New pet licence ‘smart tags’ system coming to Brampton with fewer renewals but increased fees

The city is revamping the pet licensing program in Brampton, introducing “smart tags” and more options for pet owners along with higher fees.

The changes will come into effect on Nov. 1 and will see dog and cat owners able to purchase a one- or two-year licence and switch to digital tags that can be loaded with their pet’s information.

Currently, a pet licence is only valid from Jan. 1 through to Dec 31 and the city requires pet owners to renew their licences every calendar year. But the new rules will let pet owners purchase a longer licence for up to two years, with the renewal date set from the time of purchase.

But moving to the new system also comes with an increase in fees, as the annual rate for a dog that has been sterilized and microchipped will increase from $20 per year to $25 or $40 every two years, while cats that has been sterilized and microchipped would climb to $13 from $10.

A pet licence is how Brampton Animal Services returns lost pets with their owners, and the city says some 600 lost pets are reunited with their families every year.

All dogs and cats in Brampton must be registered under the city’s animal control bylaws, and Brampton has partnered with local businesses with the BluePaw program to give discounts to responsible pet owners and help promote pet licensing in Brampton.

Pet licensing can be done online, in person, by phone, or through the mail. For full pricing and more details visit www.brampton.ca/animalservices.