Dogs in the City Market

By Connor DeMerchant - 25 August 2026

The presence of dogs in the City Market has been an issue of contention since its establishment in 1876. Although for most of its history dogs have not been permitted, this was not always observed by vendors and visitors alike. 

The earliest reference to dogs in the Market comes in the form of a lost dog advertisement from September 1878, just two years after the building opened. Earlier that month, “Pete,” a small Chinese dog “without any hair,” belonging to vendor R. J. Cotter, had strayed from the Market.[1] While it is not known if the ad successfully reunited Mr. Cotter with his lost pet, the ad reveals that vendors at least occasionally brought their dogs with them to the Market. 

Although their presence was strongly discouraged, there was no by-law banning canines from the Market for the first few decades of its history. In fact, it was not until December 1912 that a by-law was adopted by Common Council. This regulation allowed City Market officials to seize any dog “running at large or under leash” if found in the market. Further, the by-law allowed only 24 hours for any dog seized to be claimed by its owner before it was “destroyed.” If an offending dog was claimed within that 24-hour period, its owner was still subject to a $10 fine, a considerable sum in the early twentieth century.[2]

In 1969 Common Council approved a change in the Market’s dog policy to permit seeing-eye dogs to enter the building. This alteration came about when a blind person was denied entry to the building with their seeing-eye dog.[3]

As recently as 1997 the Market vigorously enforced its no-dog stance, sending out warning letters to rule breakers, much to the ire of local residents who felt their pets should be allowed to join them on visits to the Market. Several lengthy editorials appeared in the Evening Times-Globe in consequence.[4]

Today the rules appear to have been greatly relaxed with several small dogs, and even a leashed cat, spotted in the Market recently. 

[1] “Lost.” The Daily Telegraph. 9 September 1878, Pg. 1.

[2] The St. John Standard. 17 December 1912, Pg. 5. 

[3] “Seeing-Eye Dogs In Market.” The Telegraph Journal. 17 December 1969, Pg. 24. 

[4] “Out of Bounds.”  Times Globe. 4 February 1997, B1. 

“Dogs are anything but a shopper’s best friend.” Times Globe. 6 February 1997, A16.