Who to Call and When: Animal Concerns in Windsor-Essex
It can sometimes be confusing to know who to call about animal issues. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide whether to call the City of Windsor, the Windsor-Essex County Humane Society, or Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Ontario.
City of Windsor – By-law Enforcement/Animal Control
Call the City when you have concerns that fall under local by-laws (Dog Control By-law 245-2004 or Keeping of Animals By-law 8156):
- Dogs running at large (off-leash and not under control)
- Noise complaints from barking dogs
- Excessive numbers of animals (for example, more than 3 dogs per household, etc.)
- Animal waste not being cleaned up
- Keeping of prohibited animals (exotic or wild species)
Contact: Call 311 (519-255-CITY[2489] alternate/outside Windsor)
Windsor-Essex County Humane Society
The Humane Society focuses on animal care and shelter services, not by-law enforcement. Call them for the following:
- Stray dogs found in the community
- Injured, sick, or deceased domestic animals needing removal or care
- Lost-and-found pet services
- Adoption, fostering, and surrendering pets
Contact: Call 519-966-5751 (open daily 8 a.m to 6 p.m.)
Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Ontario
PAWS is responsible for enforcing Ontario’s animal welfare laws under the PAWS Act. Call them for the following:
- Suspected cruelty, neglect, or abuse (for example, lack of food, water, shelter, or medical care)
- Animals being kept in unsafe or inhumane conditions
Contact: Call the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre at 1-833-9-ANIMAL (1-833-926-4625).
911 (Emergency)
Call 911 if an animal’s life is in immediate danger (for example, trapped in a hot car, being attacked, or active abuse in progress).