or older and your dog is spayed and microchipped. Two one-year licences would cost $30 ($15 twice). A two-year licence costs $20, so you save $10 and renew half as often.
The bigger difference is sterilization and microchipping. For a dog owner under 55, a one-year licence is $60 for an unsterilized or unchipped dog and $25 for a sterilized, microchipped one, a gap of $35 every year.
How to buy or renew a pet licence in Brampton
You can buy or renew a Brampton pet licence online, by mail or in person. The City’s licence page lists these options:
- Online: through the City’s online pet licensing portal, paying by Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
- By mail: download the pet licence application (PDF) and mail it with a cheque payable to the City of Brampton or a money order to Brampton Animal Services, 475 Chrysler Drive, Brampton, ON L6S 6G3. Don’t mail cash. Post-dated cheques aren’t accepted.
- In person: at the shelter reception at 475 Chrysler Drive. The City’s FAQ also lists Service Brampton locations and special events.
Some licences can’t be bought online. Contact Animal Services for a service dog licence, a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog licence, or a replacement tag outside your renewal period.
How long a licence lasts
Since November 1, 2023, dog and cat licences last 12 or 24 months from the date you buy them, the City says. The same FAQ still contains an older line about licences running January 1 to December 31, so check the expiry date on your own receipt or call 905-458-5800 if you’re unsure.
Smart tags and keeping your details current
New licences come with a “smart” tag that shows a QR code. You can activate it and choose what contact details someone who finds your pet will see. A lost or damaged tag costs $5 to replace.
The tag company stores those details, not the City. Update your information with Animal Services as well, by calling 905-458-5800 or emailing animal.services@brampton.ca, whenever it changes.
How many pets can you have in Brampton?
Brampton allows a total of six cats and dogs per household, with no more than three dogs, under Animal Services By-law 201-2023. A home with three dogs can have up to three cats. A home with no dogs can have up to six cats.
The by-law took effect in November 2023 and replaced the older dog and animal control by-laws, which allowed up to nine cats and dogs. The City says homes that already had three dogs and up to six licensed cats can keep those animals until they are no longer owned.
Backyard hens and pigeons
If you keep two or fewer backyard hens or pigeons, you must register the coop. More than two needs a licence, the City’s by-law FAQ says.
Brampton leash rules and off-leash dog parks
In Brampton, dogs must be on a leash whenever they are off your property, except in a designated leash-free area. On your own property, a dog that isn’t leashed must be in an enclosure or fenced area, or tethered while supervised.
Animal Services staff can pick up a dog running at large and take it to the shelter. Owners can be fined up to $5,000 for each offence, according to the City’s off-leash dog areas page.
To use a leash-free park, your dog must be:
- vaccinated
- licensed
- spayed or neutered
- not aggressive to people or animals, with no history of biting
Children under 10 aren’t allowed in Brampton’s leash-free parks. The City’s page has a map of the locations.
What to do if you lose your pet in Brampton
Start by searching your home and street, then file a missing pet report with Brampton Animal Services at 905-458-5800. The City’s Lost and Found Pets page recommends these steps:
- File a detailed missing pet report with Brampton Animal Services.
- Send a photo. Drop it off at the shelter or email it so staff can match your pet.
- Check the shelter’s Found Pets page on Facebook, where Animal Services posts strays it has taken in.
- Walk the neighbourhood. The City says most missing pets are found close to home. Ask neighbours to check garages, sheds and under decks, since frightened indoor cats often hide.
- Post on local lost pet groups and Petco Love Lost, which uses facial recognition to match photos.
A licence tag or microchip makes the biggest difference. The by-law lets the shelter microchip strays that arrive with no tag or chip, so a pet without ID can still be traced if it comes back in later.
What to do if you find a pet
Check the animal for a collar or tag, take a photo, and contact Brampton Animal Services to file a found pet report. Sick, injured or aggressive animals are a priority: call right away, and don’t approach an aggressive animal or chase one near a road.
The City also suggests asking neighbours, and taking the pet to the shelter or a local vet to be scanned for a microchip. If you reunite a pet with its family, tell the shelter so it can close the file.
A healthy cat outdoors may be a neighbour’s pet or a community cat in a trap-neuter-return program, the City notes. It asks residents to help keep shelter intakes to animals that are homeless, suffering or a safety concern.
Found kittens
Very young kittens usually have the best chance with their mother, who may be nearby. Before bringing kittens in, contact Animal Services for help deciding whether they’re at risk. If kittens in Brampton are confirmed orphaned, sick or injured, call 311. The City also looks for “finder fosters” and provides training and supplies.
How to adopt a pet from Brampton Animal Services
You can see adoptable animals on the City’s Adopt a Pet page or visit the shelter during adoption viewing hours. Note the pet’s name and Animal ID before you call.
The adoption process works like this:
- Fill out the short cat, dog or small animal questionnaire, at the shelter or at home.
- Once it’s approved, bring valid government-issued ID with proof of your current address.
- Everyone in your household meets the animal. If you’re adopting a dog, your current dogs need a meet-and-greet too.
- Take your pet home, which can happen the same day if you come prepared. The shelter can’t place holds.
Adoption fees
| Animal | Fee |
|---|---|
| Kitten (under 6 months) | $160 plus licence fee if applicable |
| Adult cat (over 6 months) | $120 plus licence fee if applicable |
| Puppy (under 6 months) | $260 plus licence fee if applicable |
| Adult dog (over 6 months) | $210 plus licence fee if applicable |
| Small animals and birds | From $15 |
Cats and dogs are spayed or neutered before they go home. The fee also covers an FVRCP vaccine (cats) or DHPPC vaccine (dogs), a rabies vaccine for animals at least three months old, deworming, a microchip and a free vet exam. Dogs come with a collar and leash, and adopters get short-term pet insurance that must be activated within 24 hours.
Brampton’s emergency pet food pantry
Brampton Animal Services runs an Emergency Pet Food Pantry for owners going through a hard time, so they don’t have to give up a pet because they can’t afford food. It provides one week to one month of supplies, depending on demand and donations, the City says.
To ask for help, call 905-458-5800, email PetFoodPantry@brampton.ca or fill in the City’s online form. Include what pets you have, how many, their ages, and whether they eat kibble or canned food. Animal Services packs the order and tells you how to pick it up. You can donate sealed dry or canned pet food at the shelter.
Wildlife and coyotes
Brampton Animal Services also gives advice on wildlife, including coyotes. To keep wildlife out of your garbage, the by-law FAQ suggests putting food waste in the green bin and locking it. Our Brampton garbage collection schedule explains pickup days.
FAQ
Is a cat licence mandatory in Brampton?
Yes. The Animal Services By-law requires every cat, as well as every dog, to be licensed with the City of Brampton. A one-year cat licence is $13 if your cat is spayed or neutered and microchipped.
How much is a dog licence in Brampton?
A one-year dog licence is $25 for a spayed or neutered, microchipped dog and $60 if it isn’t. Owners 55 and older pay $15 or $40. Two-year licences cost $40 or $90.
Where is the Brampton animal shelter?
The shelter is at 475 Chrysler Drive, Brampton, L6S 6G3. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and closed Sundays and holidays.
How many dogs can I own in Brampton?
Up to three dogs per household, and no more than six cats and dogs in total, under Animal Services By-law 201-2023.
What is the fine for an off-leash dog in Brampton?
Owners who let their dogs run at large, or off leash outside a designated area, can be fined up to $5,000 per offence, according to the City.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog in Brampton?
An adult dog costs $210 and a puppy under six months costs $260, plus a licence fee if one applies. The fee includes spaying or neutering, vaccines and a microchip.
How do I report a lost pet in Brampton?
Call Brampton Animal Services at 905-458-5800 or email animal.services@brampton.ca to file a missing pet report, and send a photo of your pet.
Can I get free pet food in Brampton?
The Emergency Pet Food Pantry provides one week to one month of pet food for owners in need. Call 905-458-5800 or email PetFoodPantry@brampton.ca.
Related on Brampton Brief
- Brampton 311: how to report a problem
- Brampton leaf pickup schedule
- City of Brampton jobs: how to apply
Sources: City of Brampton: Getting your licence · City of Brampton: Animal Services By-law FAQs · City of Brampton: Lost and Found Pets · City of Brampton: Pet Adoption Process · City of Brampton: Off-Leash Dog Areas · City of Brampton: Pet Food Pantry · City of Brampton: Animal Shelter hours
How we reported this: Brampton Brief checked every fee, address, rule and hour in this article against the City of Brampton’s Animal Services pages (licensing, by-law FAQs, lost and found, adoption, off-leash areas, pet food pantry and hours) on October 23, 2026. We’ll update it if the City changes anything. Spot an error? Email hello@bramptonbrief.com with “Correction” in the subject.