Just after an anonymous complaint to the City almost cost a Toronto cafe its operating permits, a woman has lost her job because a local alerted authorities that she had been engaging in illegal activity at work — in the form of feeding resident critters.

Lisa Dunn, a crossing guard in East York, was recently booted from her role for throwing food to pigeons and squirrels in the area, which she had been warned about before but told the CBC this week that she didn't realize could possibly be a fireable offence.

The abrupt dismissal for the seemingly benign act only came after someone took steps to notify the third-party company she works for that she was contravening a City bylaw prohibiting residents from "feeding wildlife or leaving food out to attract animals on both public and private property."

The rule was only implemented last April, but was in the works for a few years prior, and can result in a stiff fine for violators.

Good. My neighbour may mean to feed the squirrels but I have seen rats run off with the peanuts instead.

— Lioness (@Lionnesss) April 9, 2023

"Wild animals do not require any help or food from people. Feeding wildlife may seem harmless, but it can have serious impacts to both animals and the community," the City explains on its website.

It notes that human food is often not ideal for animal consumption, and that our four-legged and winged neighbours are "skilled foragers and hunters and can find sources of higher quality food on their own."

Also, that engaging with the city's fauna in this way can teach them to hang around humans for food, putting them at risk and undermining their instincts to stay at a safe distance.

"Letting animals use their own natural instincts is the only kindness they need," it warns animal lovers like Dunn, who may be tempted to offer little treats to any fluffy or feathered friends they spot.

Fortunately for the crossing guard and single mother, the community has stepped up to support her, launching a petition to reinstate her at her post outside an elementary school after she was "removed from her position for a reason as banal as feeding birds." It has racked up more than 400 signatures at the time of publication.