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BYLAW # 608-25
FOR THE VILLAGE OF VILNA
IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA
A BYLAW OF THE VILLAGE OF VILNA, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF LICENSING, REGULATING AND CONTROLING OF PET OWNERSHIP
WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE VILLAGE OF VILNA AND TO REPEAL BYLAW 560-21.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Municipal Government Act (Alberta), and amendments thereto,
provides that a Council of a Municipality may pass a bylaw for the safety, health and welfare
of people and the protection of the people and property, and the licensing of domestic pets
and the restraining, regulating and impounding of pets running at large;
AND WHEREAS, the Village of Vilna has decided that it is necessary for the protection of the
public health, safety and welfare to provide for the close regulation of domestic pets
determined to be vicious or aggressive;
AND WHEREAS, the Council of the Village of Vilna wishes to regulate and control dogs and
other domestic animals within the corporate boundaries of the Village of Vilna;
NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the Village of Vilna, in the Province of Alberta, duly
assembled, enacts as follows:
1.
NAME OF BYLAW
1.1
This Bylaw may be cited as the Village of Vilna's "PET BYLAW".
2.
DEFINITIONS
2.1
"Animal Control Officer" means a Peace Officer, Bylaw Enforcement Officer,
Police Officer, Designated Officer or Pound Keeper acting on behalf of the
Village and or any person or persons appointed by Council to the position of
Designated Officer under Section 3 of this Bylaw; or the CAO if no other
appointment has been made;
2.2
"CAO means the Chief Administrative Officer of the Village of Vilna.
2.3
"Collar" means any device made of leather, chain or other matter, capable of
having metal tags securely fastened to it and designed solely to be worn around
the neck of a dog or cat;
2.4
"Communicable Disease" means an illness due to an infectious agent or toxic
product which is transmitted directly or indirectly to a well person or animal from
an infected animal and shall include:
- distemper, rabies, canine parvo and para-influenza; Feline Infectious
Peritonitis (FIP),
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Panleukopenia (FP),Feline
Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Calcivirus (FCV), or Feline Bartonella;
2.5
"Council" means the Council of the Village of Vilna;
2.6
"Cat" shall mean a male or female cat of any feline family, six (6) months or
older ;
2.7
"Dog" shall mean a male or female of the Canidae family, six (6) months or
older and includes vicious dogs of any age;
2.8
"Dog Pound" means the premises designated by Council for the purpose of
impounding and caring for all dogs found to be running at large in violation of
this Bylaw;
2.9
"Domestic Animal" means:
a) Animals that have been domesticated for and kept as pets and shall include:
cats, dogs, legal exotic species, pet rabbits, ferrets; and other similarly sized
tame animals that are not illegal exotic species, wild birds or livestock, swine
or fowl as per Section 12.1
2.10
"Identification Tag" means a tag issued to an owner upon registration of a dog
as set out in Section 6 of this Bylaw;
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PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
Page 2 of 10
2.11
"Kennel" means any one location, shelter, room, dwelling or place where three
or more dogs are harboured at any time, except for premises used for the care
and treatment of dogs operated by a qualified veterinarian or a Dog Pound;
2.12
"Muzzle" means a device of sufficient strength that when placed over a dog's
mouth will prevent it from biting;
2.13
"Nuisance Dog" means any dog that has bee the subject of three or more
convictions within the previous three years for any combination of the following
offences under this bylaw:
a)
Excessive Barking
b)
Defecation
c)
Public Nuisance
d)
At large off the property of the Owner
2.14
Non-Domestic Animal" means any wild animal, reptile or fowl which is not
naturally tame or gentle, but of a wild nature or disposition and which, because
of its size, vicious nature or other characteristics would constitute a danger to
human life or property.
2.15
"Owner" means any person:
a) owning, possessing, or having charge of or control over any dog, cat or
domestic animal, or
b) harbouring or keeping any dog, cat or domestic animal, or
c) in possession or control of the property where the dog, cat or domestic
animal appears to reside, whether temporarily or permanently.
d) suffering or permitting any dog, cat or domestic animal to remain about his
property or premises, or
e) who owned a dog or domestic animal as defined in (a), (b) or (c) before the
dog or domestic animal was impounded and subsequently sold or
destroyed.
2.16
"Public Property" means all land areas, lying within the Village boundaries,
and whether improved in whole or in part, or in its natural state; and includes
publicly maintained areas administered by the Village and includes all buildings
or other improvements situated on these land areas.
2.17
"Pound Keeper" means the person or persons owning and/or operating a place
designated by the CAO to be operated as a Pound.
2.18
"Residential Area" means any area within the Village limits that is classified,
according to the Land Use Bylaw 392-98 and amendments thereto, as
Residential.
2.19
"Running at Large" shall mean a dog that is off the premises of its owner, is
not on a leash and is not under the immediate, continuous and effective control
of its owner or competent person.
2.20
"Village" shall mean the Village of Vilna, a Municipal Corporation in the
Province of Alberta.
2.21
"Vicious Dog" means any dog of any age, which in the opinion of an Animal
Control Officer:
a) Without provocation, shows a propensity, disposition or potential to attack or
injure humans or other animals.
b) Without provocation chases, attacks, bites or injures any human or animal.
c) Is a continuing threat of serious harm to humans and other animals; and/or
d) Has previously been determined to be a Vicious Dog by any other
jurisdiction.
e) Has had designation by any Animal Control Officer or Court Official under the
Dangerous Dog Act R.S.A. 2000, c D-3 (Province of Alberta).
f) If an Animal Control Officer determines that a dog is a Vicious Dog, either
through personal observation or, on the basis if facts, determined after
Bylaw #608-25
PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
Page 3 of 10
investigation initiated by a complaint, the Officer may declare the Dog to be a
Vicious Dog.
3.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
3.1
Council shall, by resolution, from time to time appoint one or more persons to
the position of Animal Control Officer, or the position shall be responsibility of the
CAO if no other person is appointed. An Animal Control Officer may be any
Officer as defined in Section 2.1.
3.2
The Animal Control Officer shall be responsible to the CAO for the ongoing
administration, maintenance and operation of animal control services within the
Village as contemplated by the Bylaw.
4.
POUND AND POUND KEEPERS
4.1
The CAO will designate or enter into an agreement to provide a place or places
to be operated as a Pound, which shall provide a Pound Keeper.
4.2
Each Pound Keeper shall be responsible for the administration, operation and
maintenance of the Pound and for the safekeeping, caring and feeding of all
pets lawfully detained under the provisions of the Bylaw.
5.
POWERS OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
5.1
The Animal Control Officer is authorized, subject to a perceived infraction, to
capture and impound:
a) Any dog, regardless of breed; and/or
b) Any Domestic animal running at large.
5.2
The Animal Control Officer, is authorized to take reasonable measures to
subdue or capture dogs or domestic animals found to be in contravention of this
Bylaw.
6.
REGISTRATION
6.1
No Owner shall keep any dog, cat or domestic animal of 6 months of age or over
unless the license fee has been paid and a tag has been issued, as per
Schedule "A".
6.2
The registration of a dog under Section 6.1 remains valid and subsisting from
January 1st and for the duration of the calendar year.
6.3
Every person who resides in the Village and who becomes the Owner of a dog,
and every person who takes up residence in the Village who is the Owner of a
dog shall register such dog at the Village Office within fifteen (15) days after
becoming the Owner of the dog or being the Owner of a dog taking up residence
within the Village.
6.4
Every Owner shall provide the Village Office with the following information when
registering a dog or cat, in accordance with this Bylaw:
a) Name and address and contact phone number of the Owner;
b) Name, breed, color and sex of the dog to be registered;
c) Certificate of alteration or other information pertaining to the dog as
requested by the Village.
d) Certificate or confirmation of immunization for communicable diseases of the
pet;
e) Name and contact address and phone number for the owner of the property,
if not the owner of the animal.
6.5
The Village shall keep a master registration book which shall contain the
information as per Section 6.4 and provide an Identification Tag with an
identification number stamped on it and the amount of license fee paid by the
Owner.
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PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
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6.6
If an Identification Tag is lost or destroyed the Owner is required to immediately
obtain a new Identification Tag from the Village. A new Identification Tag shall
be issued under Section 6.4 by the Village upon presentation by the Owner of a
receipt showing payment of the registration fee for the current year.
6.7
It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the pet is always wearing its
registration tag that the pet is off the owner's property.
6.8
Identification Tags issued under this Bylaw shall not be transferable from one
dog to another.
6.9
A registration fee paid to the Village under this Bylaw shall not be refunded, in
whole or in part, because of the death, sale, or disposition of the dog in respect
of which the registration fee was paid or because the Owner ceases to reside in
the Village.
6.10
Dogs qualified as registered, certified and trained Service Dogs must be
registered by the Village and issued an Registration Tag free of charge.
6.11
The provisions of Section 6 shall not apply to people who are temporarily
resident in the Village area for the period not exceeding forty-eight (48) hours, or
a further period, if written permission is obtained from the Municipal
Administrator of the Village.
7.
KEEPING OF DOGS AND CATS
7.1
The keeping of dogs in the Village in numbers greater than three shall be
deemed to be operating a kennel, which is not permitted within the Village;
7.2
The keeping of cats in the Village in numbers greater than three (3) shall not be
permitted.
7.3
No owner shall harbor or train any animals as per this Bylaw or keep puppies or
kittens for training, breeding or any other purpose except within the confines of 2
dogs or 3 cat ownership as per this Bylaw. Any litter size must be reduced to
comply with this Bylaw within ninety (90) days of the birth of the puppies or
kittens.
8 NUISANCES
8.1
EXCESSIVE BARKING
a) The Owner shall ensure that their dog(s) does not bark in a manner that is
reasonably likely to annoy or disturb the peace or the quality of life or
amenity for others or neighbouring properties and shall maintain reasonable
quiet hours expect for any residential community;
b) When an Animal Control Officer is determining whether barking is
reasonably likely to annoy or disturb the peace or the quality of life for
others, consideration may be given to, but limited to:
i. Proximity of the property where the Dog resides;
ii. Duration of the barking
iii. Time of day and day of the week when barking occurs
iv. Nature and use of the surrounding area.
8.2
DEFECATION
a) The Owner shall forthwith remove any defecation left by the dog on public or
private property other than that of the pet owner;
b). The Owner shall ensure that defecation left by the Dog on the property of the
Owner does not accumulate to such an extent that it is reasonably likely to
annoy any person by sight or smell.
8.3
RUNNING AT LARGE
a) No Owner shall permit a Dog to be Running At Large within the Village;
b) No Owner shall permit their Dog to be unattended and tied to any object
when off the property of the Owner and such Dog shall be deemed to be
Running At Large.
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PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
Page 5 of 10
c) No Owner shall permit any Dog to trespass on Private Property, whether on
or off a leash.
d) The Owner of a Cat shall make every effort to constrain their cat on their own
property.
8.4
SCATTERING GARBAGE
a) The Owner of a Dog or Cat shall ensure that it does not upset any waste
receptacles or scatter garbage on public or private property not belonging to
the Owner of the pet.
8.5
THREATENING BEHAVIOR
a) The Owner of a Dog shall ensure that such Dog shall not:
i. Chase or bite or cause damage to a person, dog, cat, animal or any type
of vehicle'
ii. Attack or threaten a person, dog, cat, or animal., or
iii. Cause death to a dog, cat, or animal.
b) An Animal Control Officer who believes an offence has been committed
under subsection (a), may order Controlled Confinement of the dog.
c) An Owner shall follow all conditions as stipulated in the Controlled
Confinement Order.
d) An Owner shall not use or direct a dog to attack, chase or threaten a person,
dog, cat or other animal.
8.6
PET IN ESTRUS (IN HEAT)
a) An owner of a pet is estrus shall, during the entire period that such pet is in
estrus, keep the animal confined in a manner as not to attract males of that
species.
9. CATS
9.1
The Village of Vilna does not have a bylaw that addresses concerns regarding
stray cats. Therefore, cats are not prohibited from roaming the village or
entering onto private property.
10.
TORMENT
10.1
No person shall tease, torment, annoy or otherwise provoke a dog or pet or
animal as per this Bylaw.
11.
VICIOUS DOGS
11.1
If an Animal Control Officer determines that a dog is a Vicious Dog, either
through personal observation or, based on facts, determined after investigation
initiated by a complaint, the Officer may declare the Dog to be a Vicious Dog.
11.2
If a dog is declared to be vicious, the Animal Control Officer may:
a) Give the Owner a verbal and/or written notice that the Dog has been deemed
to be a Vicious Dog by an Animal Control Officer,
b) and being so declared the Owner is required to follow the Vicious Dog
Requirements as set out in Section 11.3 of this Bylaw
c) Where the Owner of the Dog that has been determined to be a Vicious Dog,
produces information to the CAO of the Village of Vilna that may alter a
determination made under Section 11.1, the CAO, shall, as soon as is
reasonably possible, cause the matter to be reviewed and make a final
determination.
d) Costs, if not paid by the Dog Owner within 30 days shall be applied to the tax
roll of the property occupied by the Dog Owner.
Bylaw #608-25
PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
Page 6 of 10
11.3
VICIOUS DOG REQUIREMENTS
a)
An Owner of a Vicious Dog shall maintain in force a policy of liability
insurance in a form satisfactory to the CAO of the Village of Vilna providing
third party liability coverage in a minimum amount of Five Hundred
Thousand ($500,000.00) Dollars for injuries caused by the Owner's Vicious
Dog.
b)
The liability policy shall contain a provision requiring the insurer to
immediately notify the Village in writing should the policy expire or be
cancelled or terminated.
c)
The Owner of a Vicious Dog shall take all the necessary steps to ensure
that it does not bite, chase, or attack any human or other animal whether the
person or animal is on the property of the Owner or not;
d)
If a Vicious Dog bites or attacks a person or animal, the Owner shall be
guilty of an offense and subject liable to a fine under this Bylaw, exclusive of
any other civil actions or penalties.
e)
When a Vicious Dog is on the premises of its Owner, it shall be kept
confined indoors under the effective control of a person over the age of
eighteen (18) years, or confined in a securely enclosed and locked pen, or
other structure constructed and secured in such a fashion as to prevent the
escape of the Vicious Dog, and to prevent the entry of persons unauthorized
by the Owner;
f)
The owner of a Vicious Dog shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the
dog is, at all times under the owner's competent care and full control as per
the provisions of this Bylaw.
g)
When a Vicious Dog is in the dwelling house of its owner, it shall be
restrained or kept confined in such a manner as to prevent the escape of
the dog and to secure the public from harm.
h)
When a Vicious Dog is not in a dwelling house it must be confined in a
secure and escape-proof enclosure that minimizes potential harm to the dog
and prevents injury to others.
i)
When a Vicious Dog is off the premises of the Owner, it shall be securely
muzzled and in a harness and controlled by the owner or a competent
person capable of controlling the Dog at all times.
j)
Owner of a Vicious Dog shall notify the Village Office immediately if the dog
is running at large.
k)
Failure to comply with all of the conditions regarding Vicious Dogs will
secure the termination and or removal of the animal in question within the
earliest hour possible by the Animal Control Officer.
l)
In addition to the remedies set forth in this bylaw, if the CAO of the Village of
Vilna or Animal Control Officer determines that a Vicious Dog is not being
kept in accordance with this Bylaw, he or she may:
i.
make a complaint pursuant to the Dangerous Dogs Act, R.S.A 2000, c
D-3, as amended for an order directing the dog be controlled or
destroyed.
m)
When the owner of a Vicious Dog produces a certificate indicating that the
dog has passed the Canine Good Neighbour's Test as per the Canadian
Kennel Club website requirements, and as administered aby a qualified
instructor, the Village may grant an exemption for the muzzling and secure
pen requirements of this Section.
12.
LIVESTOCK, EXOTIC PETS, FOWL
12.1 No person shall keep, harbor, train or breed any livestock, unapproved exotic
pets or non-domestic animals or fowl within the Village boundaries;
13.
IMPOUNDMENT
Bylaw #608-25
PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
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13.1 The Pound Keeper shall keep all impounded dogs and domestic animals for a
period of no less than 72 hours commencing from the time the dog or domestic
animal is impounded (excluding Sundays and Statutory Holidays). During this
period any healthy dog or domestic animal may be redeemed by its owner or
agent to the Owner, upon payment of the following:
a) The costs and fees as set out in Schedule "A" made payable to the Village
where applicable;
b) The appropriate registration fee made payable to the Village when the dog
is not registered as required to be registered under Section 6 of this Bylaw;
and
c) all reasonable costs incurred by the Pound Keeper which shall be paid to
the Pound Keeper directly.
13.2 The Animal Control Officer shall make reasonable attempt to ascertain the
name of the Owner of any impounded dog or domestic animal and shall attempt
to notify the Owner of the impounded dog or animal by telephone or otherwise.
13.3 At the expiration of the 72-hour period referred to in section 13(1), any dog or
animal not redeemed, gifted or sold may be destroyed.
13.4 The Animal Control Officer shall report any apparent communicable disease,
illness, injury, unhealthy conditions, or other distressful signs of any dog or
domestic animals impounded to a veterinary surgeon or the SPCA, and act
upon their recommendations. The Owner shall be responsible for all charges
resulting from any veterinary examinations of a reaction to the Owner's dog or
domestic animal.
13.5 The Animal Control Officer may retain or order the retention of any dog or
domestic animal for a longer period of impoundment if in his or her opinion, the
circumstances warrant the expense of extending the impoundment.
14.
CONTRAVENTION PROCEDURE
14.1 Contravention of this Bylaw shall result in warning notices if it is deemed that a
warning notice will be sufficient to resolve the situation, and if the issue is not
on going.
14.2 If the situation continues, or the contravention happens again, the procedure
identified under Offense Fees and Costs shall be followed.
14.3 Where a contravention of this Bylaw is of a continuing nature, further Offence
Notices for the same offence may be issued provided, however, that no more
than one Notice shall be issued for each day that the contravention continues
and provided that the time given to correct the infraction has not lapsed.
14.4 Each communication with the contravener shall be copied to the property
owner, if the contravener is not the property owner.
15.
OFFENSE FEES AND COSTS
15.1 When a bylaw is deemed to have been contravened:
a.
The complaint will be investigated,
b.
If deemed legitimate, a notice will be sent to the offender.
c.
A reasonable time shall be given to correct the infraction.
d.
If the infraction is corrected within the identified time no further action will
be taken.
15.2 If the infraction is not corrected within the stated time, the condition will be
rectified by the Village, either with Village staff or by contract.
a.
an invoice will be sent to the offender identifying the infraction and the
cost to rectify.
b.
If the property in question is rented a copy of the correspondence will be
forwarded to the owner of the property as well as the tenant.
c.
Once the condition is corrected, the Offender will be sent an invoice for
the Village costs and/or contractor costs.
d.
The Property Owner will be sent copies of these documents at the same
time.
e.
Payment of the invoice will be required within 30 days.
Bylaw #608-25
PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
Page 8 of 10
15.3 Where an Offence Notice is issued pursuant to this Bylaw the person to whom
the Offence Notice is issued shall pay the Village of Vilna a sum specified on
the Offence Notice.
15.4 Each communication with the pet owner shall be copied to the property owner,
if the pet owner is not the property owner. If the Offence Notice Invoice is not
paid within 90 days of issuance, the amount owning shall become an amount
owning to the municipality that is collectable by attaching it to the property
taxes of the property where the contravention took place.
15. SEVERABLILITY
15.1 If any provision of this Bylaw is held to be invalid by a decision of a court of
competent jurisdiction, that decision will not affect the validity of the remaining
portions or sections.
16
REPEAL
16.1 Bylaw 560-21 of the Village of Vilna is hereby repealed.
17.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF BYLAW:
17.1 This Bylaw shall take effect on the day of the final reading.
READ A FIRST TIME IN COUNCIL THIS _20th__ day of _August_ AD 2025
READ A SECOND TIME IN COUNCIL THIS _20th__ day of _August_ AD 2025
READ A THIRD AND FINAL TIME WITH THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF ALL
COUNCILLORS PRESENT THIS _20th__ day of _August_ AD 2025
________________________________
Leroy Kunyk
MAYOR
S E A L
Loni Leslie
CAO
Bylaw #608-25
PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
Page 9 of 10
SCHEDULE "A"
1.
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND FEES FOR DOGS
a)
Male Dog, neutered
$10.00
b)
Male Dog intact
$20.00
c)
Female Dog - spayed
$10.00
d)
Female Dog - unspayed
$20.00
e)
Lifetime License neutered (1a) & 1c))
$50.00
f)
Lifetime License intact or unspayed (1b) & 1d))
$100.00
g)
Service Dogs
No Charge
h)
Vicious Dog License
$200.00
2.
POUND FEES
a)
Dogs - $50.00 per day or as determined by the Pound Keeper or any part
thereof.
b)
Other Domestic Animals - $50.00 per day or as determined by the Pound
Keeper or any part thereof.
3.
ANIMAL CONTROL FEES AND COSTS
a) 1st Telephone call response to a complaint
no Charge
b) 2nd Phone call response to a complaint
$15.00
c) Physical response to a complaint
$30.00
d) 2nd Physical response to a complaint
$50.00
e) Correspondence relating to a 1st complaint
no charge
f) Correspondence relating to a 2nd complaint
$25.00
g) Subsequent correspondence
$50.00 each
h) Seizure of an animal for more 2 complaints
$100.00
4.
FEES AND CHARGES
a) All fees shall be mailed to the mailing address of the owner of the pet.
b) The notices shall be forwarded to the owner of the property if the owner of the
property is not the owner of the pet.
c) The Pet Owner shall have 30 days to pay the fees and charges.
d) Should there be fees or charges remain unpaid after 30 days, the owner of the
property shall be notified, and the fees and charges shall be attached to the
property and collected in the manner as taxes.
Bylaw #608-25
PET OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
Page 10 of 10
SCHEDULE "B"
FEES FOR OFFENCES
OFFENCE
FIRST
SECOND
THIRD &SUBSEQUENT
Allowing dog to run at large
$25.00
$50.00
$75.00
(Section 8: 8.3)
Harbouring an Unregistered Dog.
$20.00
$35.00
$50.00
(Section 6; 6.1)
Dog or Domestic Animal
$50.00
$70.00
$90.00
disturbing the peace of other persons
(Section 8;)
Female dog in heat not confined
$20.00
$30.00
$50.00
(Section 8; 8.6)
Dog or Domestic Animal being a
$50.00
$70.00
$90.00
public nuisance
(Section 8;)
Tormenting a dog or
$50.00
$75.00
$100.00
domestic animal (Section 10;)
Operation of Kennel
$50.00
$75.00
$100.00
(Section 7;)
Failure to Register
$25.00
(Section 6;)
Failure to maintain in force
$1,500.00
a policy of Liability Insurance
(Section 11.3)
Failure to care for and/or contain a
dog or domestic animal in distress from
$500.00
disease, illness, injury unhealthy conditions
(Section 13.4)
Failure to confine a
$500.00
Vicious Dog when on the
premises of the Owner
(Section 11)
Failure to muzzle or otherwise secure
$500.00
a Vicious Dog when off the premises
of the Owner
(Section 11.3(i))
If a Domestic animal bites or attacks a
person or other animal, causing injury,
the Owner shall be subject to a fine of
$1,500.00
(Section 8.5);
Failure to obtain and keep in force
$500.00
a Vicious Dog License
(Schedule "A" 1(f))