Animal Shelter Donations

Below is a brief outline of how Animal Sheltering in Pickering has evolved over time!

1985 to 2006:  The City of Pickering was part of service partnership agreement between the Municipality of Pickering, Ajax and Whitby to create P.A.W. Animal Services.  The Town of Whitby was responsible for animal enforcement and animal shelter services.

January 1, 2006: The City of Pickering decided to take full responsibility of Animal Services. One Supervisor and two part time staff were hired and began handling all functions of the service.  At that time, a temporary agreement was made with the Municipality of Clarington for all animals to be housed at their Municipal animal shelter, approximately 30 minutes away. After a year, it was decided that due to distance, it was time to make alternate arrangements.

July 2007 – October 2009: The City entered into a public-private agreement with a boarding kennel located in Toronto. The agreement stated that the Kennel would provide feed, care and housing for all Pickering Animals, while City staff would be responsible to staff the facility each evening, for residents to reclaim or adopt.

2011: The property was sold and purchased by a new owner, and it was determined that it would be more cost effective and provide better customer service to residents if the City took full ownership of running its own animal shelter.  An agreement was made to rent and retrofit a building in North Pickering to be the first ever Pickering run Animal Shelter. 

2019: The City entered into an agreement with the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. All stray cats and dogs found within their municipality are temporarily housed at the Pickering Animal Shelter and ones that are not claimed are assessed and placed into the City’s adoption program.

During the 2019 Capital Budget process, Council allocated money for the site selection for a new Pickering Animal Shelter.

As a result of COVID19, the planning stages for this project were delayed however City staff continued investigating potential sites for the new animal shelter.

2022: Funds approved in the 2022 Capital Budget to proceed with hiring an architect and move ahead with the design and construction of a new animal shelter. 

2023/2024: Investigating site selection and working with consultants to determine shelter size and key design elements. 

When designing our new shelter, The City of Pickering will be incorporating the Capacity for Care model. This model helps shelters better meet the needs of animals by creating conditions necessary to provide shelter animals with the 5 Freedoms, thereby improving the welfare of each animal, including its physical and mental state.

The 5 Freedoms include the following:

Below are just a few of the criteria that staff are looking for in the new animal shelter facility:

• Nursery for nursing moms or orphaned kittens
• Separate room for small animals to be housed that allows daily exercise
• Cageless housing rooms for cats that allows them to socialize with one another in a warm and friendly environment
• Real life room for dogs that simulates a dog living in a home setting – couch, chairs, etc.
• An adoption interview room. This room will give potential adopters a meet their potential adoptee and well as have a chance to sit with staff in a safe environment
• Education/Community room that will be utilized for public education programs.

The shelter is always in need of many animal related items.  Below is a list of some of the items we commonly need:

• Check out what item's are listed on our Ren's Pets Gift Registry. Order online and have the items shipped directly to us.
• Check out our Amazon Wishlist. Order online and have the items shipped directly to us.
• Gift Cards are always appreciated (PetSmart, Pet Valu, Ren's, Global Pets, Walmart, etc.)
• small animal bedding (not wood shavings)
• small animal food (pellets, treats, hay)
• dog and cat beds
• enrichment toys for the animals
• dog biscuits, denta bones and other treats
• cat treats, cat nip
• leashes, collars
• brushes, combs, nail trimmers
• dog and cat toys
• scratching posts (cat tree or cardboard)
• litter boxes
• laundry detergent (pods)
• towels, blankets and dog/cat beds (please no fitted bed sheets)
• small animal bowls, water bottles, hide boxes and other enrichment toys
• and more...feel free to contact us if you have an item that you think would be of assistance to us