At Perth Council’s recent committee meeting, staff presented a request to eliminate the requirement for dog and cat owners to purchase licence tags.
Based on a study that shows 41% of Canadian households own at least one dog, Perth’s canine population is estimated at 1400 furry friends. Yet the Town only sells on average, 57 tags a year generating $300. The tags alone cost $235.
Staff recommended ending that program with a new requirement for all cats and dogs to have either collar tags identifying the owners or micro-chips.
The Town of Perth’s Animal Care and Control By-law currently requires annual dog licensing and tags, but the system is outdated and largely ineffective. The original purpose of the By-Law was to help reunite lost pets with their owners. Lost pets today are typically reunited through social media or by scanning microchips, and most found dogs do not wear municipal tags.
Cats currently receive a one-time license tag, but this system is also considered unnecessary.
Staff recommend eliminating both dog and cat licensing programs and instead requiring all pets to have proper identification, such as a microchip or a tag with owner contact information. Ending the licensing programs will reduce costs, free staff resources, and modernize the By-law.
A full update of By-law is planned for early 2026, but this change is being proposed sooner to avoid ordering new tags for next year.
The Town is also considering hosting a microchip clinic in partnership with local veterinarians or humane societies to help raise awareness.
Story by Brian Turner
