Pet Licences

You must have a dog licence in the City of Brantford by the time your dog is three months old or within 10 days of obtaining a new dog. Licences must be renewed every year.

Cat licensing is also available voluntarily and is highly recommended.

The City of Brantford has partnered with DocuPet to provide an enhanced pet licensing experience for residents. When you register your pet with Brantford, you will receive a unique licence tag to attach to their collar. Our new licensing process with DocuPet allows residents to select a standard licence tag at no additional charge or upgrade to one of DocuPet’s colourful designer tag styles for an additional fee. Each DocuPet tag, standard or designer, doubles as a pet’s official Brantford licence and comes equipped with the HomeSafe®24/7 lost pet service, which relies on a dedicated full time dispatch staff and linked pet profiles to help get lost pets home quickly.

Applying for a new pet licence

You can apply for a new pet licence using the Online form.

You can also visit City Hall (58 Dalhousie Street) for assistance with completing the application.

Apply for a Pet Licence

Renewing your licence

If you have moved, need to update other information or no longer require a dog tag, please visit brantford.docupet.com. 

Renew my Dog Licence

Benefits of licensing your pet

Licensing your pet not only displays responsible pet ownership but it also helps fund local animal welfare initiatives in your community. In addition to your pet’s licence, here are some benefits of your DocuPet online profile:

• A licence is immediately visible to anyone who finds your pet and shows that your pet belongs to someone
• With full access to HomeSafe 24/7 lost pet service, upload recent photos of your pet and include important information that will help identify and retrieve them if they become lost
• Provides for one free ride to return should a pet be found straying from their property
• Reduces the stress a pet may experience from staying at the shelter
• Licensed pet found by a member of the public and collected by the animal control provider may be returned immediately to their owner without a trip to the shelter 
• If your pet is lost or involved in an emergency situation, the licence provides information needed to contact you
• Provides a way to contact the pet owner in case of emergency so they can make vital decisions regarding care
• Saves the cost of impound and boarding fees

Restricted and dangerous dogs

We do not allow pit bulls within the City of Brantford. You can contact us to appeal your dog's designation. 

See our Animal Control By-law for the definition of a pit bull, restricted and prohibited animals, and any other requirements.

Current pit bull owners

If you own a pit bull that you've registered with us on or before April 1, 2005, and you've met all other requirements under the By-law, your dog has been designated as a restricted dog.

Restricted dogs can stay with you in the city as long you continue to comply with the Animal Control By-law's requirements.