This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot 89cbdb6f56bb · verified 2026-10-26 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MELANCTHON
BY-LAW No._ [1-003
Being a by-law to provide for the licencing, registration and regulation of dogs and kennels
and for the determination of compensation to be allowed for impounding and detaining of
, dogs and to repeal By-law No. 54-1999 in its entirety.
WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Melancthon pursuant to the
Provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001, and amendments thereto has authority to enact this
y-law.
WHEREAS the additional related powers are granted in the Dog Owners' Liability Act,
R.S.O. 1990, c.D.16, the Livestock, Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990,
c.L.24 and the Pounds Act, R.S.O. 1990. c. P.47.
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Melancthon enacts
as follows: .
1. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this by-law, .
- 1.1. "Canine Control Officer" means:
(a) | aperson or class of person designated as such by a by-law of the
Township;
(b) any person, company, corporation or association providing a dog control
service by contract to the Township;
(c) any employee, agent, servant and representative of such person, company,
corporation or association, and;
(d) | any member of the police force of the Township.
. 1.2 "Blind Person" means a person to whom an identification card has been issued by
the Attorney General or an officer of this Ministry, pursuant to the provisions of
Section 4 of the Blind Person's Rights Act, R.S.O., 1980, C.44.
1.3. "Dog" means a male or female dog over the age of twelve (12) weeks but does not
include a guide dog.
1.4 "Guide Dog" means a dog which serves as a guide or leader for a blind person and
which has been especially trained for that purpose.
1.5 "Dwelling Unit" means a room or suite of two or more rooms designed or intended
for residential use by a person or persons in which culinary and sanitary
conveniences are provided for the exclusive use of such person or persons and
having a private entrance from outside or from a common hallway or stairway inside
and which is located in a residentially zoned part of the Township.
1.6 "Kennel" means that part of a building or structure or premises where dogs are kept
for purposes of breeding or boarding.
1.7 "Lead" means a chain, rope or other device of not more than 1.83 meters in length
which is, can be, or is designed to be held by the Owner and is used or designed
to be used to restrain a Dog.
1.8 "Licence" means a licence issued pursuant to the by-law. .
1.9 "Owner" includes a person possessing or harboring a dog within the Township and
where the owner is a minor, the person responsible for the custody of the minor.
to, 1.10 "Restrained" means being kept inside a building or house or in a humane enclosure
pen of sufficient dimension and strength and to prevent a Dog from coming into
contact with persons other than the Owner of the Dog or any other Domestic Animal
or within a securely fenced yard where the fence is a minimum height of 1.83
1
metres. The enclosed pen of the fenced yard shall be equipped with a locking cs
device and self-latching device that is at least 1.5 metres above the ground.
1.11 "Tag" means a disc or other shape of metal or plastic furnished by the Township as
hereinafter provided and suitable to be securely fixed on a dog.
1.12 "Township" or "Municipality" means the Corporation of the Township of Melancthon.
1.13 "Veterinarian" means a person registered to practice veterinary science under the
Veterinarians Act, R.S.O. 1999, c.V.3.
1.14 "Vicious Dog" means a Dog which has bitten a person or Domestic Animal or which
has been declared by the Bylaw Officer or Animal Control Officer to be a Vicious
Dog or which has been found by a court to be a vicious or dangerous Dog.
1.15 "Aggressive Dog" means a Dog that has chased or approached any person or
persons in a menacing fashion or where the dog has inflicted injury by biting,
attacking or killing a domestic animal, where the domestic animal so bitten, attacked
or killed was not the property of the dog owner, or the person harboring the dog.
1.16 "Working Dog" means any dog used for a specific purpose ie - sled dogs, sheep
dogs, hunting dogs
1.17 "Clerk" means Clerk of the Corporation of the Township of Melancthon, not
) withstanding that this person may also be the treasurer of the said corporation.
1.18 "Treasurer" means Treasurer of the Township of Melancthon, not withstanding that
this person may also be the clerk of the said corporation.
2. LICENCING
2.1. Every owner of one or more dogs shall register on or before the 1° day of April in
each year each dog owned by him/her in the Corporation of the Township of
Melancthon with the Clerk or someone designated by him/her and at that time pay
to the Treasurer the licence fee prescribed in Schedule A attached hereto and forms
part of this by-law.
2.2 Every Licence issued pursuant to this section shall expire on the 31° day of
December in the year which it was issued.
2.3. Every owner may or shall file with the Clerk or someone designated by him/her a
recent photograph of each dog with description sufficient to identify such dog,
together with the name and address of the owner. The Clerk or someone :
designated by him/her shall issue to such owner a receipt acknowledging
registration of the dog and payment of the licence fee.
2.4 Upon payment of the licence fee for a dog the Clerk of the Municipality or someone
designated by hinV/her shall provide the owner with a dog tag and the owner shall
keep the tag securely fixed on the dog at all times until the tag is renewed or
replaced. The tag shall bear the serial number and the year it was issued.
3. CANINE CONTROL
3.1. For the purpose of this section, a dog shall be deemed to be running at large when
found in any place other than the premises of the owner of the dog and not under
control of any person.
3.2. Every person having contro! of a dog in a place other than his/her premises or the
premises of the owner shall secure the dog to a lead and shall keep hold of such
lead.
; 3.3. No owner of a dog shall allow the dog to run at large within the limits of the
. Municipality.
Exception: Dogs being used for legitimate hunting purposes;
Police Working Dogs, Guide Dogs and Working Dogs
2
3.5 No owner shall allow his/her dog to become a nuisance by excessive barking or
howling. Any person aggrieved by such a nuisance may appear before a Justice
of the Peace and swear out an information charging such Owner with a Breach of
this Section.
3.6 Not withstanding the provision of Section 3.5, a Canine Control Officer appointed
to enforce this by-law, may on reasonable and probable grounds lay an information
before a Justice of the Peace charging the dog owner with a breach of this Section.
3.7 Every owner of a dog or person who harbors a dog and allows it to run at large
contrary to Section 3.3 or permits his/her dog to become a nuisance under Section
3.5 of this By-law is guilty of an offence and upon conviction is liable up to six
months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000.00 inclusive of costs recoverable under
the Provincial Offences Act.
3.8 | Acanine control officer may seize and impound any dog found running at large and
deliver the dog to the pound. The canine control officer shall notify the Clerk of the
Municipality when a dog has been delivered to the pound. A citizen shall notify the
Clerk of the Municipality prior to delivering a dog to the pound to get Clerk's
permission. The Council of the Municipality shall, from time to time, designate a
place or places, within or outside the municipality as the Township of Melancthon
pound or pounds.
(a) No person shall keep anymore than three (3) dogs unless a kennel licence
has been obtained from the Municipality.
3.9 | The pound keeper shall restore possession of the dog to the owner only where:
(a) | The owner claims possession of the dog within five (5) days after the date of
seizure and impounding; and
(b} The owner may redeem such dog by paying to the pound keeper the sum of
$25.00 for the 1* day and $15.00 per day thereafter until the dog has been
impounded for 5 days.
(c) | The person redeeming such dog purchases a tag from Melancthon Township
Municipal Office or produces a current tag if previously purchased.
3.10 Where, on the fifth day, after the date of seizure and impounding, possession of the
dog has not been restored to the owner under Section 3.9, a pound keeper may in
his discretion:
(a) sell the dog; release it to a suitable new owner with appropriate fees;
(b) or destroy the dog in a humane manner;
and no damage or compensation shall be recovered or recoverable on account of
its disposition or destruction.
3.11 Where a dog seized or impounded is injured or should be destroyed without delay
for humane reasons or for reasons of safety to persons or animals, a canine control
officer or pound keeper may destroy the dog in a humane manner as soon after
seizure as he sees fit without permitting any person to claim possession of the dog
and without offering it for sale and no damages or compensation shall be recovered
or recoverable on account of its destruction. Whenever feasible, the canine control
officer shall seek an opinion as to the need to destroy the dog, for humane reasons,
from a veterinarian and where the owner is known, said owner is responsible for
professional fees charged by the attending veterinarian.
4. KENNELS
4.1 No person shall own, operate, manage, control or supervise any kennel except in
accordance with this by-law.
4.2 The owner of a breeding kennel or a boarding kennel shall:
3
(a) be a member of the Canadian Kennel Club; mo
(b) obtain a kennel licence from the Council before the 1* day of April in each
year;
(c) asa prerequisite to obtaining a kennel licence, the owner shall:
(i) have the kennel inspected by a canine control officer;
(ii) pay the annual licence fee contained in this by-law.
4.3. Each kennel shall:
(a) Be soundly constructed;
(b) Provide sufficient space therein for the dog or dogs which are kept therein
to stand and lie in comfort;
(c) Be kept in a sanitary, well ventilated, clean condition and free of offensive
odors;
(d) Contain therein facilities to which each dog has adequate access for fresh
water for drinking;
(e) Be kept at a reasonable temperature and be adequately ventilated having
regard to the season or weather conditions;
(f) Be constructed so as to ensure that each dog kept therein shall have space
for adequate exercise either within the kennel or adjacent thereto;
(g) | The manner is which dog excrement will be disposed of shall be done in
accordance with safe practices approved by the canine control officer.
4.4 Dogs shall not be kept in larger numbers than may be adequately cared for upon
the premises and they shall be in charge or care of the owner, or owner or operator
of the kennel or of a responsible person designated by the owner or operator.
4.5 The by-law enforcement officer or any other officer of the peace having jurisdiction
within the Municipality may enter the kennel and inspect such kennel, only after
consulting with the owner and during daytime hours, to ensure compliance with this
by-law.
4.6 The kennel operator shall at all times take the necessary steps to prevent a
nuisance by undue noise caused by the barking of dogs housed within the kennel.
4.7 Each owner or operator of a kennel! shall keep a record of the following at the
kennel:
(a) | the name and address of each owner of each dog at the kennel;
(b) the date of arrival and departure of each dog.
(c) any appropriate registration or licensing identification
4.8 | The owner of a kennel shall keep each dog confined within the kennel unless such
dog is out with and under the control of the said owner or some person designated
by him to have such control, pursuant to Section 3.2
Exception: Dogs being used for legitimate hunting purposes.
4.9 A licence may be revoked upon any breach of any of the regulations contained in
this by-law.
4.10 No kennel licence issued pursuant to this by-law may be transferred.
4.11 The owner of a breeding and boarding kennel! shall pay an annual licence fee of
$150.00.
4.12 The owner of dogs used for legitimate hunting purposes shall pay an annual licence
fee of $50.00.
5, VICIOUS or AGGRESSIVE DOGS
5.1. (a) The Canine Control Officer or Officer shall be empowered to declare that a
Dog is vicious or aggressive upon:
(i) receipt of a signed declaration in the form attached hereto as
Schedule "B', by a person who saw the vicious or aggressive Dog
attack or by a person who was attacked by the Dog.
(b) The By-law Enforcement Officer, Police Officer or Canine Control Officer
may within two days of receipt of declaration, excluding Saturdays, Sundays
and Statutory holidays, deliver or send by registered mail a Notice to Muzzle,
in the form attached hereto as Schedule "C" to the Owner of the Vicious or
Aggressive Dog required that the dog be muzzled and restrained pursuant
to the provisions of this by-law.
5.2 (a) Where the dog has been declared vicious by the By-law Enforcement
Officer, Police Officer or Canine Control Officer, pursuant to the provisions
of this by-lay, the owner of the dog may apply for a hearing is respect of such
Notice to Muzzle.
(b) An application stating the reason or reasons for appealing the Notice to
Muzzle and requesting a hearing under Subsection 5.2 (a) shall be made in
writing and delivered by personal service or registered mail to the Clerk of
the Municipality within fifteen (15) days after the Notice to Muzzle has been
mailed to the owner.
(c) Upon receipt of the application for a hearing from an owner service with a
Notice to Muzzle, the Council of the Municipality shall convene a meeting of
the Appeal Committee and shall give the Owner of the Dog and the person
who signed the Declaration pursuant to Section 5.1 seven (7) days written
notice by personal service or registered mail of the time, date and location
of the hearing.
(d) The Municipality, the Owner of the Dog and the person that signed the
Declaration pursuant to Section 5.1 shall, if they so desire, be parties to the
hearing. The Appeal Committee may permit, in its sole discretion, any other
person to be a party to the hearing.
(e) Any party and any other interested person may appear at the hearing and
present oral or written evidence relating to the alleged vicious or aggressive
Dog attack.
(f) When any party, including the Owner of the Dog, does not attend at the
proper time and place, the appeal Committee may proceed with the hearing
in the absence of any party and the party that did not attend shail not be
entitled to any further notice of the proceedings.
5.3 (a) | When this by-law takes effect, an Appeal Committee shall be appointed by
Council of the Corporation of the Township of Melancthon.
(b) |The Appeal Committee shall deliberate the merits of the evidence presented
and shall render its decision orally at the meeting or shall reserve its decision
to be issued later in writing, which shall not be later than five (5) days
following the date of hearing.
(c) The decision of the Appeal Committee is final and binding.
(d) The Appeal Committee may confirm the Notice to Muzzle, exempt the Dog
from any requirement to be muzzled, require restraining or leashing
requirements that are more or less stringent than those set out in this by-law
or make any other order that the Appeal Committee deems just, or make any
other order that the Appeal Committee deems just, or may dispose of the
appeal on Consent of all parties.
(e) The Appeal Committee may not order that the Dog be destroyed and it may
not order that the Owner sell or otherwise dispose of the Dog.
(f) The Notice of the hearing or any matter which arises relating to the
proceedings of the Appeal Commitiee and not set out in the provisions of this
by-law shall be governed by the Statutory Powers and Procedures Act.
(g) Notwithstanding that an Owner has applied for a hearing to appeal the Notice
to Muzzle, the Notice to Muzzle takes effect when it is served upon the
Owner and remains in effect until the Appeal Committee renders or issues
its decision, which occurs first.
(h) If the Appeal Committee renders an oral decision, a written copy of the oo
decision of the Appeal Committee shall be prepared, as soon as is
practicable jafter the conclusion of the hearing, and shall be delivered or
mailed by ordinary mail to the last known address of the Owner, the Police,
the Public Health Department, the Animal Shelter, By-law Enforcement, and
Township pane
5.4 The Owner ofa "P upon being served with a Notice to Muzzle, shail ensure that:
(a) -- while the Dog on the property of the Owner, the Owner shall keep the Dog
restrained i all times.
(b) | when the Dog is not on the property of the Owner, the Owner shall ensure
that: |
(a) the 3 is securely on a collar-type leash with a maximum length of
1 metre and of sufficient strength to restrain the Dog and keep it from
chasing a person or Domestic Animal;
|
(b) the Qwner has fastened a Muzzle humanely over the mouth of the
Dog of adequate strength and design and suitability to the breed of
the dog that fits over the mouth of the Dog and cannot be removed by
the Dog, to prevent the Dog from biting or attacking a person or
Dompst Animal;
(c) the Deg is under the control of a person sixteen (16) year of age or
onl
(c) within thirty (30) days after the date of the issuance of the Notice of Muzzle,
or the date of the release of the written decision of the Appeal Committee's
decision, if ary whichever date is later, the Dog is identified with a Microchip
implantation, at the Owner's expense, and the said Microchip number is
registered si the Municipality;
{d) the By-Law Enforcement Officer, Police or Canine Control Officer is notified
within eryran (48) hours of any changes to the residency of the Dog;
(e} the By-Law Enforcement Officer, Police or Canine Control! Officer is notified
within foreign (48) hours after the Ownership of the Dog is transferred;
(f) the By-Law Enforcement Officer, Police or Canine Control Officer is notified
within ten m days after the dog has died.
6. SHORT TITLE |
6.1 This by-law shall be known as the "The Canine By-law" of the Township of
Melancthon.
7. EFFECTIVE DAT
8.1 This by-law shall take effect and come into force on the date of passing.
By-Law read a first and si time this Sth day of Ture , 2003
By-Law read a third time yy StA dayof ~Juar , 2003
I - .
REEVE CLERK
|
6
- SCHEDULE "A" TO BY-LAW No. 17-2204
1) Fee for the first dog, if only one dog is kept. $20.00
2) Fee for the second dog harboured or maintained
in any one household. $25.00
3) Fee for the third dog harboured or maintained in
any one household. $60.00
4) An additional fee of $10.00 will be charged for
each dog which has not been spayed or neutered.
SCHEDULE "B" TO BY-LAW No. _[~7- AOA SO ,
DECLARATION REGARDING A VICIOUS DOG
Owner of Dog:
Mailing Address:
Municipal Address:
Name of Dog: Dog Tag #:
Breed: Gender:
Colour:
Other: ee
Rabies Tag #: Other identification:
Location of incident:____
Description of Incident:____>_EE
Date of Incident: Time of Incident:
Signature of Witness who actually saw the alleged Date
Vicious Dog bite a person or Domestic Animal
Signature of Bylaw Enforcement Officer,
Police Officer or Canine Control! Officer
Name of Witness: a
(Please Print)
Address of Witness: See
Telephone Number of Witness: WH |
Personal information contained in this form is collected under the authority of the
Municipal Act. R.S.O., 1990, c.M..45 as amended, and will only be used for the purpose
for which it was collected, Questions about this collection of information should be
directed to the Clerk for the Corporation of the Township of Melancthon, R.R. # 6,
Shelburne, Ontario LON 189, (519) 925-5525 or Fax (519) 925-11
8
SCHEDULE "CTO BY-LAW No. _[7-ao0a
NOTICE TO MUZZLE
To: a Date:
(Owner of Dog)
Address:
Description of Dog:
Name:
Breed: Colour::
Dog Tag: Year of Dog Tag:
Rabies Tag No. Including the Year:
Veterinary's Office: _
Tattoo No: Microchip No:
The Corporation of the Township of Melancthon is in receipt of a Declaration duly
executed by a Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Police Officer or Canine Control Officer
pursuant to Section 4.1 (a)(i) of bylaw # , that the Dog described above did on
the day of bite a person or Domestic Animal. In accordance
with 6.4 of bylaw # , you are hereby ordered to restrain your Dog as follows:
METHOD OF RESTRAINING DOG
While the Dog is on the property of the Owner, the Owner shail restrain the dog by
keeping it inside a building or house or in an enclosed pen of sufficient dimension and
strength to prevent the Dog from coming into contact with persons other than the Owner
of the Dog or any other Domestic Animal or within a securely fenced yard where the
fence is a minimum height of 1.83 metres. The enclosed pen or the fence yard shall be
equipped with a locking device and self- latching device that is at least 1.5 metres
above the ground.
While the Dog is not on the property of the Owner, the Owner shall ensure that:
1) it is securely on a collar-type leash with a maximum length of 1 metre and of
sufficient strength to restrain the Dog and keep from chasing a person or
Domestic Animal:
2) by fastening a Muzzle humanely over the mouth of a Dog of adequate strength
and design and suitable to the breed of the Dog that fits over the mouth of a Dog
3) it is under the contro! of a person sixteen (16) years of age or older.
4) within thirty (30) days after the date of the issuance of the Notice of Muzzle, or
the date of the release of the written decision of the Appeal Committee's
decision, if any, whichever date is later, the dog is identified with a Microchip
implantation, at the Owner's expense, and the said Microchip number is
registered with the Animal Control Officer.
5) the Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Police and Animal Control Officer is notified
within forty-eight (48) hours of any changes to the residency of the Dog;
6) the Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Police and Animal Control Officer is notified
within forty-eight (48) hours after the ownership of the Dog is transferred:
Right of Appeal
In accordance with Subsection 6.2(b), you may appeal this Notice to Muzzle to the
Appeal Committee of the Council of the Corporation of Township of Melancthon. This
notice was mailed to you on ; . Subsection 6.2(b) of bylaw
states as follows:
An Application stating the reason or reasons for appealing the Notice to Muzzle
and requesting a hearing under Subsection 6.2(a) shall be made in writing and
delivered by personal service or registered mail to the Town Clerk of the Town within
fifteen (15) days after the Notice to Muzzle has been mailed to the Owner.
Your application must be addressed to the Clerk-Treasurer of the Corporation of the
Township of. Melancthon, R.R. #6, Shelburne, Ontario LON 1S9.
Personal information contained in this form is collected under the authority of the
Municipal Act. R.S.O., 1990, c.M..45 as amended, and will only be used for the purpose
for which it was collected, Questions about this collection of information should be
directed to the Clerk for the Corporation of the Township of Melancthon, R.R. # 6,
Shelburne, Ontario LON 1S9, (519) 925-5525 or Fax (519) 925-1110.
This Notice is served upon the Owner in accordance with Subsection 6.1(b) of bylaw
on this day of : .
Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Police Officer or Animal Contro! Officer 7