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Cranbrook, BC (November 18, 2024) – Lost dogs or cats which have been picked up by City Bylaw Services or the RCMP will not be released to their owners until all fines are paid in full, and your pet is licensed through DocuPet.

“There has been confusion recently about the proper process to reclaim your dog or cat. The first and most important step is to make sure that your pet is licensed through DocuPet, which makes it incredibly easy to reunite you both,” says Paul Heywood, Manager of Building and Bylaw Services. 

If your pet is picked up and has a license, we will attempt to reach you so you and your pet can be reunited right away. If an owner can’t be identified or contacted, the pet will be posted on the City’s website at https://cranbrook.ca/our-city/city-departments/oic/animal-control/notice-of-impoundment. Once the owner is located, they will be required to pay any boarding fees, fines and purchase a license if needed at City Hall before visiting our boarding facility to pick up your pet.

The City’s partnership with DocuPet, which launched in April 2024, offers several valuable services to pet owners. Key features of the partnership include:

• Complimentary 24/7 Lost Pet & Dispatch Service: With the purchase of a pet license through DocuPet, owners receive access to a round-the-clock lost pet service. This ensures that if a pet goes missing, there is immediate assistance available to help reunite the pet with its family.
• Personalized License Tags: DocuPet license tags can be customized with the pet owner’s phone number, making it easier for someone who finds a lost pet to contact the owner directly.
• HomeSafe Lost Pet Service: Each DocuPet tag is equipped with a unique code on the back that links to the pet’s secure online profile. This allows for quick identification and return of lost pets.
• HomeSafe Smart Tracker: A new feature available for purchase, which offers GPS, health, and pet activity tracking to your smartphone.

With these features, the partnership offers comprehensive support to help ensure pets are quickly and safely returned to their homes.

The cost to license a dog is $30 (sterilized) or $60 (non-sterilized), while the cost to license a cat is $15 (sterilized) or $30 (non-sterilized) as per the City’s Animal Control Bylaw. Dog and cat licenses are valid for 1 year (365 days) from the time of purchase.

To license your dog or cat or to learn more about DocuPet and the City’s pet licensing, visit cranbrook.docupet.com.