Dog Bylaw #1768

Claresholm, Alberta · adopted 2023-10-23

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 735ded431130 · verified 2026-06-08 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

TOWN OF CLARESHOLM PROVINCE OF ALBERTA BYLAW #1768 without provocation chased, injured or seriously bitten any other domestic animal or human, without provocation damaged, or destroyed any public or private property, without provocation threatened or created the reasonable apprehension of a threat to other domestic animals or humans and which in the opinion of a Justice, presents a threat of serious harm to other domestic animals or humans, has been previously determined to be a dangerous dog iu'ider a Provincial Dog Act or by the Coiuts. in the Facility" means the physical premises where dogs are harbored by a dog Dog Bylaw Page 1 1. "P means a place designated by Council as a place where dogs may be placed and kept under humane conditions. m. At Large" means a dog found on any public street, lane, alley or other public place Town or is on private property without the permission of the occupant or owner n. "T " means the Town of Claresholm. o. "Dog ancier Permit" means a permit issued annually to an owner permitting the keeping or ' on land or premises occupied by the owner, of up to five (5) dogs over the age of (3) months. Licensing 3. No person licensed with been coll own, keep or harbor any dog within the Town limits unless such dog has been Town, paid the appropriate fee, and the following information about the dog has a. as to color, age, breed and sex, b. resi address, c. proof f spay or neutering. 4. License fees determined by way of Schedule "A" set from time to time by the Town Council. 5. Licenses or P a. A M are required as set out below: license for every dog residing in the Town of Claresholm over the age of three (3) b. A Fancier Permit for any single dwelling or household housing in excess of three (3) dogs. c. An or Dangerous Dog license if the dog is determined to be aggressive or 6. Any person Department, a Dog Fanciers Permit shall submit an application to the Bylaw Enforcement it's designate. All applications shall disclose: a. for permit b. (breeders will require a business license) c. Breed sex of dogs d. Type f facilities 7. An Animal proposed I 1 0fficer shall not issue a Dog Fanciers Permit without first inspecting the on and circulating adjacent property owners. 8. An Animal conditions are 1 0fficer shall not issue a Dog Fanciers Permit if, in their opinion, the site or ' le. 9. An Animal complaints permit. I Officer may remove the Dog Fanciers Permit upon receipt of bona fide two (2) or more neighbors residing within sixty (60) meters of the residence of the 10. The act of Town of in dog breeding and/or having a dog breeding facility must comply with the lm Land Use and Business License Bylaw. 11. Dog owners one (1) month to comply with the licensing requirements upon possession of a dog or upon ' up residence in the Town of Claresholm. Dog owners issued a warning to purchase a dog license or dog fancier permit will be granted fourteen (14) days to comply excepting when a dog has been ' Impounded dogs shall be required to be licensed before being released to the owner. 12. Annual li renewal fee is due before the last day of January for each year. Dog Bylaw Page 12 Bylaw #1768 13. Upon pa of the required license fee, the owner will be supplied with a license tag stamped with a number and the year of the license. Every owner shall ensure that the license tag is securely fastened to a llar or harness which must be worn by the dog at all times when the dog is off the premises of owner. 14. The owner of takes up resi dog will be permitted to pay a license fee of one half the annual rate if such owner or such dog is acquired on or after the 1st of October in any one year. 15. No refund of from a ' difference in cense fees shall be made during any one year, except if documentation is provided ' that the dog was neutered or spayed after the purchase of the license, then the license fee will be refunded. Offences 16. The follo ' constitutes an offence for the owner, which may result in a notice, fine and if necessary, ma result in the capture and impoundment of a dog. Offences are as follows: a. an o a vali who has failed to purchase a valid dog license and/or whose dog is not displaying dog tag, b. a dog and is off the premises of the owner, is not in an off-leash area, and is not on a Leash immediate, continuous and effective control by the owner, c. a dog an off-leash area that is not under immediate, continuous and effective control by the o d. a dog at large, e. a dog than worging or annoying any person and/or domestic animal on property other belonging to the owner of the dog, f. a dog 'ch causes damage to private or public property within the Town, g. a dog 'ch barks, howls or otherwise disturbs any person or persons, h. adog street, 'ch has bitten, is biting or is about to bite or attempting to bite any person, upon any or other public place within the Town, i. a dog aggressive or dangerous in nature j. a dog heat upon any public lands or highway, k. a dog eft unattended in any motor vehicle without suitable ventilation, 1. a dog or described or otherwise designated in a complaint made pursuant to The Dog Act, m. a dog with rabies or any other contagious disease. n. a who removes or attempts to remove any dog from the possession of the Animal I Officer while in the pound or while being transported to the pound, o. a who hinders, delays or obstructs any such Animal Control Officer in the of any duty imposed upon them by this bylaw, p. ano dog who fails to remove defecated matter which the owner has permitted or caused the deposit on public property, the off-leash area or upon the lands or premises of any other than the owner. q. an o who has in excess of three (3) dogs in a single-family dwelling or household a Dog Fancier Permit, or in excess of five (5) dogs with an authorized Dog Fancier P ' over three (3) months old. 17. The resi and ino private hazard. The notice to or grounds where any dogs are kept shall at all times be maintained in a clean, sanitary condition, satisfactory to the Animal Control Officer. An owner or occupant of must not allow animal feces to accumulate on the property so as to create a health ' Control Officer may serve an owner or occupant of private property with a all animal feces from the property within 72 hours of service of the notice. The Dog Bylaw Page 3 /-7* Bylaw #1768 Town may remove the f occupant of expenses may was done. ve the feces from the property if the person to whom the request is made fails to within 72 hours, or after reasonable inquiry, the whereabouts of the owner or property cannot be determined. If the Town carried out the work, the costs and added to the tax roll and form part of the taxes owing on the land whereon the work 18. The owner of dog shall ensure that such dog shall not: a. bite injure a person or persons whether on the property of the owner or not unless an act is being committed, b. chase iu'iless otherwise threaten a person or persons whether on the property of the owner or not, e person chased or threatened is a trespasser on the property of the owner. 19. Where the enclosure secure and of of a dog provides for a dog run or enclosure on the property that dog run or be no closer than one (1) foot from the adjoining property. This dog run must be adequate height and size for the dog being housed Communicable 20. The Animal brought to the l Officer shall immediately segregate from other animals and restrain any dog und if it has or appears to have rabies or any other communicable disease. 21. The Animal unhealthy 1 0fficer shall report any apparent illness, communicable disease, injury or " on of any dog to a veterinarian. 22. The owner of dog, which is suffering any communicable disease shall not permit or allow the dog to be: a. in public place, b. in c. shall d. shall e. shall with or in proximity to any other dog, the dog locked or tied up, report the matter to a veteiarian, report the matter to the Animal Control Officer or the RCMP. 23. Any dog kno to be rabid shall be immediately euthanized in a humane manner. Aggressive or Dogs 24. The owner of Officer ' Provincial alleged Aggressive or Dangerous dog, shall siu'render the dog to the Animal Control ly and the dog shall be held pending the outcome of the investigation and/or a hearing. 25. At the conc statement Aggressive or the dog in danger to 'on of an investigation into a complaint and/or incident complete with a signed ' a dog in the Town, the CAO or their designate may declare a dog to be an dog. The CAO will issue an Aggressive or Dangerous Dog designation for 'on, provided that the CAO is satisfied that the dog constitutes an ongoing potential property, or domestic animals. 26. The owner of dog declared to be Aggressive or Dangerous shall be issued a fine as outlined in Section44of ' BylawandshallbechargedundertheAabertaj)angerousj)ogAct. 27. If a dog is lared to be an Aggressive or Dangerous Dog by the Justice and not ordered to be destroyed, the CAO or their designate shall give the owner written notice of such declaration containing the llowing details: a. ' that if the Aggressive or Dangerous Dog is off the owner's property, it shall be in a bite " on mechanism, under control, and on a permitted Leash held by a competent who is able to control the Aggressive or Dangerous Dog, b. inf the owner the Aggressive or Dangerous Dog is not permitted in the off-leash area, C. Bylaw #1768 the owner to install signage a minimum of 25cm by 25 cm, with 5 cm lettering, of the Aggressive or Dangerous dog, installed every fifty (50) feet or fifteen (15) on the perimeter of owner's property that is accessible by the general public. Dog Bylaw Page 4 28. The owner of after the dog business days be completed Aggressive or Dangerous Dog shall obtain an Aggressive or Dangerous Dog license determined to be Aggressive or Dangerous. This shall be done within three (3) llowing the dog being classified as such. To issue such a license the following must provided: a. Provi Jul indi proof that a Registered Veterinarian has implanted an electronic identification in the Dog that was declared Aggressive or Dangerous, with information such declaration. b. Provi CO for proof that a liability insurance policy is in force and provides third party liability in a form satisfactory to the Town and in a minimum coverage amount of $500,000 injuries which may be caused by the Aggressive or Dangerous Dog. c. The ' the To policy must contain a provision requimg the insurer to immediately notify in writing in the event that the policy expires, is cancelled or is terminated. 29. The owner of Aggressive or Dangerous Dog shall ensure that: a. the does not, without provocation: chase a person; or in) ure a person; or bite a person; or chase other domestic animals; or injure other domestic animals; or bite other domestic animals. b. the does not damage or destroy public or private property. C. dog is on the property of the owner: the dog is either confined indoors; or when the dog is outdoors it is in a locked pen or other structure, constructed to prevent the escape of the Aggressive or Dangerous Dog and capable preventing the entry of any person not in control of the dog, and the locked pen or other stnicture shall not be within one (1) meter of the property line or within five (5) meters of a neighboring dwelling unit. 30. Any person shall be liable sells, transfers, gifts, or surrenders a dog that is found to be Aggressive orDangerous a fine under section 44 of the Dog Bylaw unless: a. It has had an electronic identification microchip implanted in the dog and has a ciu-rent or Dangerous Dog License through the Town as per Section 28. b. The T of the has been notified in writing of the new residential address and contact information owners of where the Aggressive or Dangerous Dog has been moved to. 31. An ' orDangerousDogorderpursuanttothisBylawcontinuestoapplyifthedogisgiven or transferred a new owner. Capture and 32. An assistant employee of the Animal Control Officer may do any act which the Animal Control Officer is obli or permitted to do. 33. The Animal CAO, may shall deliver l Officer, or any person or persons as shall be authorized or appointed by the a dog that is in contravention of this bylaw by using any humane method and 'd dog to the pound, where it shall be held for the holding period to ascertain the owner. 34. When any dog earing a Town dog license tag is captured, the Animal Control Officer shall ascertain from the To records the name and address of the owner and attempt to reunite the dog with its owner. 35. The Animal post a notice l Officer shall, when the name and address of the owner of a dog are not known, the door of the pound to inform the general public of the impoundrnent. 36. Unless the retention of unclaimed of a dog makes arrangements with the Animal Control Officer for the further dog, an Animal Control Officer may sell, transfer to a new owner or destroy all which have been in impoundment for: Bylaw #1768 Dog Bylaw Page i5 a. seven 7) days if the dog has a current license or the owner can otherwise be identified (ie. Tatoo or b. -two (72) hours if the dog does not have a ciu'rent license. 37. N a shorter peri subsection 36 (a) & (b) above an Animal Control Officer may euthanize a dog after of time, if humane purposes warrant. 38. Whenan ' ControlOfficeragreeswithanownertoeuthanizeadog,theownershallpaytothe Town all costs related to such. 39. The Animal 1 0fficer may, in their discretion, continue to keep a dog in the pound for a longer period than th holding period provided: a. theo erverifiestheirownershipandrequeststhatthedogbekeptthereforalongerperiod, b. a investigation requires the extension of the holding period. Notice 40. If a notice is served personally on an owner or occupant of private property, then a copy of the notice shall be sent by registered mail to the owner of the property at the mailing address shown on the last roll of the Town. A notice sent by registered mail is deemed to have been received on the fifth ( day following the date of its mailing. Impound Fees 41. Each dog ' rate of under the provisions of this Bylaw shall be subject to impoiu'iding fees at the a. $30. per day for each day the dog has been impounded, plus b. $35. - First (1"') offence c. $100. - Second and each subsequent offence 42. Any dog impo owner can: under the provisions of this Bylaw shall not be released until such time as the a. proof of ownership to the satisfaction of the Animal Control Officer, b. pay licensing fees, offence fines and impounding charges and/or fees. Fines 43. Any person vi lating any of the provisions of this Bylaw or any other person responsible for such violation shall liable to a penalty of: a. W - First (l") offence b. $100 Second (2"d) offence c. $250 Third (3'd) offence d. $500 Fourth (4"') and subsequent offences 44. Any Person ' lating any provisions of this bylaw where the dog has been deemed Aggressive or Dangerous in or any other persons responsible for such violations shall be liable to a penalty ofi a. $300 - irst(l"')Offence b. $500 Second (2"d) Offence c. $1, - Third (3'd) and Subsequent Offences Bylaw #1768 Dog Bylaw Page 6 A.D. This Bylaw shall tak effect on the date of final passage. Bylaw #1759 is h repealed. Read a first time in uncil this 23rd day of October Read a second time ' Council this 23rd day of October 2023 A.D. 2023 A.D. Read a third time in and finally passed in Council this 23rd day of October 2023 Brad Sc Xill2T!11/ "'ill i"l;St" Administrative Officer Bylaw #1768 Dog Bylaw Page 7 Clareshol:m BYLAW# 1768 SCHEDULE "A" -FEES Dog License (Spay/-.SJeuter) - per dog Dog License (Intact'i - per dog Dog Fancier Permit application fee - per household * Dog Fancier Permit aru'iual renewal fee - per household* Aggressive or Dang:'rous Dog License Replacement dog tag *Does not include dog licenses for additional dogs Fee $20/year $70/year $50 $20 $200 $5 Bylaw #1768 Dog Bylaw Page 8 11 Claresholin BYLAW# 1768 SCHEDULE "B" APPLICATION FOR DOG FANCIER PERMIT Name of applicant: Address: Phone: (Res.) (Bus.) (Cell.) DESCRIPTION OF IOGS Date: Postal code: CATEGORY Breeder (# of times per year Bus. Lic #: Show Dogs Pets Kennel operation Bus. Lic #: Dog Breed Colour Sex Age Altered (Y/N) TYPEOFFA Yes No Enclosed yard with f Enclosed kennel and Will the dogs be kept Will the dogs be kept If "NO", will they be '7 .0g rull? during the period in when no one is home? at night? in a closed kennel or dog run? I understand that bef this application can be approved, the Animal Control Officer must first inspect the proposed location to the site and conditions are suitable. I further understand the Animal Control Officer will circulate at 'acent property owners and advise them of the application, allowing for a period of response. The Animal 1 0fficer shall not issue a dog fancier permit if the site or conditions are not suitable. Signature Dog Bylaw Page 9 Bylaw #1768