The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals as follows:

Feeding of Wildlife

A. Establish the following definitions:

i. FEED - Providing food to, or leaving food for consumption by, wildlife, but does not include:

a. keeping compost in accordance with City by-laws;

b. keeping food in a bird feeding device in compliance with this Chapter;

c. providing water to a domestic animal; or

d. growing fruits and vegetables in gardens.

ii. BIRD FEEDING DEVICE - Any instrument, tool, appliance or thing meant or intended to hold food for birds.

iii. SONGBIRD – A bird belonging to the oscine division in ornithology.

iv. WILDLIFE - An animal that belongs to a species that is wild by nature, but does not include

a. domestic animals; or

b. a feral or stray cat.

B. Add a new subsection 349-10.1 as follows:

No person shall feed or attempt to feed wildlife, or permit the feeding of wildlife on their property, except:

i. An officer, licensed trapper, authorized wildlife rehabilitator or employee of a licensed pest management operator or exterminator leaving food as bait to catch wildlife as part of their professional duties;

ii. A person feeding wildlife as part of a research program undertaken by a university, college, government research body or wildlife research institution;

iii. A person fishing in accordance with a valid provincial licence;

iv. A person participating in a cultural, religious or spiritual practice outdoors, provided the person cleans all food from the outdoor location at the conclusion of the practice; or

v. A person feeding songbirds as follows:

a. the food intended for the songbirds is placed in a bird feeding device that is sufficiently above grade so as to not attract or be accessible to wildlife;

b. the bird feeding device is located on private property, and the property owner or occupant has given permission for the installation and use of the bird feeding device;

c. any food spilled from the bird feeding device is removed in a timely manner such that it does not attract other wildlife; and

d.the bird feeding device is kept in sanitary condition and in good working order.

Pet Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

C. Add a provision that no person shall keep more than four rabbits and/or guinea pigs, or a combination of both, in and about any dwelling unit within the city.

D. Add a provision that the limit on the number of rabbits and/or guinea pigs shall not apply to individual members of a rescue group who are keeping rabbits and/or guinea pigs for or on behalf of that rescue group.

E. Add a provision that any person keeping more than four rabbits and/or guinea pigs as of December 1, 2022 may continue to keep those rabbits and/or guinea pigs until they have died, except where a person was lawfully keeping more than 10 rabbits and/or guinea pigs as of December 1, 2022 that person may keep no more than 10 of those rabbits or guinea pigs, or a combination of both, until they have died.

Pigeons

F. Amend section 349-25 by:

i. Deleting the word "stray" from subsection A; and

G. Amend section 349-25 by adding a provision that a person shall keep no more than 30 pigeons on any property in the city between November 1 of one year to March 31 of the subsequent year, or no more than 50 pigeons from and including April 1 to and including October 31 in any year.

Outdoor Animal Shelter Standards

H. Amend section 349-7 to require a person having the custody or control of an animal kept outside for any continuous period exceeding thirty minutes to ensure the animal enclosure provided in accordance with that section complies with any applicable standards under the Provincial Animal Welfare Standards Act, 2019, or its regulations.

Dog Excrement

I. Amend section 349-18 so that an owner of a dog shall remove excrement left by the dog on the property of the owner within 24 hours, instead of immediately as required on other properties.

Seizure and Impounding of Cats; Animals at Large

J. Add a new section 349-6D as follows:

D. No owner of an animal other than a pigeon shall cause or permit the animal to be at large in the city.

Issuance of Notices, Violations and Orders

K. Amend section 349-15B by substituting “may” for “shall” so that it now reads ”Where the Executive Director has reason to believe that a dog has engaged in a dangerous act against a person or domestic animal, an officer may:” to allow officer discretion in dangerous dog investigations.

L. Update Article X, Offences, Entry to Inspect, to clarify the ability of the City of Toronto to issue orders for compliance and take remedial action consistent with the authorities in the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and other by-laws, including clarity on the process to serve orders or other notices or documents, including service by registered mail and e-mail.

2. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C – Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards by adding the fees in the table below:

Ref No.	Service Fee	Description	Category	Fee Basis	Fee	Annual Adjustment
NEW	Shelter and Care	Impound fee for seized prohibited animal	Full Cost Recovery	Actual cost to house prohibited animal + Administrative Fee	Actual cost to house prohibited animal + $140.00	No
NEW	Shelter and Care	Fee charged when the pet owner surrenders other domestic animal (weighs 45kg or greater)	City Policy	Per Animal	$59.06	Yes

3. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C – Schedule 12, Municipal Licensing and Standards by amending the fees in the below table:

Ref No.	Service Fee	Description	Category	Fee Basis	Fee	Annual Adjustment
81	Pet Licence Issuance	NEW Impound Fee Cat/Other Domestic Animal	Market Based	1st 24 Hours or Part Thereof	$30	No
82	Pet Licence Issuance	NEW Impound Fee Cat/Other Domestic Animal	Market Based	Subsequent Per Diem	$10	No
104	Shelter and Care	NEW Fee charged when the pet owner surrenders other domestic animal (weighs less than 45 kg)	City Policy	Per Animal	$35.43	Yes
112	Shelter and Care	NEW Protective Care (Dog/Cat/Other Domestic Animal)	City Policy	1st 24 Hours or Part Thereof	$40	No
114	Shelter and Care	NEW Protective Care Cat/Other Domestic Animal)	City Policy	Subsequent per Diem per Animal	$10	No

4. City Council direct that the amendments in recommendation 1 come into force on the following dates:

a. The amendments in recommendations 1 C, D, and E respecting rabbits and guinea pigs take effect December 1, 2022;

b. The amendments in recommendation 1 F respecting pigeons take effect December 1, 2022;

c. The amendments in recommendations 1 A and B respecting feeding wildlife take effect April 1, 2023;

d. All other amendments take effect immediately.

5. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to include, as part of the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division's 2023 operating budget submission, additional staff resources required arising from the recommendations in this report.

6. City Council direct the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary bill(s) required to give effect to Council's decision and to make any necessary minor substantive or stylistic refinements as may be identified by the City Solicitor.

7. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back in the Third Quarter 2023 to the appropriate standing committee(s) on the following:

a. A review of possible amendments to Chapter 545, Licensing, to introduce a new pet establishment business licence class to regulate all businesses for the sale of, grooming, training, daycare or the overnight boarding of animals, but not including veterinarian practices, with this review to include:

i. A review of best practices that pet shops, kennels and other pet establishments must maintain to meet animal welfare standards;

ii. Standards to reduce nuisance issues that may arise with neighbouring properties; and

iii. Consultation with industry stakeholders, animal welfare experts, Business Improvement Areas, resident associations, pet owners, and the general public.

b. A review of the Zoning By-law regulations of kennels and pet services in relation to any proposed pet establishment or kennel business license.

8. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to report back on the feasibility of requiring mandatory microchipping of cats, with the City providing an affordable microchipping service, and a public awareness campaign promoting the City’s and other charities' microchipping services and spay/neuter services.

9. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, create a positive list of pets people can keep and request staff to report back in the third quarter of 2023 with a list of companion animals that will be allowed within the City of Toronto.