The report also calls for unsafe dogs to be muzzled, microchipped and banned from off-leash areas of city parks.
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In 2015 the city’s animal services department dealt with 754 complaints about dogs biting people and 431 reports of dog attacks or menacing behaviour.
The owners of dogs who have bitten people or other pets could soon face stringent new rules that will require them to post a warning sign on their property and outfit the animal itself with a tag identifying it as risky.
So what happens when a dog’s deemed unsafe dogs?
There are roughly 230,000 dogs that live in Toronto. And the owner will have to provide proof of training for the dog and the owner.
As well, the rules would require that unsafe dogs be muzzled and leashed at all times when off the owner’s property and be microchipped so they can be easily identified and tracked.
The pets will also be labelled “dangerous dogs” and will no longer be allowed in off-leash parks.
The staff report indicates it also wants to set a firm definition of what a “dangerous dog” designation should be. Having read about the vicious dog attack in which both a man and his dog were injured, I am reminded that as a resident of Queensborough, I can not count how many dogs every day are off leash in this area – particularly at times when animal control is not on duty (early morning and evenings).
The licensing and standards committee will debate a report next week that calls for big changes to animal bylaws in the city.
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The proposed bylaw amendments would also limit tethering (defined as tying a dog to a stationary object), which the report highlights as a source of aggressive dog behaviour. “The city’s 60 parks are some of its greatest assets, but for almost two decades responsible dog owners have been unable to enjoy them”.
