This campaign is born out of personal concern and a deep love for our four-legged companions. We all want what is best for our pets. The truth is, the current bylaw schedule puts kennels and private-home daycare for dogs under the same umbrella. This is a concerning issue as kennels and home daycare/boarding operate in fundamentally different ways, offer varying levels of care, and create diverse environments for our pets. Kennels can often cause severe anxiety, reactivity and could even lead to medical conditions in pets, while private-home daycare/boarding offers a stress-free, safe, homely environment and almost constant care.

Kennels are just that, Kennels, pets are crated for a significant number of hours of the day. They take a large number of pets at one time, sometimes as many as 20-30. Having that many dogs together in one place, dog fights happen and dogs can get hurt during group play time.  In most kennel facilities there is no one there after daycare hours ends and pets are left unattended in crates until morning with no one to ensure pet health and safety.  Most commercial kennel facilities do not have an outside area for dogs so dogs go to the bathroom inside on the floor.  

In Home daycare and boarding facilities, pets are kept in much smaller numbers, they sleep how they sleep at home, whether on the couch, dog bed, in a crate or with a person.  They get to play with toys, including puzzle toys and chew toys. If they get along with other dogs they may have a couple friends to play with. They get constant care and attention. They get outdoor playtime and walks.  Owners get daily pictures and updates about how their pets are doing. There is someone always with them. 

By allowing home daycares and boarders to become licensed, you are ensuring that these daycares and boarders that already exist in the City of Brampton are properly insured, regulated and that they are safe spaces for our pets.  There are currently over 100 home dog daycare and boarders in the City of Brampton.  

By having licensed daycare in private homes, we would be ensuring regulated, properly insured, and safe spaces for our pets. There are a number of people offering daycare, but with no standards in place, anyone can say they are a daycare and it is not a guarantee that our dogs are getting proper care.

In 2024, there were close to 4,500 dogs licenced in the city (Source:  City of Brampton website).  There are currently no licensed dog daycares or boarders in all of Brampton since Dogtopia closed in March of 2025.  Pet parents have nowhere in Brampton to take their pets but to home based daycares and boarders .  These statistics underline the urgency and importance of this issue. It's therefore crucial to segregate kennel and private-home daycare in our legal framework.

Let's work together to promote healthier environments for our dogs. We need your signature to persuade our lawmakers to license and regulate pet daycare independently of kennels. Please add your signature to make our homes safer spaces for dogs. Your signature can make a tangible, positive difference for numerous families and their pets.