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A Year in Review

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Brampton Animal Services ensures that lost or abandoned domestic animals receiv​​e care, are reunited with their owners, or are adopted/fostered into new homes. We conduct outreach activities and education to provide residents with information and tactics to live with local wildlife in an environment that is safe and healthy for people and animals. We educate and support residents with pet ownership and enforce the Animal Services By-law and Dog Owners Liability Act.​​

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​Milestones in 2023​​​

  • Brampton Animal Services took in 1,409 pets in 2023.  On average, we cared for 30 dogs, 49 cats, and 21 other pets every day. The number of animals at the shelter on a daily basis increased for the third consecutive year, up 2% from 2022.
  • 688 pets were adopted in 2023, including 177 dogs, 381 cats, and 130 other pets. 
  • Stray or lost pets are arriving at an increased rate - up 15% from the previous year's totals. Stray dogs increased by a drastic 41% from the previous year.
  • Overall, Animal Services interacted with 6,548 animals over the past year. This includes wildlife, domestic animals, feral animals, and livestock.
  • $74,928 was raised for the HOPE Fund​ through your generous donations. As a result, 71 extended care surgeries were performed on abandoned pets, totalling $92,222, so they could be saved and adopted into forever homes.
  • We arranged for the spaying or neutering of 39 feral community cats in partnership with colony caretakers. Spaying and neutering one female and one male cat can prevent 2,000 unwanted births over four years.
  • We distributed 5 winterized cat shelters to community cat colony caretakers.
  • 6 semi-feral cats were adopted through our Barn Cat program​, in which rural families adopt cats that wouldn’t be suitable for a residential home
  • 5,440 pets were licensed​, including 4,408 dogs and 1,032 cats, increasing the chances that lost pets can be reunited with their families.
  • Brampton Animal Services returned 284 lost pets to their families, including 225 dogs, 45 cats, and 14 other pets.
  • Animal Services officers and volunteer drivers transported 201 sick or injured wild animals to rehabilitation centres so they could be saved and eventually released back where they were found.
  • Our Pet Food Pantry​ distributed a record 26,004 pounds of pet food to residents. This included 18,386 pounds through the Animal Shelter and 7,618 pounds through Regeneration Brampton. These resources, generously donated to us to assist Brampton residents in need, were valued at $80,612!
  • We hosted 2 pet wellness clinics, where 30 pets owned by residents who face barriers to veterinary care received a complimentary wellness exam, microchipping and vaccines.
  • Animal Services took in 223 surrendered animals. The top reasons families cited for needing to surrender their pets in 2023 were:
    • health or behaviour of the animal or health of the owner/family
    • lack of resources and the inability to afford pet-related medical care
    • personal reasons, including changes in lifestyle, or the pet was incompatible with the living arrangements of other people or other animals
    • housing-related issues, including the cost of housing, loss of home, moving/relocating, and pet-restrictions
  • 58 dogs were sent to foster homes in 2023
  • 108 cats/kittens went to foster homes in 2023 – with 68 being underage kittens.​​
  • In 2023, 124 volunteers assisted ​with dog walking or cat socialization, for a total of 681 hours of additional animal enrichment!
  • A new Animal Services By-law ​was implemented to increase the protection provided to our residents and animals. New requirements include:
    • basic standards of care to protect pets
    • prohibiting the feeding of wildlife to protect our residents and maintain a healthy ecosystem for wildlife
    • requirements to keep dogs restrained, even on the owners' property
  • Animal Services Officers had 17,792 attendances for calls in 2023. An increase of 12% from the previous year.
  • Animal Services declared 26 dogs potentially dangerous, and 8 dogs as dangerous in 2023 – significantly enhancing public safety in our community.
  • In 2023, 3,507 residents from local schools, community groups and Scouts participated in our education programs or visited us at community events.​​​​​