Animal Safety & Responsible Pet Ownership

While dog owners are not required to licence their dogs*, all dogs are required to wear visible identification and there are still several other requirements as part of responsible pet ownership and rules around owning more than four dogs.

Dog owner requirements: 

• Dogs are required to wear visible identification with their owner’s current phone number.
• An Animal Over-Limit and Adoption Licence Application is required for any residence with four or more dogs.   

The Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw regulates many aspects of dog ownership and certain responsibilities of dog owners. This blyaw also helps Municipal Enforcement work with pet owners to ensure that dogs, cats, their owners, and the neighbors live together harmoniously and safely.

*Dog licences are not required and tags are not available for purchase, effective January 1, 2025.

Cats are not required to be licenced or wear visible identification in Okotoks, under the bylaw, cat owners must ensure their pets do not defecate on public or privately owned property nor tear open garbage bags. As a responsible cat owner, it is advisable to prevent your cat from trespassing on other people's property or roaming around the neighborhood. This is not only to be a good neighbor, but also for the safety of your cat. Okotoks is located in a wildlife corridor and some wildlife, such as coyotes or foxes, will prey on a stray cat.

*formerly Animal Fancier & Adoption License*

In order to have four or more dogs (up to a maximum of 10) at any residence in Okotoks, a completed Animal Over-Limit and Adoption Licence Application must be submitted to Municipal Enforcement Services for approval. Current Animal Over-Limit and Adoption Licence Holders will automatically receive an invoice each year for renewal. 

Any lost or found dogs can be reported to the Municipal Enforcement Complaint Line and an officer will be dispatched to assist in reuniting the animal with its owner.

A dog running at large does not constitute an emergency but can still be reported to the Municipal Enforcement Complaint Line and, if an officer is readily available, a patrol will be made to try to locate the dog.

If you witness or encounter an aggressive dog and believe a human or other animal may be harmed by the dog, this is considered an emergent situation and should be immediately reported to either the Okotoks Municipal Enforcement Complaint Line (403-938-8913) or the RCMP (403-938-4202).

Dog defecation causes an unsightly mess when left in open spaces, parks and along pathways and can also pose a health concern. Municipal Enforcement receives many complaints from concerned citizens regarding dog owners that simply walk away after their dog has defecated rather than stopping to clean up after their dogs.

Please be a responsible dog owner and help keep your community clean by picking up after your dog! The Town provides dog bag dispensers and garbage receptacles along the pathways and in the parks for dog owners to use while walking their dogs; but, it is also a dog owner's responsibility to carry extra bags in case these dispensers happen to be empty.

Under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, the fine for not cleaning up your dog's defecation on public property is $100 for a first offense and $200 for subsequent offenses.

Excessive or continual barking is often a sign that something isn’t right. If your dog is barking for long periods, consider the following ways to help address the issue:

• Identify the cause — barking may be linked to separation anxiety, loneliness, boredom, or fear. Understanding the reason is the first step.
• Enrol your dog in a training class to build positive behaviours.
• Provide engaging toys or activities to keep your dog mentally stimulated.
• Keep your dog indoors when you’re unable to supervise them.
• Consider a doggy daycare for socialization and daytime engagement.
• Make sure your dog gets regular exercise to burn off excess energy.

Excessive dog barking can be reported to the Okotoks Municipal Enforcement Complaint Line at 403-938-8913. 

Residents interested in applying to keep urban hens can complete an online application with the Town of Okotoks. The applications will be reviewed and approved by Municipal Enforcement on a first-come first-served basis and there is a $50 one-time application fee required. 

Review the below Urban Hen Question & Answer document for more information on applying for urban hens, requirements and keeping your urban hens. 

Urban Hen Question & Answer

The chicken coop must be a fully enclosed weather proof structure with an attached outdoor enclosure and can be no larger than 10 meters square in floor area, and no more than 2 meters in height.

A person may apply to keep up to 4 urban hens. 

• Submit a completed online application to gain approval.
• Construct a coop according to the Urban Hen Bylaw.
• Pay the one-time $50.00 application fee (Please note, application fee is not reduced or prorated no matter the month of purchase and application fees that have been paid in full will not be refunded or rebated.).

Apply Now 

As per the Livestock Emotional Support Animal Bylaw, Okotoks residents can now apply for a companion animal under 68 kilograms in weight that has been determined to provide a benefit for an individual by a mental health professional. Learn more about Livestock Emotional Support Animals at the link below. 

Livestock Emotional Support Animal Q & A

• You must be 18 years of age.
• You must complete an application with the Town of Okotoks.
• You must provide a letter from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist that is dated within the last 6 months.
• You must provide a letter from a licenced veterinarian that indicates the Livestock Emotional Support Animal has all required vaccines.
• You must pass a site inspection at your property/place of residence.  

Apply Now
 

The Town has evaluated the dog licensing program and found it no longer provides a substantial benefit to the community. The original intent of dog licensing was to aid in the quick reunification of lost dogs with their owners and to promote responsible pet ownership.  Despite the intent, the licensing requires significant administrative resources with limited impact on achieving its goals.  Discontinuing dog licence requirements will eliminate red tape and reduce the cost to pet owners. Pet owners will now be required to have visible identification on their dog’s collar or harness with the owner's current phone number to ensure responsible pet ownership. Most responsible dog owners already ensure their pets are easily identifiable through microchips, tattoos, or identification tags. With the widespread use of these methods and the growing role of social media in reuniting lost pets with their owners, the traditional dog licensing process has become redundant.   

Public safety will continue to be a priority. The Town encourages responsible pet ownership through identification requirements, education, and enforcing leash and noise control bylaws. These measures are more effective in managing pets than licensing. There will be no additional changes to the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw and enforcement.

Dog licences are no longer required or available to purchase under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, however, there are no additional changes to the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw and enforcement.  Pet owners are still responsible for the safety of their pet and will be required to have visible identification on their dog’s collar or harness with the owner's current phone number.  Okotoks Municipal Enforcement will continue to support compliance with existing bylaws related to pets, such as leash laws, noise control and identification requirements, as well as responding to reports of dogs at large.

The Town requires dogs to wear visible identification on their collar or harness with their owner’s current phone number.  This is a reliable and effective way to reunite lost pets with their owners. Additionally, social media, microchips and local lost-and-found groups have proven effective in returning lost pets to their owners.  Any lost or found dogs can be reported to the Municipal Enforcement Complaint Line at 403-938-8913 and an officer will be dispatched to assist in reuniting the animal with its owner. 

This bylaw amendment makes pet ownership more accessible and affordable for residents by eliminating the need to license your dog annually and the fees associated with that. The loss of dog licensing revenues will be balanced by reduced administrative burden and reprioritizing of resources.

Any current licences or dog tags will remain valid until their expiration date of December 31, 2024. After that, licences and dog tags will no longer be required or available for purchase and resident’s dogs will be required to wear visible Identification on their collar or harness with their owner’s current phone number.  The Town encourages responsible pet ownership, such as keeping up-to-date vaccination records and utilizing resources such as microchips to keep pets safe. 

Yes. Dogs will now be required to wear visible identification with their owner’s current phone number on their collar or harness.  Additionally, efforts will focus on educating pet owners about responsible ownership and public safety measures. 

The Town will continue to follow existing protocols to ensure public safety and enforce bylaws around dangerous or aggressive dogs. Reporting procedures and penalties for violations of Responsible Pet Ownership will remain in place. 

Any lost or found dogs can be reported to the Municipal Enforcement Complaint Line at 403-938-8913 and an officer will be dispatched to assist in reuniting the animal with its owner. 

The Town will have a grace period to comply with the new identification requirements until March 31, 2025.

In the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, an “Animal” is defined as a male or female dog, a neutered male dog, a spayed female dog, or a Livestock Emotional Support Animal. Cats are not required to wear visible identification. Cat owners must still follow all requirements laid out in the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.