On July 17, 2013, City Council approved amendments to the Animal Licensing and Control Bylaw 13145 to create a new Nuisance Dog licence category. The Bylaw changes took effect January 1, 2014.
This licence category aims to:
- Hold the owners of dogs who are continuously misbehaving to a higher standard
- Act as a deterrent for repeat violations
- Provide motivation to take remedial action and correct the dog's behaviour
Extensive public consultation was previously completed which showed support for stronger enforcement measures for dog attacks and chronic offenders.
Nuisance Dog licence category
The Nuisance Dog licence category applies to dogs that are the subject of three or more convictions in the past three years for any combination of the following offences:
- Excessive barking
- Excessive defecation
- Failure to control or leash while the dog is off the owner's property
Nuisance Dogs are subject to an increased licence fee of $100 per year, versus $36 for a spayed or neutered dog under the regular dog licence category.
Once deemed a Nuisance Dog, any subsequent violations of the offences listed above are subject to an increased fine of $250, versus $100 under the regular dog licence category.
Additional conditions could also be imposed on the licensee to ensure compliance with the bylaw.
For example, an owner who has been fined for failing to control or leash their dog could be required to keep their dog in a secure enclosure while outdoors.
If a licensee disagrees with any condition imposed by the City, the licensee may appeal the condition to the Community Standards and Licence Appeal Committee.