Help us mobilize municipalities to fix the dangerous captive wildlife regulatory patchwork in Ontario once and for all.
Animals kept at roadside zoos are typically forced to live in small, ramshackle cages that offer little more than a water bowl, food bowl and a shelter box to sleep in. Due to small enclosures, many must eat and defecate in their own living space. There are many other animal welfare problems, including highly social animals living in solitary cages where they suffer from extreme loneliness.
The wild animals in roadside zoos often experience severe and pervasive psychological distress due to the inadequate conditions.
Photo: Michèle Hamers / World Animal Protection
Ontario ranks dead last in Canada when it comes to ensuring proper care of captive wildlife.
We need to continue building pressure to get the provincial government to commit to close roadside zoos once and for all. For this reason, we are mobilizing Ontario’s municipalities to take a stand on captive wildlife issues in the province.
Urge your mayor and municipal councilors to adopt our resolution calling on the Ontario government to implement provincial regulations to restrict the possession, breeding, and use of non-native wild animals along with the mandatory licensing of zoos.
- Download the resolution and briefing note below.
- Find your local municipal representative and their contact details. Visit your municipality website for easy access or use the following search terms [name municipality] and councilor email.
- Email your representative the resolution and share why it’s important to you.
Resolution
View the resolution: Provincial regulations needed to restrict keeping of non-native (“exotic”) wild animals
Note d'information
Consultez la note d'information : les zoos amateurs de l'Ontario (Français)
Help us to reach our goal of 100+ municipalities adopting this resolution across Ontario. Ask your municipality to take a stand on roadside zoos.
Momentum is building. Municipalities across the province are adopting the resolution. If you live in one of these municipalities – good news! – your council has already done the right thing and adopted the captive wildlife resolution: St. Catharines, Kirkland Lake, Larder Lake, Armstrong, Temiskaming Shores, Cobalt, Killarney, Niagara Falls, Welland, Bonnechere Valley, Laurentian Hills, Tweed, Addington Highlands, Plympton – Wyoming, East Ferris, Mattawan, South Huron, Wasaga Beach, Champlain, Southwold, Belleville.
What’s next?
When a municipality adopts our resolution, it will be forwarded to key members of government, such as Premier Doug Ford, and Solicitor General Michael Kerzner.
With each municipality that joins us, the pressure on the government mounts, which will make it extremely difficult for the government to continue to ignore the plight of thousands of captive wild animals.
Thank you for speaking up for captive wildlife in Ontario!