The Owner of an Animal shall ensure that such Animal shall not:

• Bite or chase people, Animals, bicycles, or automobiles/other vehicles; 
• Chase or otherwise threaten a person or persons, whether on the Property of the Owner or not, unless the person chased or threatened is a trespasser on the Property of the Owner;
• Cause damage to others’ Property whether on the Property of the Owner or not;
• Do any act that injures a person or persons whether on the Property of the Owner or not;
• Bite a person or persons, whether on the Property of the Owner or not;
• Attack a person or persons, whether on the Property of the Owner or not;
• Attack a person or persons, whether on the Property of the Owner or not, causing severe physical injury; or
• Cause death to another Animal or person.

No Owner or person shall use or direct an Animal to Attack, chase, harass or threaten a person or Animal.

There are expansive portions of the animal control bylaw relevant to dangerous animals and their management. Please view the entire bylaw here to learn more, or contact Protective Services.

The Protective Services Manager may declare an Animal to be a Dangerous Animal if, in his/her opinion, taking into consideration the Dr. Ian Dunbar Bite Scale (Schedule “H”), the number of offences and type(s) of Animal Attacks attributable to the Animal, and if, in the opinion of the Protective Services Manager, the Animal is likely to cause serious damage or injury, taking into account the following factors: 

• Whether the Animal has chased any person or Animal; 
• Whether the Animal has attempted to Bite, or has Bitten any person or Animal; 
• Whether the Animal has wounded, Attacked, injured or killed any person or Animal; 
• Whether the Animal threatens public safety; 
• The circumstances surrounding any previous biting, Attacking, or wounding incidents; and 
• Whether the Animal, when unprovoked, has shown a tendency to pursue, chase or approach in a menacing fashion, persons upon the street, sidewalk or any public or private Property. 

Where an Animal is declared to be a Dangerous Animal pursuant to the provisions of this Bylaw, the Owner shall be given written notice of such determination by mail to the address indicated on the license within fifteen (15) days of the determination and shall comply with sections 6, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 of this Bylaw. 

Dangerous Animal declaration pursuant to this Bylaw continues to apply if the Animal is sold, given or transferred to a new Owner. 

An Owner of an Animal declared to be a Dangerous Animal by the Protective Services Manager may appeal such declaration to the Town’s Chief Administrative Officer in writing within seven (7) days of receiving notice of such declaration. The Town’s Chief Administrative Officer shall cause the matter to be reviewed as soon as practicable and make a final determination and such determination shall be final and binding and not subject to further appeal under this Bylaw.

Dangerous Animal Regulations

Prior to a Dangerous Animal license being issued, the Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall within ten (10) business days after the Animal has been declared Dangerous: 

• Have a licensed veterinarian tattoo or implant an electronic identification microchip in the Animal; 
• Provide the information contained on the tattoo or in the microchip to the Protective Services Manager; 
• If the Animal is in an unaltered state, have the Animal neutered or spayed; and 
• Provide the Protective Services Department with proof that one million dollars ($1 ,000,000) liability insurance has been obtained. 

The Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall: 

• Notify the Protective Services Manager should the Animal be sold, gifted, or transferred to another person or die; 
• Remain liable for the actions of the Animal until formal notification of sale, gift or transfer is given to the Protective Services Manager; and 
• Ensure that there is no more than one (1) Dangerous Animal per dwelling. 

Dangerous Animal Control

The Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall ensure that such Animal does not:

• Chase a person or other Animal; 
• Injure a person or other Animal;
• Bite a person or other Animal; 
• Attack a person or other Animal; or 
• Cause death to a person or other Animal. 

The Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall ensure that such Animal does not damage or destroy public or private Property. 

The Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall ensure that such Animal is not At Large. 

The Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall immediately notify the Protective Services Department if the Animal is At Large.

The Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall ensure that such Animal does not, whether leashed or not, enter or remain in or on at any time School Grounds, a Playground or Cemetery. 

Dangerous Animal Care

The Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall ensure that when such Animal is on the Property of the Owner such Animal is: 

• Confined indoors; or 
• When such Animal is outdoors such Animal is:
  • a) In a locked pen or other structure, constructed pursuant to section 30 in order to prevent the escape of the Dangerous Animal and capable of preventing the entry of any person not in Control of the Animal, or
  • b) Securely Muzzled, and under the Control of a person over the age of eighteen (18) years by means of a Permitted Leash for a Dangerous Animal not exceeding one (1) metre in length in a manner that prevents the Animal from chasing, injuring or biting other Animals or people as well as preventing damage to public or private Property.

The Owner of a Dangerous Animal shall ensure that at all times, when off the Property of the Owner, such Animal is Securely: 

• Muzzled; 
• Harnessed or leashed on a Permitted Leash for a Dangerous Animal (the length of which shall not exceed one (1) metre in a manner that prevents the Dangerous Animal from chasing, injuring or biting other Animals or people as well as preventing damage to public or private Property; 
• Under the Control of a person over the age of eighteen (18) years; and 
• Not left unattended when tethered.  

An Owner of an Animal suspected of having rabies shall immediately report the matter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or to the Protective Services Manager or Animal Control Officer.

An Owner of an Animal suspected of having rabies shall confine or isolate the Animal, in such a manner as directed by the Protective Services Manager, Animal Control Officer or other applicable authority, so as to prevent further spread of the disease.

An Owner of an Animal suspected of having rabies shall keep the Animal confined for not less than ten (10) days at the cost of the Owner.