Council passes new dog bylaw with more “teeth”

By Ken Johnston
Editor

In an effort to put more “teeth” into the regulation of dog ownership in Rainy River, town council passed a new dog bylaw last Tuesday.
Utilizing language from the Animals for Research Act, Public Health Act, Dog Owners’ Liability Act and the Municipal Act, Section 103, council in effect gave the Animal Enforcement Officer the right to issue tickets under the Provincial Offenses Act allowing the courts to deal with violators in Rainy River.
Fees outlined in the town’s new bylaw are as such:
License Fees
•Neutered or spayed dogs $10 per year
•Intact dog (male or female) $30 per year
Release Fees
•Boarding fee per day or part of a day $25
•Mileage to and from dog pound facility, if necessary $80
Nuisance Dog
(A dog that is found running at large more than once in a short period. These fees may be charged in addition to any boarding and/or mileage fees)
•Second time in six month period $50
•Third time in six month period $75
•Fourth time in six month period $100
Fines for violation of new law
1. Owner failing to license dog $60
2. Owner failing to affix tag to dog $60
3. Permitting dog to run at large $60
4. Permitting a dangerous dog to run at large $105
5. Failure to keep a dangerous dog properly muzzled or leashed $105
6. Owner allowing a dog to trespass on a public beach, park, playground or cemetery $105
7. Failure to have animal on proper leash in public place $105
8. Failure to immediately remove excrement from property other than owner’s property $110
The bylaw defines a dangerous dog as any dog that without provocation has bitten a person or domestic animal.
It defines running at large as any dog found in any place other than the premises of the owner and not under the control of any person.
Licensing is required to be done no later than the 15th of February each year.
Dog owners can no longer own more than two dogs within the town of Rainy River unless they are zoned rural then they can have up to four dogs. This rule is grandfathered so that anyone who had more than two dogs before the passing of the law are allowed to keep them but can not replace them once they pass away or are sold/given away.
There is an exemption to the two dog rule for breeding kennels and grooming facilities but they must be zoned properly to allow a business of that nature to operate.
All dogs must be leashed properly when in any public place.
The town hopes to have a new Animal Enforcement Officer in place very soon. Applications for the job are being accepted until this Thursday at 1:00 p.m.