Terms of use

Everything here is general information for people searching for a pet. It is not veterinary, legal or emergency advice, and no relationship of professional advice is created by reading it.

• If an animal is injured or unwell, contact a veterinarian
• If a bylaw or ownership question has real consequences, confirm it with the municipality or seek legal advice
• In an emergency involving a person’s safety, contact emergency services

Stray hold periods, licensing rules and impound procedures in Canada are set by municipal bylaw. They change, are sometimes unpublished, and can differ for licensed and unlicensed animals even within one city.

Nothing on this site should be treated as a statement of the current rule in your municipality. Always confirm the hold period and the process directly with the shelter or animal services that covers the relevant address, and write down the date you were given. We are not responsible for decisions made on an unconfirmed figure.

If you are told something that contradicts what you read here, please send a correction. That is how these pages improve.

Links to shelters, agencies and other organisations are provided for convenience. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content or their practices.

Naming an organisation here is not an endorsement, and no organisation has paid to appear on this site.

Written content on this site belongs to Pet Search Canada. Photography is used under Creative Commons licences and is credited on the about page. Feel free to link to any page here.

These terms were last updated on 23 August 2026.

Pet Search Canada is not a registered charity or non-profit organisation, and is not registered with the Canada Revenue Agency or any other regulator as a charitable or non-profit entity. Nothing contributed through this site is tax-deductible, and we do not issue donation or tax receipts.

A contribution is a gift, not a purchase. It does not buy a search, guarantee an outcome, or create any obligation on our part beyond passing the funds on. Contributions are granted to independent search organisations and veterinary providers, who are responsible for how that money is used — we do not control, supervise or guarantee their work. Full detail on how the fund operates is on the Support a search page.

This site, its guides, checklist, directory listings and support fund are provided as-is and as-available, without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including any warranty that the information is accurate, complete or current.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Pet Search Canada and the people who run it are not liable for any loss, damage, cost or consequence arising from your use of this site — including the outcome of a search, a decision made in reliance on this site’s content, the actions or omissions of a shelter, agency, search organisation or other third party listed here, or the use of any funds contributed through this site. This applies whether the claim is based on contract, tort, negligence or any other legal theory.

Nothing in this section limits liability where the law does not allow it to be limited.