Toronto: 2.8 million people. 230,000 dogs. With so many people who love dogs (and many others who don’t), here’s how we can all work together to live in harmony.
Other tips:
The City has expanded Green Bins (organic waste) to all Dog Off-Leash Areas in parks across the city. In parks that do not have a Green Bin, residents are encouraged to dispose of organic waste in garbage bins.
Winter is a fun season, but can present some hazards for your dog. Here are some helpful tips so you both can enjoy the season safely.
Number one tip: if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside or walks short when possible.
Remember never to shave your dog down to the skin in winter – longer coats provide more warmth. If your dog is short-haired, think about getting a warm sweater or coat that covers from tail to belly.
Before going outside, put booties on dogs to protect paws from salt and ice. Or try massaging a protectant into paw pads, and bring a towel on long walks to clean off any irritated paws.
The City works to reduce the environmental impacts of road salt use as much as possible by actively managing salt use. Learn more about the City’s salt management plan: toronto.ca/salt.
After walks, wash and dry your dog’s feet and stomach to remove ice, salt and chemicals, and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can give them dry, flaky skin.
Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm. Talk to your veterinarian to see if your dog needs extra food during the cold weather months.
Remember that antifreeze is a lethal poison for your pet. When possible, consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Always clean up any spills from your vehicle.
Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. Think cozy dog bed.
Dog owners in Toronto must comply with the Animals Bylaw.
Every owner of a dog shall exercise reasonable precautions to prevent their dog from engaging in a dangerous act. A dangerous act is defined as any bite, attack, act of menacing behaviour or any combination of a bite, attack or act of menacing behaviour.
Owning a pet is a long-term commitment. Although the following information is not part of the bylaw, the City encourages following these steps to make sure that you have the best experience possible with your dog.
If you have been bitten or attacked by a dog, report the bite or attack to Toronto Public Health (416-338-7600) and Toronto Animal Services (311) as soon as possible. In the event that the victim is transported to the hospital, the bite or attack should be reported to Toronto Public Health and Toronto Animal Services as soon as possible after treatment is complete.
It is not necessary to contact Toronto Public Health. However, the dog may still have committed a dangerous act, defined as any bite, attack, act of menacing behaviour or combination of the above. Call 311 and provide:
If your pet has been bitten or attacked by a dog, report the bite or attack to Toronto Animal Services (311) as soon as possible.
If your pet has been bitten or attacked by a dog, report the bite or attack to Toronto Animal Services (311) as soon as possible.
Depending on the details of the incident, Toronto Public Health may:
Toronto Animal Services’ staff will walk you through the process after you’ve had a negative encounter with a dog. An officer will:
The officer will consolidate all evidence as part of the investigation.
When the dangerous act is the first on record with the City, an officer will examine all of the circumstances of the specific dangerous act when determining if the dangerous act is severe.
There are a number of bite scales available to assist in the determination of the severity of a dog bite or dangerous act, including the following:
Download a tip sheet about Canine Bite Levels by Dr. Sophia Yin.
Depending on the circumstances, an officer may use one or more of these bite scales to assist the officer in the determination of severity required in Chapter 349, Animals. Any dangerous act at Level 3 or above will generally be considered severe.
A dangerous dog order will include requirements for an owner to comply with, including muzzling the dog, microchipping the dog, having the dog wear a dangerous dog tag and having the dog take mandatory training.
During an investigation into a dangerous act, an officer will consider whether the dog was acting in self-defense at the time of the dangerous act. If the officer determines the dog was acting in self-defense, the officer may determine that the dog is not a dangerous dog.
When determining if a dog was acting in self-defense, the officer will consider whether:
The Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal is a local five-member board of the City of Toronto. The Tribunal was established under the authority of the City of Toronto Act and is conducted in accordance with the Statutory Powers Procedure Act. The chair and two panel members are present during a hearing. The panel listens to appeals of dangerous dog orders issued under section 15.1 of Municipal Code, Chapter 349.
The owner of a dog who is issued a dangerous dog order may request a hearing to appeal the order. In order to do so, the owner must submit an appeal in accordance with City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals.
A request for a hearing must be in writing and be mailed or delivered to the address that is listed on the order within 30 days of the issuance of the dangerous dog order. Owners must submit the applicable appeal fee and their written request must include:
Although a request for a hearing may be made, the order to comply (requirements) take effect once the order is served and remain in effect until a hearing is held, and the Tribunal decides if the designation of a dangerous dog is confirmed or rescinded.
The Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal, which hears appeals, will determine the following:
The Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal has the authority to confirm the determination of a dangerous dog and uphold the dangerous dog order or rescind the determination of a dangerous dog and exempt the owner from all requirements of the dangerous dog order. The Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to exempt an owner from some or part of the requirements on a dangerous dog order.
At an appeal hearing, both the dog owner and the City are welcome to present evidence. All documents/evidence must be disclosed to the other party and Tribunal no later than 14 days prior to the hearing. If a party fails to disclose a document or discloses it late, the Tribunal may disallow the document from being entered into evidence.
Hearings before the Tribunal are public and documents provided to the Tribunal will be made available to interested persons upon request.
The tribunal may provide their decision at the time of the hearing, but is more likely to provide a written decision within 15 days of the hearing to both the dog owner and the City. The City will provide a copy of this written decision to the victim or victim dog owner
To protect your dog from harsh weather, provide a well-constructed dog house. Proper outdoor shelter for dogs must meet the following standards:
The shelter must be well constructed, have a roof, enclosed sides, a doorway and a solid level floor raised at least two inches from the ground. There should be no cracks or openings other than the entrance. The shelter must be insulated. Rainproof openings for ventilation are required in hot weather.
Protected/weather proof entrance – the entryway must be protected by a self-closing door, an offset outer door, or covered by a flexible flap.
Bedding – a sufficient amount of dry bedding such as cedar shavings or straw must be provided to protect against cold and dampness. The bedding should be changed weekly to prevent mold and to keep the doghouse sanitary.
The shelter should be small enough to allow a dog to warm the interior of the structure and maintain body heat, but must be large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around comfortably and lie down.
The shelter should be placed where it will be adequately shaded in the hot weather and have the best protection from the wind in cold weather. In addition ensure your dog has:
If your pet is whining, shivering, seems anxious, slows down or stops moving, seems weak, or starts looking for warm places to burrow, get them inside quickly because they may be showing signs of hypothermia.
Frostbite is harder to detect and may not be fully recognized until a few days after the damage is done. If you suspect your pet has hypothermia or frostbite, consult your veterinarian immediately.