Updates to the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw

Through the research and engagement process, dog owners told us that they would like to see a limit on the number of dogs that can be walked off-leash by a person at one time. From a safety and animal welfare perspective, six off-leash dogs was considered a reasonable number for an individual to supervise and clean up after in an off-leash park. Other municipalities with off-leash limits in Alberta allow a maximum of six dogs.

No changes were made to the number of dogs that could be supervised on-leash by one person.

Calgarians widely supported a pet ownership limit of six dogs and six cats per household through engagement. Limiting the number of pets will help limit community concerns, including the accumulation of pet waste on a property or excessive noise due to barking. The proposed limit is higher than in many other cities to ensure that the introduction of limits is reasonable, balanced and addresses Calgary-specific issues.

Bee keeping is a successful and growing hobby in Calgary and there can be public nuisance concerns. Through regulation and licensing, The City of Calgary can help address any problems and create solutions for the benefit of the bees, keepers and their neighbours.

In Calgary, a vicious dog is one that has chased, injured or bitten any other animal or human; damaged or destroyed public or private property; or, threatened or created the reasonable apprehension of a threat to a human, and which, in the opinion of a Justice, presents a threat of serious harm to other animals or humans. Currently 13 dogs in Calgary have this designation.

Through the updated bylaw, the Chief Bylaw Officer will be able to designate an animal vicious when there are reasonable grounds to believe the animal poses a risk to the health and safety of Calgarians. Seeking this designation through Provincial Court is often a long process during which the animal is held at Animal Services for months at a time. In overseeing vicious designations, the Chief Bylaw Officer can allow the animal to go home faster, with conditions that ensure public safety, which is a welfare benefit to the owner, animal and neighbouring community.

The decision of the Chief Bylaw Officer can be appealed to the Licence and Community Standards Appeal Board where an appellant has the right to a new hearing. Moving appeals to this administrative tribunal system should lead to more favourable outcomes and mitigate concerns more effectively as the Board is adding experts in animal health and animal behaviour onto the tribunal to adjudicate these matters.

Through the bylaw update, the scope and membership of the Licence and Community Standards Appeal Board will be expanded to hear appeals to vicious and nuisance animal designations and denials of excess animal permits. Expanded membership will include one veterinarian and one certified professional dog trainer as part of a tribunal system, including those with animal behaviour and behaviour rehabilitation expertise.

A nuisance designation is not a broad term. The changes to the pre-existing nuisance designation will only apply if a concern cannot be resolved. Multiple educational attempts and balancing the needs of pet owners and the community are looked at before any action is taken.

No dogs in Calgary currently have a nuisance designation.

An animal can be declared a nuisance when it has repeatedly threatened or exhibited aggressive behaviour, has been found running at large more than once, repeatedly causes noise that disturbs any person, or the owner has demonstrated an inability to control the dog in an off-leash area. A nuisance designation will generally only be contemplated when other education and enforcement actions prove unsuccessful.

The only change proposed in the updated bylaw is expanding nuisance conditions to help curb further concerning aggressive or nuisance behaviour. This would be determined on a case-by-case basis. Specific controls can be placed on a dog owner through this process to ensure that a dog that is declared a nuisance meets community safety measures in a timely manner.

Community peace officers investigate bylaw complaints on a case-by-case basis where they consider what the bylaw states and the ‘spirit’ or purpose of the bylaw when evaluating a situation. A number of factors and objective criteria are considered to determine if an offence has occurred and what steps need to be taken. Officers use standard operating procedures to guide their work, along with our philosophy of compliance before enforcement. They apply guiding principles to evaluate complaints through a lens of compassion and empathy while addressing the root cause of the problem. Community peace officers work to achieve compliance through education, and this is successful 96 per cent of the time.

No changes were made to the noise section of the bylaw. The current bylaw (section 23) states that pet owners ensure barking, howling or any other excessive noise does not cause disturbance. There is a large difference between occasional and nuisance barking.

If a dog continued disruptive behavior (such as nonstop barking), a community peace officer would investigate and work to resolve the issue with the owner before corrective action was taken or a nuisance designation was considered. When responding to a complaint, peace officers apply objective standards such as the duration and frequency of barking, surrounding area, number of dogs and time of day.

The truth is they are not. The parameters around responsible dog ownership have existed in the bylaw since it was last updated 12 years ago. It is important that a bylaw is in place that allows Calgarians to enjoy public spaces with their dogs, while ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all others in parks and public spaces as well.