Justin Bieber gets warning from Toronto after appearing with lions in city

Is it too late now to say sorry?

Canadian pop star Justin Bieber is in hot water over reports thathe appeared with young lions at two Toronto events.

Toronto Animal Services said Friday it has sent the singer anotice of violation after receiving two complaints that he"exhibited" lions.

One complaint relates to Bieber being seen with a white lion cub,the other with a "juvenile lion," the department said.

City bylaws state that no person can keep a prohibited animal inthe city, either on a permanent ortemporary basis. Exotic cats suchas lions and tigers are on the list of banned animals, spokesmanSteve Johnston said in an email.

"The information provided was that the lions came fromBowmanville Zoo. They were also issued a letter seekingcompliance," he said.

Photos posted online show Bieber posing with a white lion cub atan engagement party for his father in late April, and cradling ayoung lion while shirtless at a Toronto performance this spring.

Representatives for Bieber did not immediately respond torequests for comment.

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment ofAnimals said it filed the complaints after seeing photos of Bieberpetting a chained tiger and other animals at his father's party.

"The tiger and other animals were cruelly being used as livingprops at Bieber's father's engagement party in Toronto, and PETAsoon learned that some of the animals had been taken there from thenotorious Bowmanville Zoo," the group said.

"Soon afterward, Biebs again shared photos of himself posingwith an exotic animal, this time a lion cub who hadapparently beentaken backstage at his Toronto concert," it said.

The organization vowed to follow up on the complaints and ensureno other alleged violations take place.

The Bowmanville Zoo, an exotic animal attraction east of Toronto,did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It's not the first time Bieber has gotten into trouble over ananimal.

The young celebrity settled a fine and paid for the costs ofcaring for a monkey he brought into Germany in 2013 without thenecessary papers, according to that country's authorities.

The monkey was seized by customs and Bieber failed to claim theanimal. It now lives in a zoo.