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January 12, 2025
CITY OF MEADOW LAKE
DOG BYLAW
BYLAW NO. 9/2019
With amendments up to and including Bylaw No. 19/2019 passed November 25, 2019,
and Bylaw #14/2022 passed December 12, 2022, Bylaw #01/2023 passed February 13,
2023, and Bylaw No. 09/2025 passed January 12, 2025 by City Council.
==================================================================
NOTE:
All persons making use of this consolidation are reminded that this document has
no legal status, that the amendments have been embodied for convenience of
reference, and that the original bylaws should be consulted for all purposes of
interpretation and application of the law. Red highlighted entries indicate the
amendments to the bylaw.
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 2 of 11
CITY OF MEADOW LAKE
BYLAW NO. 9/2019
DOG BYLAW
A BYLAW OF THE CITY OF MEADOW LAKE TO REGISTER, LICENSE, REGULATE,
RESTRAIN AND IMPOUND DOGS CITED AS THE DOG BYLAW.
The Council of the City of Meadow Lake, In the Province of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows:
DEFINITIONS:
For the purpose of this bylaw the expression:
1.
AT LARGE shall mean a dog which is off the premises of its owner and is not on a leash.
2.
CITY shall mean the City of Meadow Lake.
3.
CITY MANAGER shall mean the City Manager for the City of Meadow Lake or an
employee of the City designated by the City Manager to act on behalf of the City.
4.
COUNCIL means the Council of the City of Meadow Lake.
5.
DOG shall mean and include both male and female dogs and wherever the term is used
herein, it shall be construed to mean both male and female dogs except where the context
precludes such reference.
6.
EXCESSIVE BARKING shall mean barking or any noise that persistently occurs or
continues to such a degree or extent that it unreasonably interferes with the comfortable
enjoyment of life or property in the neighbourhood. As a guideline, barking which persists
for a period of fifteen (15) consecutive minutes or intermittently for a period of one hour or
longer may be considered excessive.
7.
HIGH RISK DOG shall mean:
(a)
any dog which has without provocation, in a vicious or menacing manner, chased or
approached a person or domestic animal in an apparent attitude of attack;
(b)
any dog having an inclination, tendency, or disposition to attack without
provocation, to cause Injury or to otherwise threaten the safety of persons or
domestic animals;
(c)
any dog which has without provocation, bitten, inflicted injury, assaulted or
otherwise attacked a person or domestic animal;
(d)
any dog owned primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or is trained for
dog fighting;
(e)
any dog without provocation, that threatens or creates reasonable apprehension of
a threat to other animals or humans;
but shall not include:
(f)
any dog acting in the performance of police work;
(g)
any dog working as a guard dog on commercial property which is:
(i)
securely enclosed on the property by a fence or other barrier sufficient to
prevent the escape of the dog and the entry of children; and
(ii)
defending that property against a person who is committing or attempting to
commit an offence.
8.
JUDGE means a judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, who is authorized to
carry out the 'Dangerous Animals" provisions of The Cities Act and amendments thereto.
9.
OWNER includes:
(a)
a person who keeps, possesses or harbours a dog;
(b)
the person responsible for the custody of a minor where the minor is the owner of
the dog;
but does not include:
(c)
a veterinarian registered in accordance with The Veterinarians Act, S.S. 1987 and
amendments thereto who is keeping or harbouring a dog for the prevention,
diagnosis or treatment of a disease or injury;
(d)
the City of Meadow Lake, its agents and employees, the Saskatchewan Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Meadow Lake and District Humane
Society or a humane society operation pursuant to the provisions of the Animal
Protection Act, and amendments thereto with respect to an animal shelter or
impoundment facility operated by any of them.
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 3 of 11
(e)
in the absence of occupant information, the landowner where a dog is kept,
harboured or possessed.
10.
PEACE OFFICER shall mean a person designated and appointed by Council or the City
Manager for regulation and enforcement of this bylaw or a member of the RCMP.
11.
PROVOCATION means an act done intentionally for the purpose of provoking a dog.
12.
POUNDKEEPER shall mean a person or organization designated and appointed by
Council or the City Manager to maintain a suitable accommodation (pound) for the
keeping of impounded dogs.
13.
SERVICE DOG means an animal that is trained and certified to be used by:
(a)
a person with a disability for reasons relating to his or her disability;
(b)
a peace officer in the execution of his or her duties; or
(c)
a person who is authorized by a peace officer to assist peace officers in their duties
OFFENCES:
14.
No OWNER shall allow a high risk dog to be anywhere except:
(a)
on the owner's property which shall be visibly marked with a sign indicating
the presence
of a high risk or aggressive dog ,
(b)
in an enclosure that confines the dog,
(c)
in a closed vehicle when being transported, or muzzled and under the control of a
person 18 years of age or older by means of a harness or lead not exceeding one
metre, in a
manner that prevents it from chasing, injuring or biting other animals or
humans, as well
as preventing damage to public or private property. No high risk
dog shall be allowed in any park, playground or school property.
15.
No person shall keep, possess or harbour any dog which is not licensed in accordance
with section 29 of this Bylaw.
16.
No person shall keep, possess or harbour more than four dogs in one building or
residence, excluding licensed dog kennels.
17.
No owner, excluding high risk dogs, shall permit any dog to be outside the boundary of
any premises or lands occupied by the owner unless:
(a)
the dog is kept in an enclosure which confines the dog or
(b)
the dog Is fitted with a collar or a harness for the body that is properly placed and
fitted on the dog and the movement of the dog Is controlled by a person by means
of a leash attached to the collar or harness on the dog; and
(c)
the leash is less than 1.2 metres in length and is constructed of a material having a
tensile strength of at least two times the weight of the dog.
(d)
the owner accompanies the dog at a designated off leash park
18.
No owner shall permit a dog to create a disturbance by chasing a person or animal or in
any other way causing an interference with the lawful use and enjoyment of public or
private property by any other person.
19 No dog owner shall permit the dog to bark or howl so as to create a nuisance. For the
purposes of this section, the factors for determining whether the excessive barking or
howling of a dog has become a nuisance are as follows:
(a)
the proximity of the barking or howling to sleeping facilities;
(b)
the land use, nature and zoning of the area from which the barking or howling
emanates and the area where it is received or perceived;
(c)
the time of day or night the barking or howling occurs;
(d)
the duration of the barking or howling;
(e)
whether the barking or howling is the result of provocation;
(f)
the volume of the barking or howling; and
(g)
whether the barking or howling is recurrent, intermittent or constant.
The complainant will be requested to fill out a Barking Complaint Form Appendix "C" and
Barking Log Sheet Appendix "D" of this bylaw.
20.
No owner shall allow a dog to defecate on any public or private property other than the
property of its owner, and the owner of the dog shall remove the defecation immediately,
21.
Section 20 shall not apply to a person who owns and is physically reliant on a guide dog
trained and used to assist such person.
22.
No owner or occupant of private property shall allow animal feces to accumulate on the
property as to create a health hazard.
23.
The Peace Officer or City Manager may personally serve an owner or occupant of private
property with a notice to remove all animal feces from the property within 72 hours of
service of the notice. Failure to comply with the order may result in the City cleaning up
the feces at the property owner's expense in addition to any other fines as specified in the
Schedule of Specified Penalty Sums in Appendix "B" of this bylaw.
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 4 of 11
24.
No owner shall allow any dog, without provocation, to bite, inflict injury, assault or
otherwise attack a person or domestic animal.
25.
No owner shall allow a high risk dog, without provocation, to bite, inflict injury, assault or
otherwise attack a person or domestic animal.
26.
No owner shall neglect to place the license tag on the collar of the dog.
27.
An owner of a dog who fails to immediately restrain and remove their dog from the off-
leash dog park upon it becoming a nuisance, as defined in Section 53(d), is guilty of an
offence in accordance with Section 18.
28.
No person shall give false information when applying for a dog license.
LICENSING:
29.
Every person who owns, possesses or harbors a dog within the City limits shall register
and obtain a license for the said dog from the Peace Officer or City Hall on or before
February 28th in each year or immediately after the date of possession.
30.
The Peace Officer is authorized to register, record the registration and issue licenses In
conformity with this Bylaw.
31.
When applying for a license, the applicant must furnish a description of the dog including
sex, colour, breed, if spayed or neutered, and any other identification information which
may be required by the City. The applicant must also indicate whether the dog has been
vaccinated for rabies and, if so, provide the name of the veterinary office that
administered the vaccination.
32.
The City shall furnish a license tag to be attached to the dog's collar showing the words
"Meadow Lake", license number and year to the owner of the dog or applicant.
33.
The owner of any dog within the City shall, on demand of the City Manager or Peace
Officer, show his/her license receipt or other evidence that he/she has paid the license
fee provided in this Bylaw for the current year.
34.
If the dog tag becomes lost, the dog owner shall purchase a replacement tag from the
City.
35.
All licenses expire on December 31st of the year in which they are issued.
36.
The license fee for each intact, neutered male or spayed female dog shall be according to
the Schedule of Fees in Appendix "A".
37.
If an unaltered dog because of age or medical reasons should not be neutered or spayed,
the Peace Officer or City Manager may exempt the owner from paying the higher license
fee.
38.
The provisions of the section for LICENSING shall not apply to dogs kept in the ordinary
course of business by the proprietors of a pet shop in a commercial zoned district.:
39.
A license issued pursuant to this bylaw is non-refundable and automatically revoked if the
payment is returned to the City of Meadow Lake for any reason.
40.
A Service Dog must be licensed, as provided by this Bylaw, but at no charge for the
license.
41.
RCMP Service Dogs trained for duty are exempt from this bylaw.
IMPOUNDING:
42.
For the purpose of impounding any dog found at large in the City, a pound shall be
established at such place as may from time to time be designated by Council as a pound.
43.
The City may appoint a Poundkeeper to carry out the provisions of this Bylaw.
44.
The City is authorized to appoint a Peace Officer or Peace Officers to apprehend, restrain
and impound any dog or dogs at large in the City; to issue violation notices and to carry out
additional duties in the enforcement of this Bylaw.
45.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 44, any person of legal age may restrain any
dog at large in the City and deliver the dog restrained to the Peace Officer. Such person
shall provide a statement in writing, which includes the following information:
(a)
their name, address and phone number;
(b)
a description of the dog restrained;
(c)
the time and place of restraint; and
(d)
the name of the owner, if known.
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 5 of 11
46.
The Poundkeeper shall keep a record of all dogs impounded including the date and time
of impound.
47.
Each dog impounded under the authority of this Bylaw shall be kept by the Poundkeeper
in the City pound for at least three (3) business days, unless the owner claims the dog and
pays all related fines and penalties.
48.
Effective January 1, 2020, a dog owner shall receive one pass for a "free ride" with no
charge when their dog is found at large and/or a waiver of the impound fee if their dog
qualifies under the "Get Out of Pound Free" Program Policy 700-019-001.
RELEASE OF IMPOUNDED DOGS:
49.
All dogs impounded in the dog pound shall be confined therein for a period of up to three
(3) business days from the time of capture, during which time the owner shall have the
right to claim and repossess the dog upon paying all outstanding fees at City Hall.
50.
For the purpose of section 49 above, the daily charge for housing, feeding and watering a
dog and a high risk dog while in the pound shall be as specified in the Schedule of
Specified Penalty Sums in Appendix "B" of this bylaw.
DOGS SUSPECTED OF HAVING RABIES:
51.
(a) Any dog suspected of having rabies shall not be killed but shall be secured and
isolated for ten (10) days and the matter immediately reported to the Medical Health
Officer for the City.
(b)
Where, in the opinion of the Medical Health Officer, rabies infection has reached
proportions where mass vaccination is Indicated, every person who owns, harbors
or possesses a dog within the City, shall cause such dog to be inoculated against
rabies.
(c)
A certificate issued by a qualified veterinarian certifying that a dog has been
inoculated against rabies shall be prima facie evidence that such animal has been
inoculated.
UNCLAIMED DOGS:
52.
In case a dog is impounded and is not claimed within three (3) business days as here
before mentioned in section 47, the dog may be disposed of without further notice in the
following manner:
(a)
Transfer of ownership of the dog to the Humane Society, SPCA or the College of
Veterinary Science, University of Saskatchewan.
(b)
Disposal by euthanasia.
OFF-LEASH DOG PARK
53.
An owner of a dog is not required to have the dog on a leash in the Jillian Doucet
Community Dog Park, provided the owner of the dog complies with the following
regulations:
(a)
The vehicle parking area is not considered part of the off-leash area.
(b) The owner of a dog that has been declared high risk shall not permit the dog to be in
the off-leash dog park as defined in Section 14.
(c) No owner of a female dog that is in heat shall permit the dog to be in the off-leash
dog park.
(d)
No owner of a dog shall permit or allow the dog to become a nuisance to other
persons or animals in the off-leash area. For the purposes of this sub-section, the
behaviour of a dog which constitutes a nuisance includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
(i)
doing any act that injures a person or another animals;
(ii)
chasing, biting, barking at or otherwise threatening a person or another
animal;
(iii)
excessive barking, howling or otherwise disturbing any person or other
animal; or
(iv)
causing damage to property.
(e) In order to prevent a dog from becoming a nuisance in the off-leash area, the owner
of the dog shall:
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 6 of 11
(i)
accompany the dog in the off-leash area at all times; and
(ii)
carry a leash not exceeding 1.2 metres in length for the dog.
(f)
In the event that a dog becomes a nuisance, the owner of the dog shall immediately
restrain the dog by placing the dog on a leash not exceeding 1.2 metres in length
and removing the dog from the off-leash area.
54.
Nothing in this Section shall release the owner of a dog from complying with the general
provisions of this Bylaw pertaining to high risk dogs, creating a disturbance or
interference, licensing, displaying a valid license tag, and removal of defecation, as set
out in Sections 14, 18, 20, 29, and 32 respectively, including the corresponding penalties
set out in the Schedule of Specified Penalty Sums in Appendix "B" of this bylaw or the
General Penalty Bylaw of the City of Meadow Lake;
ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES:
55.
(a) Any person who contravenes this bylaw is guilty of an offence and is liable, in
addition to any other penalties which may be imposed, pursuant to the "Dangerous
Animals" provisions of The Cities Act and amendments thereto set out in the
penalties specified in the Schedule of Specified Penalty Sums in Appendix "B" of
this bylaw or the General Penalty Bylaw of the City of Meadow Lake;
(b)
A dog owner is deemed not to wish to dispute the charge if:
(i)
the dog owner has been served with a Summons and has not responded in
the manner provided for in the Summons;
(ii)
the dog owner pleads not guilty to the offence but fails to appear in court in
person or by an agent on the trial date; or
(c)
In the circumstances described in section 55(b) a justice shall examine:
(i)
the Summons;
(ii)
proof of service of the Summons; and
And if satisfied that the Summons, the proof of service and proof with respect to the
ownership of the dog is complete and regular, the justice may, without a hearing,
enter a conviction in the dog owner's absence and impose the specified penalty
sum set out in the Summons, if any, or when the Summons does not set out a
specified penalty sum, shall impose a fine.
(d)
Any parent or guardian of a minor who contravenes this bylaw is guilty of an offence
and is liable to the penalties specified in the Schedule of Specified Penalty Sums in
Appendix "B" of this bylaw or the General Penalty Bylaw of the City of Meadow
Lake.
56.
(a) Where any person has committed or alleged to have committed a breach of the
provisions of this bylaw, it shall not be necessary for the Peace Officer to catch the
dog, but the Peace Officer may serve on such person a Summons. Such person
may pay to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, during regular business hours, a
penalty as specified in the Schedule of Specified Penalty Sums in Appendix "B" of
this bylaw.
(b) Service of such ticket shall be by personal service upon such person or by mail as
required by the Cities Act.
57.
The following municipal officials have the authority to declare a dog high risk:
(a)
the Peace Officer; and
(b)
the City Manager
58.
Any complaint that any person has committed or is alleged to have committed a breach
of any of the provisions of this bylaw or a complaint that a dog is high risk may be made
to a Peace Officer.
59.
If upon information of complaint, it is alleged that a dog has bitten or attempted to bite
any person, the matter will be dealt with as set out in The Cities Act.
GENERAL
60.
SEVERABILITY:
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or other portion of this Bylaw is for
any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any Court of competent jurisdiction, that
portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and the holding
of the Court shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the Bylaw.:
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 7 of 11
61.
Bylaw No. 18/2012 is hereby repealed.
62.
This Bylaw shall come into force and take effect on the day of its final passing.
Introduced and read a first time this 22nd day of July, 2019.
Read a second time this 26th day of August, 2019.
Read a third time and adopted this 26th day of August, 2019.
Acting City Clerk
Acting Mayor
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 8 of 11
APPENDIX "A"
CITY OF MEADOW LAKE
DOG BYLAW NO. 9/2019
SCHEDULE OF FEES
Section
Description
Column A
29
Licensing:
Fee
Spayed/neutered dog
25.00
High risk spayed/neutered dog
55.00
Intact dog
45.00
Intact high risk dog
105.00
34
Replacement tag
6.00
40
Service dog (license required)
No Fee
APPENDIX "B"
CITY OF MEADOW LAKE
DOG BYLAW NO. 9/2019
SCHEDULE OF SPECIFIED PENALTY SUMS
Section
Offence
(Description)
Column A
Column B
Column C
Fee/Penalty -
1st Offence
Penalty -
2nd
Offence
Penalty -
Subsequent
14
High Risk Dog - At large
500.00
750.00
1050.00
15
Failure to license a dog
55.00
105.00
525.00
16
More than four (4) dogs in one
building/residence
50.00
105.00
525.00
17
At large
50.00
105.00
525.00
18, 27
Creating a disturbance/interference
on public or private property
50.00
105.00
525.00
19
Excessive barking or howling to
create a nuisance
50.00
105.00
525.00
20
Defecating on any public or private
property other than the property of
the dog owner
50.00
105.00
525.00
22
Accumulation of animal feces on
private property as to create a
health hazard
50.00
105.00
525.00
23
Failure to remove animal feces on
private property within 72 hours of
service of notice
50.00
105.00
525.00
24
Allowing any dog, without
provocation, to bite, inflict injury,
assault or otherwise attack a
person or domestic animal
525.00
N/A
N/A
25
Allowing a high-risk dog, without
provocation, to bite, inflict injury,
assault or otherwise attack a
person or domestic animal
1050.00
N/A
N/A
26
Failure to attach a valid dog tag to
a collar
25.00
45.00
65.00
28
Giving false information when
applying for a dog license
Liable to prosecution under the General
Penalty Bylaw.
49
Impound Fees
50.00
105.00
265.00
49
Impound Fees - High Risk Dog
210.00
525.00
1050.00
50
Poundkeeper Fees
As per the invoice to the City of Meadow Lake
from the Pound.
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 9 of 11
Complainant Information:
APPENDIX "C"
CITY OF MEADOW LAKE
DOG BYLAW NO. 9/2019
BARKING COMPLAINT FORM
PART I
Last Name:
Given Names:
Address:
Phone #:
Barking/Howling Complaint Questionnaire
Animal Owner Information, if known:
Name:
Address:
Phone #:
Description of Offending Animal(s); ie) size, color, bred, sex, age, name
1)
2)
3)
A) Type of residence:
House
Duplex
Basement Suite
Condominium
Apartment
Other
B) Where on the owner's property is the animal located? ie) inside house, backyard, dog pen, garage
C) When does the nuisance barking specifically occur?
D) Why do you think the dog(s) is/are barking? ie) loneliness, strangers, hunger, etc.
E) How long has the barking/howling been a problem?
F) How long has the animal resided at the address?
years
months
G) Have you observed the dog(s) barking? Yes
No
H) Can you identify the owner of the animal(s)?
Yes
No
I) Does the problematic barking occur when the owner is home?
Yes
No
J) Does the problematic barking occur when the owner is away?
Yes
No
K) Is the dog left outside when the owner is away?
Yes
No
L) When is the dog owner usually home?
M) Have you discussed the problem with the owner?
Yes
No If yes, what was the
result of the discussion?
N) Has the owner taken any action to prevent or stop the barking/howling?
Yes
No
If yes, what action was taken?
o) Are you prepared to testify in court?
Yes
No
I, (name)
of (civic address)
hereby certify that the information recorded in this log is accurate and true and would testify to its
accuracy before a court of law.
Signature:
Date:
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 10 of 11
APPENDIX "C" (Cont'd)
CITY OF MEADOW LAKE
DOG BYLAW NO. 9/2019
BARKING COMPLAINT FORM
PART II
Impact Statement:
Please use the following area to provide any additional details relating to the effect that the
barking has had on your household.
I, (name)
of (civic address)
hereby certify that the information recorded in this log is accurate and true and would testify to its
accuracy before a court of law.
Signature:
Date: :
Bylaw No. 9/2019 - Consolidated
Page 11 of 11
APPENDIX "D"
CITY OF MEADOW LAKE
DOG BYLAW NO. 9/2019
BARKING LOG SHEET
This log should document the duration of each barking episode including start and stop time, the
intensity of the episode, whether it is intermittent or continual, the type and nature of barking and
any events that may have initiated the barking.
PLEASE NOTE: This form should be completed by one person, the record being made at the
time of the barking episodes. Additional witnesses should complete their own log on a separate
form. If you have made notation elsewhere and transferred them, please retain the original
notes.
BARKING/HOWLING LOG
DATE
TIME FRAME
DESCRIPTION/DETAILS EPISODE
I, (name)
of (civic address)
hereby certify that the information recorded in this log is accurate and true and would testify to its
accuracy before a court of law.
Signature:
Date: