Toronto considering eliminating pet licensing fees

Pet owners in Toronto may soon be able to get rid of the licence tags dangling from their furry friends’ collars.

The city is taking a hard look at the licensing program, which nets about $400,000 a year after expenses.

Officials add 90 per cent of cats and 70 per cent of dogs aren’t licensed in Toronto, and the surplus would not cover the cost of increased enforcement.

City staff say if the goal is to help owners find lost pets, the focus should shift to encouraging owners to have their pets tagged or microchipped.

At the same time, Toronto is also putting forward a proposed hike in user fees for a host of city services such as aqua-fit classes and marriage licence fees.

To find out just how much city hall is planning to hike user fees on the services you use, click here.