Please be advised that animal intake is by appointment only.
If you need to renew your licence we encourage you to do so online or via mail to P.O. Box 2670 Edmonton, AB T5J 2G4. Payments can also be made at any financial institution or online banking payable to the City of Edmonton/Pet Business Licences or Edmonton Pet & Business Licences.
We know that taking care of animals in our community is important for Edmontonians. We continue to work on staged relaunch plans for the many services that have been impacted by COVID-19, including services related to Animal Care and Control (ACCC).
All Walk-in Services Are Suspended — Admittance Is By Appointment Only
Effective November 4, the ACCC will resume the intake of all stray animals which now includes feral cats and cats brought into ACCC in a trap. ACCC continues to suspend all walk-in services. An admittance appointment is required for all services including if you need to claim your pet or want an animal scanned for a microchip. Appointments can be made by calling 311 or by using our online forms to schedule your visit.
Although ACCC is accepting feral and trapped cats with an appointment, most healthy cats do not need to be brought into the shelter. In fact, many cats are not lost as they are permitted to roam under City Bylaws. When cats are lost, they are 10 times more likely to be reunited with their owner or caregiver if they are left where they were found than if they are removed and taken to a shelter.
Other types of cats such as feral cats, owned outdoor cats or community ‘stray’ cats, can also usually be left where they were found as they are used to being or living outside. Feral cats live outdoors and avoid human contact. They have either never had any contact with humans or contact with humans have diminished over time. They do not allow themselves to be handled by people and their behaviour is considered wild. They are extremely unlikely to ever become pets or enjoy living indoors. In general, once they reach a certain age, most feral cats cannot be rehabilitated or adopted. By taking them out of their natural environment and bringing them into the shelter, they are exposed to unnecessary stress which is detrimental to their welfare and may lead to them being humanely euthanized if no other option for outtake exists.
If You Need to Purchase or Renew Your Pet’s Licence
Citizens can purchase or renew their pet licence online. Payments can also be sent by cheque or money order and mailed to: the City of Edmonton, P.O. Box 2670, Edmonton, AB. T5J 2G4. We encourage pet owners to keep their contact information associated with your pet’s licence up-to-date online in the event your pet gets lost.
Animal Care & Control Centre
Lost Pets
Effective November 4, the ACCC will resume the intake of all stray animals which now includes feral cats and cats brought into ACCC in a trap. ACCC continues to suspend all walk-in services. An admittance appointment is required for all services including if you need to claim your pet or want an animal scanned for a microchip. Appointments can be made by calling 311 or visiting edmonton.ca/pets.
Priority will be given to those animals that are:
- In distress
- Injured (wounds, limping, bleeding)
- Visibly ill (thin, weak, not mobile, any discharge from eyes or nose)
- Very pregnant (imminent birth)
- Kittens under two months who appear to have no mother
- Outside when the temperatures have dropped below -20 degrees Celsius with the windchill and where the finder is unable to bring the animal inside
All ACCC services listed above are by appointment only. Appointments can now be made by calling 311 or using the online form.
If You Have Lost Your Pet
If you have lost your pet, please look for it on our Lost Pets page and make an appointment online via edmonton.ca/pets or by calling 311.
Injured Animals
Priority appointments will be given to those animals that are:
-
In distress
-
Injured (wounds, limping, bleeding)
-
Visibly ill (thin, weak, not mobile, any discharge from eyes or nose)
-
Very pregnant (imminent birth)
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Kittens under two months of age who appear to have no mother
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Outside when the temperatures have dropped below -20 degrees Celsius with the windchill and where the finder is unable to bring the animal inside
We encourage citizens to make attempts to find the owner of any healthy, lost or stray animal. If the animal has a tag with a licence number on it, 311 may provide the owner’s contact information if the owner has given us permission to release it. It is important to note that owned lost cats are 10 times more likely to find their way home if left in their neighbourhood than if they are brought to a shelter. Outdoor cats and feral cats are accustomed to being outside.
For a list of more tips on what you can do to reunite pets with their owners and templates to make your own Lost Cat Poster or Paper Collar, visit edmonton.ca/scheduledintake.
Pet Licence Purchase and Renewal
Citizens can purchase or renew their pet licence online. Payments can also be sent by cheque or money order and mailed to: the City of Edmonton, P.O. Box 2670, Edmonton, AB. T5J 2G4. We encourage pet owners to keep their contact information associated with your pet’s licence up-to-date online in the event your pet gets lost.
Animal Care Employees Rescue Distressed Dog
City Animal Care & Control Centre employees teamed up to rescue a severely emaciated dog and nurse her back to health. Read the story.
Virtual Tour
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to the Animal Care & Control Centre?
The Animal Care & Control Centre is located at 13550 -163 Street, and shares its entrance with the Chappelle Centre for Animal Care, home of the Edmonton Humane Society.
When travelling westbound on 137 Avenue, turn left onto 163 Street. Proceed south along 163 Street until you see the monument signs for the Chappelle Centre for Animal Care and the Animal Care & Control Centre.
When travelling eastbound on 137 Avenue, turn right onto 163 Street. Proceed south along 163 Street until you see the monument signs for the Chappelle Centre for Animal Care and the Animal Care & Control Centre.
What does the City do to find a lost pet's owner?
Every animal that enters our Animal Care & Control Centre is searched for tags, a tattoo or a microchip.
When an animal has a valid pet licence and is wearing tags, we can immediately contact the owner. A tattoo or microchip with up-to-date information on file also helps us to contact the owner.
Every animal that enters our facility also has its picture posted on our Found Pets search tool.
How long are animals kept at the Animal Care & Control Centre?
Animals with no identification are kept up to three business days and animals with identification are kept up to 10 business days.
After that, adoptable animals are transferred to the
Edmonton Humane Society and other rescue groups.
