Winnipeg By-law 92/2013, s. 21.2 — Responsible Pet Ownership By-law

Every person is required to display a cat breeding permit number where kittens are advertised for sale. added 5/2022 Use of cat traps 22(1) A designated employee is authorized to rent or loan cat traps to individuals for the purpose of capturing cats running at large on condition that the individual agrees to

• (a) turn a captured cat over to the Animal Services Division or its designated agent for impoundment; amended 64/2026
• (b) treat the captured cat humanely; and
• (c) comply with any other conditions imposed by the Manager. amended 5/2022; 64/2026 22(2) A person who borrows or rents a cat trap from the Animal Services Division must comply with the terms and conditions imposed under subsection (1). amended 64/2026 Trap, neuter and return of community cats added 1/2024 22.1(1) Subject to this section, the designated employee may on such terms and conditions as the designated employee considers appropriate authorize an animal rescue organization or a person to
• (a) capture a community cat in the City of Winnipeg using a live release trap or other humane means;
• (b) have the community cat sterilized and/or vaccinated by a veterinarian, as needed; and
• (c) following post-operative care after sterilization and/or other medical treatment, return the cat to the same environment from which the cat was captured, if safe to do so. By-law No. 92/2013 27 22.1(2) An authorization under subsection (1) exempts the animal rescue organization or person from the requirements set forth in sections 18(1) and 19(1) of this by-law with respect to the community cat. 24.2(3) An animal rescue organization or person who is authorized under subsection (1) shall:
• (a) either
• (i) have a community cat management program that is recognized by the Manager, or amended 64/2026
• (ii) be registered with a community cat management program that is recognized by the Manager, or become registered within 14 days of being requested to do so by a designated employee; amended 64/2026
• (b) provide food and water to the community cat, as needed;
• (c) remove and rehome an adoptable community cat;
• (d) limit the number and/or size of structures used for shelter when directed to do so by a designated employee;
• (e) maintain sanitary and uncluttered conditions at the premises where a community cat is harboured; and
• (f) follow such other terms and conditions imposed by the designated employee under subsection (1). Impoundment and quarantine for rabies observation 23(1) Subject to this section, if
• (a) a designated employee suspects that a cat has been exposed to rabies; or
• (b) a cat bites or scratches an individual with its teeth so that the skin is broken, regardless of the circumstances of the bite or scratch, the designated employee is authorized to capture, impound and quarantine the cat at the expense of the owner for a period of no less than ten days from the day of the bite or scratch for observation. 23(2) If a designated employee gives notice to the owner of a cat that he or she is acting under the authority of subsection (1), the owner must surrender the cat to the designated employee for impoundment and quarantine immediately. By-law No. 92/2013 28 23(3) As an alternative to impounding and quarantining a cat under subsection (1), the designated employee is authorized to permit or require the owner of the cat, at the owner’s expense, to
• (a) have the cat quarantined at a veterinary clinic within the City of Winnipeg; or
• (b) have the cat quarantined on the property of its owner. The designated employee is authorized to act under this subsection if he or she determines that the cat will be securely held and will not leave the property. The designated employee may impose conditions on a quarantine permitted or required by this section that are reasonable to ensure that the cat is appropriately confined during the quarantine period. An owner who fails to ensure that the cat is securely held on the property or fails to ensure compliance with other conditions imposed by a designated employee commits an offence. 23(4) If a cat is quarantined by a designated employee or on the property of its owner, a designated employee must observe it for symptoms of rabies. If it is quarantined at a veterinary clinic, the veterinarian must observe it for symptoms of rabies. If, during the quarantine period, it is determined to have rabies, the cat must be euthanized, if it has not already died or been euthanized. The cat’s body must then be examined for proof of rabies at the expense of the owner of the cat. 23(5) A cat quarantined by the designated employee under subsection (1), unless it is determined to have rabies, may be redeemed under section 24 ( Redemption of impounded cats) after its mandatory period of impoundment and quarantine has ended. If it has not been redeemed within 48 hours after the end of its period of impoundment and quarantine under this section, the Manager is authorized to dispose of the cat in any manner he or she considers appropriate. amended 5/2022; 64/2026 Sterilization of impounded cats 23.1(1) A designated employee, the Winnipeg Humane Society, an animal rescue organization or some other agent of the City of Winnipeg is authorized to sterilize a cat that has been impounded or sheltered pursuant to this By-law prior to its release to an owner where the cat added 5/2022
• (a) was not licenced and appeared to be stray when impounded or sheltered; or replaced 14/2023
• (b) has been impounded or sheltered twice in its lifetime, regardless of wearing a valid licence tag. 23.1(2) Any surgeries performed under clause (1) are at the expense of the owner. added 5/2022 By-law No. 92/2013 29 Redemption of impounded cats 24(1) The owner of a cat that has been impounded under this By-law and that is eligible to be redeemed may redeem it if he or she can demonstrate to the satisfaction of a designated employee that he or she is the owner of the cat. 24(2) In order to redeem an impounded cat, its owner must:
• (a) pay all applicable fees; and
• (b) pay the monetary penalty imposed in section 45 ( Monetary penalty for costs of capturing animals); and,
• (c) if the cat requires a licence, obtain a licence for the cat. At risk cat designation added 73/2022 24.1(1) The Manager is authorized to determine that a cat is at risk if there is evidence of irresponsible pet ownership, including but not limited to amended 64/2026
• (a) the cat having more than two incidents of being in violation of clause 18(1)(b) (running at large);
• (b) the cat having more than one incident of being in violation of clause 18(1)(g) (biting an individual or animal);
• (c) the cat having more than one incident of being impounded at an animal shelter;
• (d) unsanitary confinement of the cat;
• (e) lack of veterinary care for the cat for medical issues; or
• (f) the owner has a history of non-compliance with the requirements of this By-law or the owner refuses to, or there are reasonable grounds to believe that the owner will fail to, comply with the requirements of this 24.1(2) If a cat is designated as being at risk under subsection (1), in addition to any other remedies or enforcement actions available, a designated employee is authorized to take the cat into the custody of the Animal Services Division and have the cat rehomed. amended 64/2026 24.1(3) The Manager, in compliance with section 116 of The City of Winnipeg Charter, must give notice to the owner of a decision to designate a cat as being at risk and provide the reasons why such determination has been made. amended 64/2026 By-law No. 92/2013 30 PART 3 – EXCESS ANIMAL PERMITS Restriction on number of cats and dogs on property 25(1) This section does not apply to properties in the use category “kennel” or “animal hospital of veterinary clinic” under the Winnipeg Zoning By-law or the use category “veterinary” under the Downtown Winnipeg Zoning By-law. 25(2) Subject to this section, unless the person holds a valid excess animal permit issued under section 26 ( Procedure for obtaining excess animal permit), no person may own, harbour, keep, have in his or her possession, or have on a single parcel of land of which he or she is the occupant a total of more than six dogs and cats over the age of six months, of which no more than four may be dogs. 25(3) The obligation in subsection (2) applies even though a person holds a valid companion animal breeding premises licence or a kennel licence issued under The Animal Care Act. Procedure for obtaining excess animal permit 26(1) When an application is made in compliance with this section, the Community Committee within whose geographical area the parcel of land for which an excess animal permit is sought is located is authorized to issue an excess animal permit authorizing the applicant to harbour, keep or have on a particular parcel of land dogs, cats or both dogs and cats that exceed the number permitted by section 25 ( Restriction on number of dogs and cats on property). 26(2) In order to obtain an excess animal permit under subsection (1), an applicant must
• (a) apply to the Manager using a form acceptable to the Manager amended 5/2022; 64/2026
• (b) provide all information reasonably required in order to consider the application; and
• (c) pay the requisite application fee. 26(3) After receiving an application, the Manager must forward to the Community Committee amended 5/2022; 64/2026
• (a) the application; and
• (b) a report prepared by the Manager setting out the following information: amended 5/2022; 64/2026
• (i) whether the applicant or the parcel of land for which the excess animal permit is sought has ever been the subject of an application for an excess animal permit or an approval for excess numbers of animals in the past; By-law No. 92/2013 31
• (ii) the use and nature of the parcels of land immediately adjacent to the subject parcel and the character of the district within which the subject parcel is located;
• (iii) any other information the Manager considers relevant to the application. amended 5/2022; 64/2026 26(4) At least 4 days before the application is considered by the Community Committee, the City Clerk must post on the City of Winnipeg website, a copy of the report that has been or will be submitted to the Community Committee under clause (3)(b). 26(5) At least 14 days before the application is considered by the Community Committee, the applicant must post in conspicuous locations on the subject parcel of land copies of a notice which sets out:
• (a) the date, time and place of the Community Committee meeting at which the application for an excess animal permit will be dealt with; and
• (b) the website referred to in subsection (4) on which the report referred to in clause (3)(b) can be found when it is posted. The copies of the notice must be posted facing every street or alley adjacent to the parcel and must be no more than one metre inside the parcel. The copies of the notice must remain posted until the meeting has taken place. 26(6) If the parcel of land for which an excess animal permit is sought is rented or leased, the applicant must, at least 14 days before the application is considered by the Community Committee, serve the notice referred to in subsection (5) on the owner of the property by personal service, or by sending it by registered mail or delivery to the owner’s address. 26(7) Before deciding to issue or refuse to issue an excess animal permit, the Community Committee must consider written or verbal representations from any person who wishes to be heard. Decision re. excess animal permit 27(1) An excess animal permit may only be issued if the Community Committee considers that
• (a) the dogs, cats or both dogs and cats for which the applicant is seeking a permit will not unduly annoy or disturb the occupants of nearby properties; and
• (b) the applicant can and will comply with this By-law, The Animal Care Act and all other applicable legislation in respect of the dogs, cats or both dogs and cats for which the applicant is seeking an excess animal permit. By-law No. 92/2013 32 27(2) The excess animal permit may be issued in respect of specifically identified dogs or cats or both dogs and cats, or may permit a specific number of unidentified dogs or cats or both dogs and cats. The excess animal permit may be issued indefinitely or for a limited time and may have conditions imposed on it. 27(3) It is a condition of every excess animal permit that the permit holder must comply with this By-law, The Animal Care Act and all other applicable legislation in respect of the dogs, cats or both dogs and cats to which the permit applies. If this condition or any other condition imposed on the permit is violated, the Community Committee is authorized to suspend or revoke the permit. 27(4) An excess animal permit applies to a specific person and to a specific parcel of land. It is not capable of being transferred to another person or to another parcel of land. 27(5) The City Clerk must give notice of the decision of the Community Committee to the applicant and every person who made representations at the Community Committee meeting in accordance with section 116 of The City of Winnipeg Charter. 27(6) The decision of the Community Committee concerning an excess animal permit is final and may not be appealed.