Caring for companion animals

The community dog care initiative supports Yukon communities to:

• develop tools to improve dog care; and
• reduce problems with dogs.

Each Yukon community has different issues and needs regarding dogs and dog care. The Government of Yukon will work with a Yukon community to help:

• improve dog care; and
• increase public safety.

We can help communities address issues such as:

• reducing the number of unwanted dogs in the community;
• improving access to veterinary services;
• protecting people from uncontrolled dogs; and
• working together to improve awareness and education.

For more information, read the fact sheet about the community dog care initiative.

How do you start a dog care initiative in your community?

1. Community leaders complete a community dog care initiative request form.
2. Submit the form to the Animal Health Unit.
   Email: animalhealth@yukon.ca
   Fax: 867-393-6263

The animal protection and control officer will respond to you and start working with your community to address dog-related concerns.

All community members can contribute by:

• participating in a community workshop;
• developing a plan to address priority concerns;
• helping put the plan in place; and
• assessing whether the plan is working.

Community leaders can contact the animal protection and control officer to learn more about this initiative. Email animalhealth@yukon.ca or phone 867-667-5600, toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5600.

As of October 18, there are funds for 20 spay surgeries remaining.

The community dog spay fund provides $300 (effective April 1, 2023) for 1 dog per owner in 1 year in rural Yukon communities to help:

• offset the cost of travel for residents of rural communities;
• reduce the threat to public safety from dog fights caused by female dogs in heat;
• reduce the number of unwanted puppies born in Yukon communities;
• improve animal welfare; and
• reduce the demand on Yukon humane societies.

Funding is available on a 1st-come, 1st-served basis for a maximum of 115 dogs a year.

Some local governments may provide additional funds to supplement this fund or to cover costs that the dog spay fund does not pay for like:

• neutering male dogs; or
• sterilizing cats.

Eligibility

You can get funding if:

• you live in a rural Yukon community;
  • this means your postal code does not start with Y1A;
• you have a female dog; and
• you have not used the fund already in the past year.

How to access the fund

1. Choose a veterinarian and make an appointment for a spay surgery.
2. Discuss all optional services and costs with the veterinarian. Your total bill will depend on what you choose to have done.
3. Complete the form with the veterinarian.
4. Pay the veterinary clinic. Your receipt will show the $300 credit from the fund.
5. After the surgery, the veterinarian will sign and submit this form to the Animal Health Unit.

Learn more about the community dog spay fund. 

Dogs posing a threat to owned animals

The Animal Protection and Control Act prohibits anyone from allowing their dog to injure or kill another animal or wildlife.

1. If you see:
   • a dog posing a threat to animals, especially livestock; or
   • a dog threatening your animal, especially livestock.
2. Contact:
   • the Animal Protection and Control Officer, Agriculture Branch for livestock concerns,
   • the Animal Protection and Control Officer, Animal Health Unit for concern about threats to other animals,
   • the local RCMP detachment if it is an emergency situation or outside of regular office hours.

Dogs posing a threat to public safety

The Animal Protection and Control Act prohibits anyone from allowing their dog to injure or kill a person.

• If there is an immediate risk to safety, contact the local RCMP office. 
• If the animal is within the boundaries of a community government, you should contact the local government office. First Nations and community governments including the City of Whitehorse with bylaws are the office of first response.
• If you are in an unincorporated area or your community does not have bylaws related to animal welfare or control, you can contact the Animal Protection and Control Officer, Animal Health Unit.

The Act allows a person to take action to protect themselves or another person including killing a domestic animal when there is imminent or immediate threat of death or grievous bodily harm and all other practical means of averting the threat are exhausted. This is comparable to the right of a person to defend themselves from a wildlife attack.

It is not an action to be taken lightly because it must be reported to and investigated by an Animal Protection and Control Officer, but it is in place to acknowledge that in Yukon, with remote locations, there may be instances when this is the only option to protect human life.

If a dog bites you

You are not legally required to report dog bites to a hospital or community health centre but it's a good idea to do it. When you report a dog bite incident, they'll assess the case and determine:

• if the victim needs additional treatment; or
• if the animal needs to be observed or tested.

Always treat bite wounds

Anyone bitten by an animal should seek medical attention right away. Bite wounds can result in infection.

A health care provider will:

• wash away contamination from saliva, bacteria or viruses;
• prescribe antibiotic drugs if bacterial infection is a concern;
• provide a booster tetanus vaccination if it's needed; and
• provide directions for at-home wound care, as well as what to do if there's swelling, redness or an increase in pain.

See the wildlife health page section on rabies and read the fact sheet on animal bites and rabies.

Domestic animals are "at large" when:

• they are not under the control of their owner; and
• they're off the private property of their owner.

These animals are often a nuisance and can be a danger to themselves and others. They may:

• be injured by traffic or cause accidents;
• threaten confined pets or livestock;
• prey on wildlife or be prey that attracts wildlife; and
• damage the environment through their actions.

People who own domestic animals need to care for their animals. This means being responsible for keeping their animals under control.

If you are concerned about dogs or cats that are not under the control of their owner (at large on public property), consider the following:

• If there is an immediate risk to safety, contact the local RCMP office. 
• If the animal is within the boundaries of a community government, you should contact the local government office. First Nations and community governments including the City of Whitehorse with bylaws are the office of first response.
• If you are in an unincorporated area or your community does not have bylaws related to animal welfare or control, you can contact the Animal Protection and Control Officer, Animal Health Unit.

Livestock

For livestock, see Report livestock at large or welfare concerns.

The animal protection officer investigates reports of neglected or abused domestic animals under the Animal Protection and Control Act. Neglected or abused animals may need:

• proper care;
• food;
• water; and
• shelter.

In some cases, the animals may be injured or suffering.

The officer can take action that may relieve an animal’s distress or may take custody of an abandoned animal. The first objective is to identify the owner and reunite them with their animals.

Report a neglected or abused animal

Report incidents to an animal protection and control officer if you know or have reason to believe that an animal in the Yukon:

• is being neglected;
• is being abused; or
• has been abandoned,

Phone 867-667-5600, toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5600 or email animalhealth@yukon.ca.

The Animal Health Unit will not comment on or disclose information of active investigations until those become public if formal charges are laid.