Animal Services

Within the villages and in rural residential zones, only residents who have an approved license can keep backyard hens on their property.

There are two types of licenses for backyard hens:

• For properties zoned Rural Residential
• For properties zoned Residential

Fees: $75 

Your license fee needs to be submitted with your application. The license fee will not be reimbursed if your license is revoked.

Please contact the Public Safety and Enforcement Department or 613-443-3066 if you would like more information.

This license as part of By-Law 2023-094, allows up to three hens on your residential property (between 500m² and 2999m²).

Your application must include:

• Complete Application Form for Backyard Hens Permit (500m²-2999m²).
• Your permit fee of $75 by cash, cheque, or debit.
• Site plan illustrating the location of the hen coop on the property, clearly marking distance to property lines, streets, dimensions, and any other structures on property.

Apply for an Urban Hens Permit (500m²-2999m²)

Please submit your application form and required documents to the Public Safety and Enforcement Department.

Remember that if you are in a residential zone, even with an urban hens permit, you cannot:

• keep a rooster
• keep a meat hen
• keep an egg laying hen, other than a backyard hen for which a valid license has been issued

Exceptions apply to where it is permitted on a hobby farm.

This license as part of By-Law 2023-094, allows up to five hens on your rural residential property (3000m² or more).

Your application must include:

• Complete Application Form for a Backyard Hens Permit (3000m² or more).
• Your permit fee of $75 by cash, cheque, or debit.
• Site plan illustrating the location of the hen coop on the property, clearly marking distance to property lines, streets, dimensions, and any other structures on property.

Apply for an Urban Hens Permit (3000m² or more)

Please submit your application form and required documents to the Public Safety and Enforcement Department.

The Township of Russell has a beautiful dog park where your dog can roam without a leash at 550 Notre-Dame Street, Russell.

For full details on the park

All dogs must be registered and always wear their dog tag. Register your new dog within 7 days of becoming a dog owner. After registering your dog, you will be given an identification tag. Your dog must wear this tag at all times.

Find out more and apply for a dog tag

If you lose or find an animal in the Township of Russell, please call our Public Safety and Enforcement Department at 613-443-3066 extension 8.

We will care for the animal until they either reunite with their owner or are up for adoption.

Make sure to buy a Township dog tag for your animal. This will help us reunite you with your dog if they are lost.

Adopt a dog

Wandering dogs are brought to the Township Dog Pound. If a dog is not claimed by its owner within 72 hours, it may be placed for adoption.

For more information, please contact our Public Safety and Enforcement Department or at 613-443-3066é

The Township’s “Cause for Paws” local animal fund helps cover the cost of caring for animals in our care, including:

• Food
• Veterinarian expenses
• Medication

To make a donation, contact our Public Safety and Enforcement Department or at 613-443-3066.

Residents of the Township of Russell can rent a live trap to safely capture and relocate small wild animals.

Trap sizes are available for animals such as squirrels and skunks. The rental fee is $15 for one week.

To make sure a trap is available, please call the Public Safety and Enforcement Department at 613‑443‑3066 before coming to pick one up.

The person renting the trap is responsible for releasing the animal once it is caught. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources guidelines require that animals be released no more than 1 kilometre from where they were trapped to help prevent the spread of disease.

If you see a dead animal on a municipal road, contact our Infrastructure Department or 613-443-1747 to have it removed.

If you spot wildlife in distress, contact our Public Safety and Enforcement Department or 613-443-3066 and after hours at 613-443-3066 extension 8.

Safety

Contact Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 if wildlife is an immediate threat to public safety.

Prevent issues with wildlife

Learn how you can avoid conflicts with wild animals, from Canada geese to coyotes on the Ontario website.

Read the Ontario SPCA’s Wildlife Fact Sheets.