In Ontario, you can legally own a tiger. Just don’t try to own a pitbull terrier, because that’s illegal. Incredibly Ontario lacks almost any laws – in regard to owning “exotic” animals. In fact there are only two animals that are banned under provincial law – the pitbull and the killer whale.

Exotic foxes like Fennec Foxes are also not allowed as pets under Controlled Alien Species Regulations. The BC SPCA does not support keeping wild or exotic animals as pets, due to their unique physical and emotional needs. These animals often suffer in care because of their specialized needs.

There are many species of wild foxes in Canada. In Ontario, you can spot Red Foxes and Grey Foxes. Canadian regulation prohibits own a wild fox, so it is illegal to own a fox in Ontario too, furthermore, it is unethical.

Examples of Prohibited Mammals

• Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs – and other Artiodactyla.
• Coyotes, wolves, foxes, hybrid wolf dogs – and other Canidae except dogs.
• Bats such as fruit bats, myotis, flying foxes – and other Chiroptera.
• Anteaters, sloths, armadillos – and other Edentates.

Lions. Much like leopards and tigers, lions are not permitted to be owned as pets in B.C. but are actually legal in Ontario and some other provinces. In fact, it’s estimated that there are 500 privately owned lions and tigers in Ontario. You may also like: 12 celebrities who look just like their pets.

Ontario’s Dog Owners Liability Act was amended in 2005 to ban the new ownership of pit bulls. The legislation also mandated that any animals already in the province be spayed or neutered.

The legislation bans pit bulls in Ontario, places restrictions on existing pit bulls, and toughens the penalties for the owners of any dog that poses a danger to the public. Pit bull owners may keep their existing dogs, as long as they comply with certain requirements.

Ontario’s ban requires owners to muzzle, leash and sterilize their pit bulls and outlawed the breeding and import of them in a bid to eradicate them from the province. Owners can face fines of up to $10,000 or six months in jail for not complying. The law followed several highly publicized pit bull attacks in Toronto.

In the Ontario province, the following breeds are prohibited from entering or transiting:

• Pit Bull Terrier.
• American Pit Bull Terrier.
• American Staffordshire Terrier.
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Pit Bull