Getting a dog license

Effective May 2, 2020 amendments were made to By-Law A-700 regarding dog licensing. Dogs aged 6 months or younger, or dogs already licensed in another jurisdiction are no longer required to be licensed in HRM.
Regarding Service Animals, HRM will now accept a certificate issued under the Service Dog Act  or a certificate from an approved certification program recognized by the License Administrator to have your animal licensed as a service animal. If you would like a lifetime license for your service animal, you must provide the microchip number.

Each year, hundreds of dogs are picked up by Animal Services. A Halifax Regional Municipality dog license tag makes it easier to track down the owner of a dog, increasing the chances a lost dog will be reunited with its family.

All dogs in Halifax Regional Municipality require a license. You can either purchase a license for your dog every year, or can buy a lifetime license (as long as your dog has a microchip). Not having a license may result in a fine of $237.50 or more. You must apply for a license within 20 days of getting your dog or moving to the municipality.

Both annual and lifetime licenses are available. To be eligible for a lifetime license, your dog needs to be microchipped. 
There is no charge to license a service animal.  *Proof must be provided to be eligible for service animal.
Seniors (that’s humans aged 65 and up) get a 50% discount on all licensing fees.  *Proof must be provided to be eligible for senior citizen discount.

It is an offense to provide false information when applying for a license and may result in a fine of $237.50 or more. 

 

How do I license my pet

The easiest way to license your pet is in person… below throughout the region. Due to COVID-19, some veterinary clinics are unable to sell pet licenses at this time. Make sure to call ahead before going.

4 Paws 24 hour Vet Hospital, 6410 Lady Hammond Rd 902.225.7543

Lady Hammond Animal Hospital, 6331 Lady Hammond Rd. 902.406.3030

Fairview Animal Hospital, 7071 Bayers Rd. 902.443.9385

Halifax Veterinary Hospital, 6485 Quinpool Rd. 902.422.8595

Clayton Park Veterinary Hospital, 278 Lacewood Dr. 902.443.4345

Carnegy Animal Hospital, 7 Langbrae Dr. 902.457.1575

Eastern Passage Village Veterinary Hospital, 26 Cow Bay Rd. 902.465.1213

Russell Lake Animal Hospital, 250 Baker Dr., Suite 120 902.407.4570

Petworks Veterinary Hospital, 850 Portland St. 902.435.2444

Acres Animal Hospital, 721 Main St. 902.434.4446

Companion Animal Hospital, 920 Cole Harbour Rd. 902.434.3111

Vetwise Animal Hospital, 152 Ochterloney St. 902.463.2333

Harbour Cities Veterinary Hospital, 194 Wyse Rd. 902.463.7610

SPCA, Dartmouth Shelter (Closed Mondays) 5 Scarfe Crt. 902.468.7877

SPCA HRM Animal Redemption Centre, 201 Brownlow Ave, Suite 9 902.536.2032

Dartmouth Veterinary Hospital, 61 Tacoma Dr. 902.434.0700

Complete Care Hospital for Pets, 3288 Highway 7 Unit #3, Lake Echo 902.281.2273

Eastern Shore Veterinary Hospital, 5228 Highway 7, Porters Lake 902.827.4257

East Hants Animal Hospital, 202 Highway 214, Elmsdale 902.883.8787

Fall River Animal Hospital, 3146 Highway 2 902.861.4003

Westwood Hills Veterinary Hospital, 3650 Hammonds Plains Rd 902.826.1933

Cobequid Animal Hospital, 15 Cobequid Rd. 902.865.8110

Sackville Animal Hospital, 485 Sackville Dr. 902.865.6400

Sunnyview Animal Care Center , 36 Duke St. Bedford 902.835.2223

Vetcetera Animal Hospital, 1144 Bedford Hwy. 902.832.4818

Bedford South, 15 Peakview Way 902.445.8387

Hammonds Plains Vet Hospital, 2069 Hammonds Plains Rd. 902.444.4784

Timberlea Animal Hospital, 1866 St, Margaret's Bay Rd. 902.468.7387

St. Margaret's Animal Hospital, 5229 St. Margaret's Bay Rd. 902.826.2288

Tantallon Vet, 5250 St. Margaret's Bay Rd. 902.826.9344

You can also print an application form [PDF] and mail it, along with the correct payment, to: 

Municipal Dog Licensing
PO Box 1749
Halifax, NS 
B3J 3A5

Cheque can be made out to: Halifax Regional Municipality