What is an off-leash area?
A number of areas have been declared as "Off-Leash Areas". They are pictured below. It is important to note, however, that these off-leash areas still require that animals be under control. "Under Control" may be determined by an Animal Control Officer using the following criteria:
- a) Whether the Dog is at such a distance from its Owner so as to be incapable of responding to voice, sound or sight commands,
- b) Whether the Dog has responded to voice, sound or sight commands from the Owner,
- c) Whether the Dog has bitten, Attacked, or done any act that injures a person or another Animal,
- d) Whether the Dog chased or otherwise threatened a person, and
- e) Whether the Dog caused damage to Property;
Even in an off-leash area, an animal control officer may order that a Dog be put on a Permitted Leash, and/or Order that a Dog be removed from an Off-Leash Area. An Owner who fails to immediately to restrain a Dog on a Permitted Leash and/or remove a Dog from the Off-Leash Area upon being directed to do so by an Animal Control Officer or upon a Dog engaging in any of the following activities listed in section 20.1 is guilty of an offence. Nothing relating to off-leash areas relieves a person from complying with any other provisions of the animal control Bylaw.
