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CONSOLIDATED
TOWN OF RENFREW
DOG BY-LAW BY-LAW 17-2000
A by-law to regulate the keeping and control of dogs; the licencing and restraint of dogs;
the taking up and impoundment; the quarantining and destruction of dogs in certain
instances and other aspects of animal control within
the Town of Renfrew
PASSED FEBRUARY 14, 2000
AMENDMENTS
DATE
AMENDING BY-LAW
AMENDMENT(s)
October 12, 2010
By-Law 48-2010
Part 1; Part 3 (e) (i) & (ii); Part 3
(v); Part 4 (i); Part 15 (a)
CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF RENFREW
BY-LAW NO. 17-2000
Being a By-Law to regulate the keeping and control of
dogs; the licencing and restraint of dogs; the taking up
and impoundment; the quarantining and destruction of
dogs in certain instances and other aspects of animal
control within the Town of Renfrew,
and to rescind By-Law 31-97
WHEREAS Section 210.11 of the Municipal Act, RSO 1990 permits the council of every
municipality to licence, regulate, and require the registration of dogs and for imposing a licencing
fee on the owners of them; and
WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Renfrew deems it expedient and in the
public interest to enact a By-law to regulate and licence dogs in the Town of Renfrew.
NOW THEREFORE the Corporation of the Town of Renfrew enacts as follows:
1.
DEFINITIONS
As used in this By-Law, the following terms shall have the meaning hereinafter ascribed to
them:
Animal means a domestic dog and/or domestic cat
(B/L 48-2010)
Service Dog means a dog trained at a recognized school for service as a guide
dog for the blind or visually impaired and/or for the deaf or hearing impaired.
(B/L 48-2010)
a)
Animal Control Officer - Shall mean the person designated by the Council of the
Corporation of the Town of Renfrew to enforce this By-Law, or his/her servants or
agents.
b)
Animal Shelter - Any premises designated by the Corporation for the purposes of
impounding and caring for animals taken up by the agents of the Corporation in
violation of this By-Law.
c)
At Large - Any dog shall be deemed at large when it is off the property of his/her
owner, and not under control of a person.
d)
Corporation - Shall mean the Corporation of the Town of Renfrew.
e)
Dangerous Dog - Means a dog which has, without provocation, attacked or bitten a
person or other domesticated animal.
f)
Dog - The male and female of the domesticated canine species.
g)
Exposed to Rabies - An animal has been exposed to rabies within the meaning of
this By-Law if it has been bitten by any animals known or suspected of having been
infected with rabies.
h)
Kennel - Any person, group of persons, partnership, or corporation engaged in the
commercial business of breeding, buying, selling or boarding dogs.
i)
Mature Dog - Any dog older than three (3) months.
j)
Ownership - Includes a person who possesses or harbours a dog, and where the
owner is a minor, the person responsible for the custody of the minor.
k)
Potentially Dangerous Dog - A dog that in the absence of any mitigating factor,
chases or approaches any person or domestic animal, anywhere other than on the
property of its owner, in a menacing fashion, or apparent attitude of attack, including,
but nor limited to growling or snarling.
l)
Pet Shop - Any person, group of persons, partnership or corporation operating an
establishment where live animals and birds are kept and offered for sale.
m)
Leash - Includes any form of lead or restraint, not to exceed two (2) metres in length,
and of adequate strength to restrain the animal.
n)
Muzzle - A humane fastening or covering device of adequate strength placed over
the mouth to prevent a dog from biting.
o)
Veterinary Hospital - An establishment maintained and operated by a licenced
veterinarian for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of animals and
birds.
2.
ENFORCEMENT
a)
The provisions of this By-Law shall be enforced by the person designated as Animal
Control Officer by the Municipal Council of the Corporation, and any servant or agent
of such person, any Police Officer, or By-Law Enforcement Officer.
3.
LICENCE/FEES
a)
Annually, immediately following the first day of January, an owner of any dog shall
cause it to be registered, numbered, described and licenced for a period of one year
thereafter in the offices of the Town of Renfrew and shall cause the said dog when
on or off the premises of the owner thereof, but within the said Town, to wear around
its neck a collar, to which collar shall be attached a plate having raised, cast or
stamped thereon figures indicating the year for which the said licence has been paid,
together with a number corresponding with the number under which the said dog is
registered in the offices of the Town of Renfrew. Every such owner shall pay for
such licence, plate and registration, the sum hereinafter set out and every such
licence shall expire on the 31st day of December in the year of purchase.
b)
Licences may be purchased directly from the Town of Renfrew or such agents of the
Town as may be designated by the Corporation.
c)
The owner shall state their name and address and the name, breed, sex, colour and
age of the dog.
d)
A numbered receipt and tag shall be issued to the owner or applicant at the time
at which the licence fee is paid.
e)
Annually, immediately following the 1st day of January in every year, the owner shall
pay to the Corporation the following licence fee:
January 1st - March 31st
April 1st - December 31st
Each animal up to a
maximum of four (4) per
household
$10.00 / animal
$12.00 / animal
Each animal in excess of
four
(4)
animals
per
household
$15.00 / animal
$18.00 / animal
Service Dogs
$0 / animal
$0 / animal
i)
$10.00 for each dog, to a maximum of four (4) dogs per owner, if paid on
or before the 31st day of March in the year of issuance.
ii)
$12.00 for each dog, to a maximum of four (4) dogs per owner, if paid after
the 31st day of March in the year of issuance.
(B/L 48-2010)
iii)
In the event that the tag shall become lost, the owner of the dog for which a tag
was issued may obtain a duplicate tag upon the payment of a fee of $1.00.
iv) There shall be no charge if there is a change of ownership of a dog during the
licence year. The new owner may have the current licence transferred to
his/her name.
v)
Owners are required to register their service dog with the Corporation of
the Town of Renfrew on an annual basis. Owners must provide the Town
with a copy of the animal's certification at the time the animal is
registered.
(B/L 48-2010)
4.
DUTY OF OWNER
a)
No person shall own, keep, or harbour any mature dog within the limits of the Town
of Renfrew, unless such dog is licenced as herein provided.
b)
No person shall operate a Kennel as defined in this By-Law within the Corporate
boundaries of the Town of Renfrew.
c)
No person shall use for any dog, a licence receipt, or a licence tag issued for another
dog.
d)
The owner of any dog shall not permit such dog to run at large at any time, in any
public park, square, drive, street, lane, or any other public place in the Town of
Renfrew, or upon any property not owned or leased by the dog owner.
e)
Any person having the care and custody of a dog shall maintain effective control of
the animal by means of a leash, while not on the property of the owner. In this
context, effective control means a physical attachment (i.e. a leash), between the
person and the dog.
f)
Any owner of a dog, or person having care and custody of a dog shall forthwith
remove and dispose of any excrement left by the dog on any property in the Town
other than the owner's property.
g)
No owner, or person having the care and custody of the dog, shall permit said dog to
attack any person, domestic animal, or domestic bird, or to fight with another dog.
h)
No owner, or person having the care and custody of any dog or dogs, shall permit
them to become a nuisance by excessive or unnecessary barking, or making undue
noise at any time.
i)
There shall be no more than four (4) animals kept or harboured at any one
household at any time.
(B/L 48-2010)
5.
IMPOUNDMENT
a)
Unlicenced dogs shall be taken up by the agents of the Corporation and impounded
in the Animal Shelter, and there confined in a humane manner for a period of not
less than three days (72 hours).
b)
Dogs not claimed by their owners at the expiration of the said three days shall
become the property of the Corporation and be humanely disposed of as hereinafter
provided.
c)
Immediately upon the impoundment of a dog, the agents of the Corporation shall
make every possible effort to notify the owner of such dog impounded, and inform
such owner of the conditions whereby they may regain custody of the animal.
d)
When dogs are found running at large and their ownership can be ascertained by
the Animal Control Officer, such dogs need not be impounded, but the Animal
Control Officer may, in his/her discretion, take the dogs to their owners, and may cite
such offending owners for violations of the provisions of this By-law.
e)
When impounded dogs are not claimed by their owners within the time specified by
this By-Law, if deemed suitable as pets, they may be placed with new owners who
will agree to such conditions as the Corporation shall prescribe.
f)
Where a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog has been impounded for any
reason, the Animal Control Officer shall not restore the said dog to its owner, or to
any other person, unless the Animal Control Officer is satisfied that the person to
whom the dog is to be restored is aware of and in compliance with the relevant
provisions of this By-law.
g)
Where the owner of a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog that has been
impounded is unable to demonstrate compliance with the relevant provisions of this
By-law to the reasonable satisfaction of the Animal Control Officer, or refuses to do
so, the Animal Control Officer, after a reasonable period of time, may dispose of the
dog in accordance with the provisions of this By-Law.
h)
When in the judgement of the Animal Control Officer or his agents a dog should be
destroyed for humane reasons, such dog may not be redeemed.
i)
Any dog found running at large will be liable to be captured, impounded, and
disposed of as herein provided.
6.
REDEMPTION OF IMPOUNDED DOGS
a)
The owner shall be entitled to regain possession of any impounded dog within three
(3) days, except as hereinafter provided in the cases of certain dogs, and upon
compliance with the licence provisions of Section 3 of this By-Law and the payment
of impoundment fees set forth herein.
b)
Any dog impounded under the provisions of this By-Law and not reclaimed by its
owner shall become the property of the Corporation after three (3) days and may be
disposed of in a humane manner.
7.
IMPOUNDMENT FEES
a)
Any dog impounded hereunder may be reclaimed as provided for herein upon
payment by the owner to the Corporation of the sum of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per
day for each animal, and the owner shall prior to securing the release of the
impounded animal obtain a licence and produce a receipt from the Corporation to
the Animal Control Officer.
8.
CONFINEMENT OF CERTAIN DOGS
a)
The owner, or person having the care and custody, shall confine within a building
or secure enclosure, any dangerous or potentially dangerous dog and not take
such dog out of such building or secure enclosure unless such dog is securely
muzzled and leashed.
9.
RABIES CONTROL
a)
Every dog which bites a person shall be promptly reported to the Health of Animals
Branch of the Federal Department of Agriculture, or its agent, and shall thereupon be
securely quarantined and shall not be released from such quarantine except by
written permission of the Medical Officer of Health, or his/her agent. Such
quarantine may be on the premises of the owner, at the shelter designated as the
Town Animal Shelter, or at the owner's option and expense, in a veterinary hospital
of his/her choice. In the case of stray dogs, or in the case of dogs whose ownership
is not known, such quarantine shall be at the Town Animal Shelter.
b)
Every dog over the age of three (3) months shall be inoculated with an anti-rabies
vaccine. The Animal Control Officer may require an owner to produce a certificate
signed by a practicing veterinarian that the dog has been inoculated within the past
thirty-six (36) months.
c)
Every dog owner, upon demand made by the Corporation, shall forthwith surrender
any animal which has bitten a human, or which is suspected as having been
exposed to rabies, for supervised quarantine, which expense shall be borne by the
owner.
d)
During a period of rabies quarantine every animal bitten by a dog adjudged to be
rabid, shall be forthwith destroyed, or at the owner's option and expense shall be
treated for rabies infection by a licenced veterinarian, or held under thirty (30) days
quarantine in the same manner as other animals are quarantined.
e)
The carcass of any dead dog exposed to rabies shall upon demand be surrendered
to the Corporation or its agents.
f)
The Corporation or its agents shall direct the disposition of any dog found to be
infected with rabies, subject to the direction of the Medical Officer of Health.
g)
No person shall fail or refuse to surrender any dog for quarantine or destruction as
required herein when such a demand is made by the Corporation or its agents.
10.
REPORTS OF BITE CASES
a)
It shall be the duty of every physician, or other practitioner, to report to the Renfrew
County and District Health Unit, names and addresses or persons treated for bites
inflicted by dogs, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies
control.
11.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF VETERINARIANS
a)
It shall be the duty of every licenced veterinarian to report to the Health of Animals
Branch of the Department of Agriculture his/her diagnosis of any dog observed by
him/her as a rabies suspect.
12.
DESTRUCTION/DISPOSAL
a)
Any dog found running at large, if apparently diseased, injured, dangerous, or
adjudged potentially dangerous, may be destroyed by the Animal Control Officer or
Police Officer at his/her discretion, rather than being delivered to the Animal Shelter.
b)
Where an dog which has been seized, is injured, or should be destroyed without
delay for humane reasons, the Animal Control Officer may dispose of the animal in a
humane manner as soon after seizure as he/she thinks fit without permitting any
person to reclaim the dog, or without offering it for sale, and no damages or
compensations shall be recovered on account of such disposition.
13.
DOGS PROHIBITED
a)
A person who owns or harbours a dog or dogs with the exception of a Guide Dog or
Police Work Dog shall, within the Town of Renfrew, not permit it or them to enter any
premises or area where food, groceries, or like perishable goods are offered to the
public for sale, and for greater clarity, but without restricting the generality of the
foregoing, such premises or areas shall include:
i)
A grocery store or supermarket;
ii)
A restaurant, dining room, lunch bar or cafeteria;
iii)
A beverage room, or liquor lounge;
iv)
A bakery, meat shop or delicatessen;
v)
A market area, vegetable or fruit stand.
14.
EXCEPTIONS
a)
Hospitals, clinics and other premises operated by licenced veterinarians for the care
and treatment of animals are exempt from the provisions of this By-Law, except
where such duties are expressly stated.
b)
The licencing requirements of this By-Law shall not apply to any dog belonging to a
non-resident of the town, and kept within the Town for not longer than thirty days,
provided such dog shall at all times while in the Town be kept within a building or
vehicle, or be under restraint by the Owner.
15.
INVESTIGATION
a)
For the purpose of discharging the duties imposed by this By-Law, and to
enforce its provisions, any agent of the Corporation, or any Police Officer, is
empowered to enter upon any premises upon which a dog is kept or
harboured and to demand the exhibition by the owner of such dog or the
licence of such dog. It is further provided that any agent of the Corporation
may enter the premises where any dog is kept in a reportedly cruel or
inhumane manner, or is in distress, and demand to examine such animal, and
to take possession of such animal, when in his/her opinion, it requires
humane treatment.
(B/L 48-2010)
b)
Any Officer having jurisdiction in the area shall have and may exercise any of the
powers of an inspector or agent of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals Act, R.S.O. 1990.
16.
INTERFERENCE
a)
No person shall interfere with, hinder or molest any agent of the Corporation in the
performance of any duty of such agent, or seek to release any animal in the custody
of the Corporation or its agents, except as herein provided.
b)
For the purpose of discharging the duties imposed by this By-Law, and to enforce its
provisions, the Corporation shall engage the necessary personnel, equipment,
vehicles and facilities necessary to administer the same.
c)
The Corporation or its agent shall keep, or cause to be kept, accurate and detailed
records of the licencing, impoundment and disposition of all animals coming into its
custody.
d)
The Corporation or its agents shall keep, or cause to be kept accurate and detailed
records of all dog bite cases reported to it and its investigation of same.
17.
PENALTIES
a)
Every person who contravenes any provision of this by-law is guilty of an offence and
upon conviction, is liable to a fine as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act.
b)
Each day a contravention continues may be deemed to be a separate offence.
18.
REPEALS
1.
THAT any and all By-Laws of the Corporation relating to the keeping, licencing,
restraining and quarantine of dogs are hereby repealed.
2.
THAT By-Law 31-97 be and is hereby repealed.
19.
SEVERABILITY
a)
If any section, clause or provision of this By-Law is for any reason declared by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of
the By-Law as a whole, or any part thereof, other than the section, clause or
provision so declared to be invalid and it is hereby declared to be the intention that all
the remaining sections, clauses or provisions of this By-Law shall remain in full force
and effect until repealed, notwithstanding that one or more provisions thereof shall
have been declared to be invalid.
20.
THAT this By-Law shall come into force and take effect immediately upon the passing
thereof.
Read a first and second time this 14th day of February, 2000.
Read a third time and finally passed this 14th day of February, 2000.
........................................................................
.......................................................................
Sandra J. Heins, Mayor
Timothy J. Simpson, Clerk
BY-LAW 17-2000 - DOG CONTROL BY-LAW
SCHEDULE "A"
Set Fines for Use under Part I
of the Provincial Offences Act
ITEM
COLUMN 1
COLUMN 2
COLUMN 3
Set Fine
(Includes Costs)
1.
Own, Keep or Harbour
4 (a)
$55
Unlicensed Dog
2.
Operate Illegal Kennel
4 (b)
$155
3.
Misuse of Dog Licence or
Receipt
4 (c)
$155
4.
Owner - Permit Dog to Run at
Large
4 (d)
$55
5.
Dog - Not Under Control
4 (e)
$55
6.
Fail to Pick up Excrement
4 (f)
$55
7.
Permit Nuisance Dog
4 (h)
$55
8.
Fail to Secure, Muzzle or
Leash Dangerous, or Potentially
Dangerous Dog
8 (a)
$155
9.
Owner - Fail to Surrender Dog
9 (g)
$55
NOTE - The Penalty provision for the offences indicated above is Section 17 of By-Law 17-2000,
as amended, a certified copy of which has been filed.