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Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
BY-LAW # 674-2026
OF THE TOWN OF VIKING
IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA
A BY.LAW OF THE TOWN OF VIKING IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA PROVIDING FOR THE
LICENSING AND CONTROLLING OF PETS WITHIN THE SAID TOWN.
WHEREAS
THE
RSA 2000, c. M-26 AS
AMENDED OR REPEALED AND REPLACED FROM TIME TO TIME, PROVIDES
THAT A COUNCIL MAY PASS BYLAWS FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES
RESPECTING WILD AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND ACTIVITIES IN
RELATION TO THEM;
AND WHEREAS
the Council of the Town of Viking deems it advisable to pass a bylaw for
restraining and regulating the running at large of pets and the licensing,
impoundment and disposal of pets running at large within the Town of
Viking.
AND WHEREAS
this bylaw 1674 - 2026) shall rescind Bylaw 2025-674 and shall take effect on
the date of its third and final reading;
NOW THEREFORE the Municipal Council of the Town of Viking duly assembled enacts as follows:
1. TITLE:
1. This bylaw may be cited as "The Animal Gontrol Bylaw".
2. DEFINITIONS:
2. ln this bylaw unless the context othenrvise requires:
2.1
' CAO' means the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Viking.
2.2
"Animal Shelte/' means the business or premises designated by the Municipality for the
impoundment of pets.
2.3
"At Large" means a dog or cat that is any place other than the property of the owner or that
of an adult person the owner has place in charge of the pet and that is not being carried or
restrained on a Permitted Leash attached to a choke chain, collar, gentle leader, or harness
securely attached to the pet and accompanied by a person old enough and strong enough
to effectively control the movements of the pet.
"Attack" means a dog aggressively making contact with a person or pet but does not draw
blood with its claws or teeth.
2.5
"Attack severely" or "severe attack" means an attack where the pet draws blood with its
claws, or teeth.
"Cat" means a domesticated cat, regardless of the sex of the cat.
"Controlled Confinement" means that a pet is controlled in a pen, cage, or other structure
from which it can not jump, push, or dig its way out, and that has a child-proof latch on any
2.4
1
2.6
2.7
Byfaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
gates or doors.
2.8
"Council" means the Council of the Town of Viking.2.9 "Damage to Private Property"
means any damage done to plants or fixtures on public or private property while a pet is at
large or is not effectively restrained and includes pets defecating, unless the faeces are
immediately picked up.
2.10 "Domestic Animal" means any pets owned, nurtured, or kept by an owner; this includes
dogs and cats, but also includes pets including, but not limited to birds, rodents, or reptiles
normally kept within the residence and that are not subject to licensing requirements.
2.11 "Dog" means a domesticated dog, regardless of the sex of the dog
2.12
"Enforcement Officer" or "Animal Control Office/' means any Peace Officer or any other
person appointed by Council to enforce the provisions of this bylaw, including employees
of the municipality, and may include the RCMP.
2.13"Excessive barking" means continuously for more than 5 minutes.
2.14"Kennel" means any place owned by one or more persons or corporations engaged in the
commercial business of breeding, buying, selling, training, or boarding pets; and includes
a Boarding Kennel.
2.1S"License" means a numbered metal or other materialtag issued by the Town when the owner
of a pet licenses such pet with the Town.
2.1O"License for Neutered Pet" means a license issued to a petthat has been surgically altered
so it is no longer reproductive.
2.17"Motor Vehicle" means a vehicle that is powered by other than muscle power and includes
mopeds and motorized mobility equipment such as wheelchairs.
2.18
"Muzzle" means a device attached to the face or nose of a vicious dog that prevents the
dog from opening its mouth enough to bite, and may include a properly fitted gentle leader.
2.19"Owner" unless the context otherwise requires, means any person, partnership, association
or corporation who has legal title or possession of a pet or who harbours, feeds,
keeps, or shelters a pet, or has been assigned by the owner to have the care or control of
a pet.
2.20
"Permitted Leash" means a leash composed of a material that cannot be chewed through,
and that is of sufficient strength to controlthe pet; such lease shall not be longerthan 1.5
metres.
2.21
2.22
2.23
"Persistent Barking" means barking for longer than 30 seconds at a time frequently
throughout the day and/or night.
"Pet" in this bylaw refers to dogs and cats, pets that must be licensed.
"Pound" means a place, designated by Council, where pets that have been seized may be
kept.
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Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
2.24 "Pound keeper" means any person appointed by the Town Administrator to keep a pound
for the purpose of controlling and disposing of pets that have been seized.
2.25
"Property Owner" means a person or persons having a legal or equitable interest in any
land
or building and shall be responsible for the actions of any tenant,
resident, or occupier of
such land or building.
2.26
"Safe Access" means an owner must provide at least one door to a residence that a person
may access without encountering a dog.
2.27
2.28
2.29
2.30
2.31
2.32
2.33
"SecLrre Enclosure" see "Controlled Confinement"
"Stray Dog" refers to any dog found without its collar and license.
"Town" means the Municipality or Town of Viking.
"Vicious Dog" means
a) Any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack, without
provocation, other domestic animals and humans, and/or
b) Any dog that has inflicted a Serious Wound (severely attack) upon a human or other
domestic animal while At Large, or while on the owners property if the owner has not
provided at least one safe access, and/or
c) Any dog that has been the subject of an Order issued by an Enforcement Officer or
the Courts within the Dominion of Canada.
"Violation tag" means a ticket or similar document issued by the Town pursuant to the
Municipal Government Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. M-26, as amended or replaced and
appealed from time to time.
"Violation ticket" means a ticket issued pursuant to the Provincial Offenses
Procedure Act, RSA 2000, c. P-34 and regulations there under, as amended or
replaced and repealed from time to time.
"Warning Sign" means a clear sign mounted at the gate to an enclosure that contains a dog
that may, or is known to, act aggressively to a person entering.
3. DOMESTIC PET LICENSING
Everyownerof apetovertheageof sixmonthsintheTownof Vikingshall, beforethe3lst.
day of January of each calendar year, license such pet with the Town and pay to the Town
a license fee for each pet so licensed as specified in Schedule B.
Every owner of a pet in the Town of Viking, who fails to license such pet as required by
Section 3.1 herein, shall license such pet with the Town and pay to the Town an increased
license fee as specified in Schedule B.
3.1
3l
3.2
Byfaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
3.3
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 3.1 and 3.2 herein, every owner who after the
31st. day of January in any calendar year acquires a pet or who has a pet and takes up
residence in the Town shall within fourteen (14) days thereof license his or her pet with the
Town and pay to the Town a license fee for each pet being licensed as per Schedule B
3.4
ln the event that an owner fails to license his or her pet within fourteen (14) days as per s.
3.3 and if such owner keeps a pet within the Town he or she shall license such pet with the
Town and pay to the Town an increased license fee as specified in Schedule B.
3.5
An owner shall provide the following information with each application for a Licence Tag
Name, street address, and telephone number of the Owner, and
Name and description of the domestic animal to be licenced, and
The breed of the domestic animal, and
Any other information as may be required by the Chief Administrative Officer in
respect of the application.
lf the dog has been previously determined to be a Dangerous Dog under the
Dangerous Dog Act R.S.A. 2000, c. D-3, as amended, or under similar legislation
from another Municipality, Province or Country.
3.6
Notwithstanding Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, or 3.4 herein, a person providing written certification
of possessing a registered or Certified Guide Dog shall NOT be required to pay a license
fee.
3.7
Upon licensing a pet as required in this bylaw, the owner shall be issued with a metal or
other material pet tag that has been stamped with a license number. This number will
remain associated to the specified pet for the remainder of the calendar year.
3.8
ln the event that a pet tag is lost, a new pet tag may be issued, upon proof of license of the
pet and upon payment to the Town of a fee.
3.9
A pet tag shall not be transferred from one pet to another, or attached to any pet that has
not been licensed with the Town.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
A pet tag is only valid for the calendar year for which it is issued.
At all times when a dog or cat is on any property other than that of its owner, the pet tag
issued for such pet shall be securely attached to a collar or harness that is being worn by
said pet.
Pet owners visiting the municipality for less than 30 (thirty) days shall be exempted from
purchasing pet license.
4. DOMESTIC PET REGULATIONS
4.1
No owner shall own, possess, keep, harbour, or have care or control of more than four
pets, provided that no more than three of the pets are dogs.
No owner shall cause, or allow or permit another person to cause his pet to be on any
property not his own unless:
3.10
3.1 1
3.12
4
4.2
Byfaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
a)
A leash of sufficient strength to restrain the pet, and no longerthan 1.5 meters, is
securely attached to the pet, and
b)
The leash is being held by a person able to restrain the pet, or
c)
The leash is securely tied to a stationary object that cannot be moved by the pet,
and
d)
The pet cannot interfere with normal human traffic.
4.3
No owner shall cause, or allow or permit another person to cause, his pet while on property
not his own to:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Bark excessively at any person, or
Chase a vehicle, or
Attack, or severely attack any person, or
Chase, challenge, attack, or severely attack any pet owned or being kept by
another person, or
e)
Cause any damage or nuisance on any property owned or maintained by another
person or business, or
f)
Run at large
An owner whose pet defecates on public property, or private property not owned by the dog
owner shall forthwith remove any defecated matter to a suitable receptacle as would not
constitute a nuisance. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a blind person who
is being guided by a certified "seeing eye" or guide dog.
No owner shall cause, or allow or permit another person to cause, his pet to be or remain
on any private property without having first obtained the permission of the owner of said
property.
No owner shall cause or allow or permit his pet to bark or yelp or howl or meow excessively
or persistently or in any other manner disturb the quiet of any person.
a) ln determining whether barking is reasonably likely to annoy or disturb the quiet or
peace of any person consideration may be given, but is not limited to the:
a. The duration of the barking;
b. The time of day as well as the day of the week;
c. The nature and use of the surrounding area;
d. Any effect of the barking.
No owner shall fail to immediately take all reasonable steps to quiet his pet that is making
noise each time the pet makes noise.
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
sl
4.8
No person shall fail to provide a safe access to a residence.
4.10
4.11
4.9
4.12
4.13
Byfaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
No owner of an unsterilized female dog shall fail to keep such dog housed and confined lN
A BUILDING during the whole period while said dog is in heat, except that such dog may
be brought outside under direct supervision ON LEASH to defecate or urinate.
No owner shall allow a pet to damage private or public property.
No owner shall allow a pet to enter a private property or a property owned or maintained
by the Municipality displaying a sign prohibiting pets.
No person shall in any way permit a pet to be in distress by:
a)
Causing any unnecessary physical pain to the pet, or
b)
Neglecting to provide food, potable water, care or warm/cool shelter as is
necessary to maintaining the good health of the pet, or
c)
Neglecting to provide the necessary treatment for a pet suffering from disease or
injury or which is infested by any vermin or parasite, or
d)
Harassing or tormenting such pet.
e)
Any other action, or omission of an action, that may cause distress.
No person shall interfere with, hinder or impede an Animal Control Officer in the
performance of any duties authorized in this bylaw.
5. VICIOUS DOG PROVISIONS
5.1
An owner who fails to license a dog according to the categories (Domestic, Vicious)
contained in this bylaw is guilty of an offense. Vicious dogs are dogs that have been
declared vicious by this, or any other, municipality in the Dominion of Canada.
5.2
No owner of a Vicious Dog shall
5.2.1 allow said dog to be off the owner's property without using an approved leash
and fitted with a muzzle, and
5.2.2 keep said dog on the owner's property unless the dog is confined within a Secure
Enclosure.
5.2.3
5.2.4
allow said dog off leash during a dog show without a permit from the Municipality
fail to post appropriate warnings at all entrances to the property that the dog may
access while out of a secure enclosure but on an approved leash and under the
direct supervision of a person capable of controlling said dog.
5.2.5 allow said dog to
6l
a) Attack a person
Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
b) Seriously attack a person
c) Chase pedestrians, runners, bicycles, people on horseback
d) Attack, harass, injure, or kill a domestic animal belonging to another
person.
6. CONTROLLED CONFINEMENT. RABIES. OR QUARANTINE PROVISIONS
6.1 Any person bitten by a pet or wild animal should immediately report to a hospital and
follow procedures as directed by medical personnel.
6.2
lf possible, the identity of the pet or the last known location of the pet or wild animal
should be provided to medicalstaff.
6.3
lf the animal causing the bite is killed, the carcass must be turned over to a veterinarian
for examination and testing.
7 AUTHORITY OF AN E
FORCEMENT OFFICER
7.1.1
Any pet at large may be captured and seized by any pet catcher or Enforcement Officer
and placed in a pound as provided for in this bylaw.
7.2
An Enforcement Officer or a pet catcher may use any means necessary to capture and
seize a pet at large, provided that:
(a)
No pet shall be seized on private property without the permission of the owner of
said property, except in case of fresh pursuit and it is definitely known that the
property is not that of the owner of the pet, and
(b)
Every reasonable precaution is taken to avoid causing any injury or bodily harm to
such pet.
7.3
Every pet seized under this bylaw shall, as soon as practical, be taken to the prescribed
pound and restrained therein.
7.4
No person shall in any way interfere with or obstruct an Enforcement Officer or pet catcher
who has seized or is attempting to seize a pet at large.
7.5
The owner of such pet may redeem the pet by signing a Claim and Release form as
approved by the Town Administrator and pay any associated penalties.
7.6
No person shall release or attempt to release a pet that has been seized except as
otherwise provided in this bylaw.
7.7
lf a pet on an owner's private property is in distress and
a)
The owner does not forthwith take steps that will relieve its distress, or
The owner cannot be found immediately and informed of the pet's distress, then
an Enforcement Officer or pet catcher may, with the assistance or permission of a
member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, take any action he considers
1l
b)
8. POUND
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7
Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
necessary to locate the animal and relieve its distress, including taking the pet into
custody, pursuant to the Animal Protection Act.
A pound keeper shall:
a)
Receive and impound any pet seized under the provisions of this bylaw, and
b)
Keep a record of such pet on a form approved by the CAO, and
c)
Ensure that any pet so impounded is provided with sufficient food and potable
water to maintain the health and comfort of the pet, and
d)
Provide the services of a veterinarian, as soon as practical, for any pet which
appears to be ill or injured, and
e)
Before releasing a pet, receive approval from the CAO that all fines and penalties
have been paid, and
f)
Ensure that no pet, while impounded is unnecessarily mistreated.
Any pet that has been placed in a pound shall be kept therein for a period of not less than
three clear days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays unless sooner
claimed by the owner or othenryise disposed of in accordance with this bylaw.
An owner may redeem an impounded pet upon payment to the pound keeper of all fines
and fees and costs as prescribed in this bylaw and shall sign a Claim and Release form as
approved by the Town Administrator.
All fines not already paid to the Town, fees and costs, as applicable, shall be paid by cash
or equivalent to the pound keeper prior to release to the owner of any pet.
ln any case, where a pet is found to be ill or has been injured and it has been determined
by a veterinarian or other competent person that the pet should be destroyed to prevent
needless suffering, the pet may be destroyed as soon as practical.
Any pet that has been impounded for longer than the period of time prescribed in this bylaw
may at the discretion of the pound keeper:
a)
Be sold at a price to cover the cost of the impoundment, provided that the pet is
not sold to the owner or to any other person representing the owner, or
b)
Be destroyed by a veterinarian.
No person shall purchase an impounded pet and thereafter return it to the previous owner
until or unless the previous owner pays allfines and penalties owed to the Town concerning
the pet.
The pound keeper shall, if the pet being impounded is wearing a pet tag or any other
identification, make a conscientious effort to notify the owner that the pet has been
impounded and give said owner a reasonable period of time to claim the pet before
Bl
8.8
Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
disposing of same.
8.9
The pound keeper shall, on or before the last working day of each month submit all monies,
copies of receipts and invoices, covering all transactions for the previous month, to the
Town Administrator.
9. OFFENCES AND PENALTIES:
9.1 A person who contravenes any section of this bylaw is guilty of an offence and liable, on
summary conviction before a Provincial Court Judge, to fines as listed in Schedule A of
this bylaw.
9.2
Notwithstanding Section 9.1 of this bylaw, any person who commits a second or
subsequent offense under this bylaw within a period of 12 (twelve) months of the first
offense may be liable to a fine double the amount set out in Schedule A of this bylaw.
9.3
Provincial Judge, in addition to the penalties provided in this bylaw, may direct or order
the owner of the pet
a)
To obtain a license, and/or
b)
To prevent such animal from doing mischief, or causing a disturbance, or a
nuisance complained of, and/or
c)
To have the pet destroyed or removed from the Town, and/or
d)
To comply with any other relevant sections of this bylaw, and/or
e)
ln any other manner deemed appropriate.
9.4
Notwithstanding Section 9.3 of this bylaw, an Enforcement Officer may issue a violation
tag to a person who the Enforcement officer has reasonable and probable grounds to
believe has contravened any provision of this bylaw:
a)
Specifying a voluntary payment as described in Schedule A of this bylaw; and
b)
The person to whom the violation tag is issued may, in lieu of being prosecuted
for the offence, pay to the Town or the Enforcement Officer the penalty specified
within the time period indicated on the violation tag.
9.5 A violation tag shall be deemed to have been sufficiently served if
a)
Served to the accused directly, or
b)
Mailed to the address of the registered owner of the vehicle or person occupying a
property, or
c)
Secured to the vehicle or property in respect of which the offense is alleged to have
been committed, or
d)
Left with the Pound for payment prior to a captured pet being released
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Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
9.6
Where a violation tag has been issued and the penalty specified on the vrolation tag has
not been paid within the prescribed time, then:
a)
An Enforcement Officer may issue a violation ticket specifying that a voluntary
payment be made as described in Schedule A of this bylaw, or
b)
The Town may initiate Court proceedings.
9.7
Notwithstanding sections 9.3 through 9.6 of this bylaw, an Enforcement Officer may
immediately issue a violation ticket to any person who the Enforcement Officer has
reasonable grounds to believe has contravened any provisions of this bylaw, specifying
that
a)
A voluntary payment be made as described in Schedule A of this bylaw; or
b)
lf it is in the public interest to compel the accused to appear before a Judge,
issue a summons respecting any offense for which a voluntary payment may be
made requiring the accuse to appear before a Provincial Court Judge on the
initial appearance date without the alternative of making a voluntary payment.
9.8 The levying and payment of any fines shall not relieve a person from the necessity of
a)
lmmediately remedying the situation that created the violation, or
b)
Paying any other fees, charges or costs for which he is liable under the provisions
of this bylaw.
9.9
\y'y'here a contravention of this bylaw is of a continuing nature, further violation tags or tickets
may be issued by an Enforcement Officer, provided however, that no more than one
violation tag or ticket shall be issued for each day the contravention continues.
9.10
lf an owner contravenes any part of Section 5.2.5 of this bylaw the owner may be
instructed by an Enforcement Officer to remove said dog from the Town within 24 hours
10. SEVERABILITY PROVISION
10.1 Should any provision of this bylaw be invalid, then such provision shallbe severed, and the
remaining bylaw shall be maintained.
1'1. ATTACHMENTS
11.1 SCHEDULE A, and B shall be included as part of this bylaw.
12. REPEAL
12.1 Town of Viking bylaw #2025 - 674 is hereby repealed.
10 I
SECTION
3. GENERAL
3.1 - 3.4
SCHEDULE A
PENALTIES
OFFENCE
Fails to register domestic (non-restricted or vicious) pet
by January 31 of currentyear lwithin 14 days of taking up residence /
acquisition
Fail to display pet tag on collar
Own/possess/keep/harbour more than 4 pets/ owner own/posses/keep/
harbour more than 3 dogs
While off owner's property, use leash of insufficient strength/ leash
longer than 1.5 m/ leash not secured to stationary objecU pet
interferes with human traffic
Dog, while not on owner's property:
excessively bark
chase vehicle
/ chase/ attack/ severely attack a person
chase/challenge/attack/severely attack a pet
cause damage/nuisance to property
run at large
Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
PENALTY($)
100
100
200
100
3.1 1
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.3 a)
4.3.b)
4.3.c)
4.3.d)
4.3 e)
4.3. f)
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.12
4.13
Owner fail to immediately pick up faeces
Allow pet on private property without owner's permission
Allow pet to howl/meows/barks excessively or persistently
Fail to take immediate steps to quiet a pet
Fail to provide safe access to residence
Fail to keep dog in heat indoors or on leash outside to defecate
Pet damages private or public property
pet on posted private or public property
Owner permit pet to be in distress
100
100
/ 200/500/'1000
1 00/1 00/200/500
200
200
200
100
200
200
500
100
200
200
500
250
12
1
lnterfere with Animal Control Officer
Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
5. VTCTOUS DOGS
5.1
Failto license dog as vicious
5.2.1-.3
Fail to control vicious dog off owner's propefi
5.2-4
Fail to post vicious dog warning signs
5.2.5.a), d)
Dog chases a person
5.2.5 b), c)
Dog attacks or severely attacks a person
5.2.5. e)
Dog attacks domestic animal belonging to other persons or strays
9.2
Repeat offence for same contravention within a 12 month period
xx
An offence for which a specified penalty is not listed
500
1 000/500
200
500
2500
1 000
Double
200
13 I
SCHEDULE "B''
FEES
Bylaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
15.00
35.00
750.00
5.00
1. License for neutered/spayed cat or dog
2. License for unaltered dog or cat
3. License for vicious dog
4. Replacement License tag
L4
13. EFFECTIVE DATE
13.1 This bylaw shall take effect on the date of passing thereof
READ A FIRST TIME THIS 16 DAY OF MARCH,2026
READ A SECOND TIME THIS 16 DAY OF MARCH,2026.
READ A THIRD AND FINAL TIME THIS 20 DAY OF APRIL,
Byfaw 674 -2026
Town of Viking
cAo
Mayor
11 I