The Town of Marathon Animal Care and Control By-Law ensures the wellbeing and safety of pets and residents.

Please be aware of some of the rules of owning a dog in Marathon:

  • You must provide safe and humane living conditions for your dog;
  • You must remove dog feces right away;
  • Dogs must be indoors, in a fenced yard, on a leash, or controlled by the owner at all times;
  • Dogs must be licenced each year and wear the licence on their collar;
  • You must contact the Town if a dog changes owners or moves;
  • You may keep up to 3 dogs in your home.
  • No person shall keep in or about a residential dwelling more than six (6) cats over twenty (20) weeks of age.
  • The total number of both dogs and cats being kept in or about a residential dwelling shall not exceed six (6), with a maximum number of three (3) dogs permitted.

Dog Tags

Dog Tag Fees:

Altered $15.00

Unaltered $20.00

Seniors (over 60 years) no charge 

Impound Fees

If your dog is picked up by the Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officer and does not have a dog tag, or we are unable to contact you, your dog will be brought to the pound.

Pound Fees/half day (less than 12 hours) $35.12

Pound Fees/full day(weekend or stat holiday) $70.25

Release fee - after hours $187.00

You will also be required to purchase a dog tag when picking up your pet.

Stoop & Scoop

Stoop and scoop is the law. Failing to do so could result in a $155 fine.

Bears & Wild Animals

Not every bear sighting is an emergency situation. Here is who to call if you encounter a bear.

Emergency situations

Call 911 or your local police if a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety and exhibits threatening or aggressive behaviour, such as:

  • enters a school yard when school is in session
  • stalks people and lingers at the site
  • enters or tries to enter a residence
  • wanders into a public gathering
  • kills livestock/pets and lingers at the site

Police will respond first to an emergency situation, but may request assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Non-emergency encounters

Call the toll-free Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327(TTY 705-945-7641) if a bear:

  • roams around or checks garbage cans
  • breaks into a shed where garbage or food is stored
  • is in a tree
  • pulls down a bird feeder or knocks over a barbecue
  • moves through a backyard or field but does not linger

This line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 to November 30.

Questions about owning a pet in Marathon? Contact the Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officer.

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