Report dog bites or attacks by calling 311 or online. If you are transported to the hospital, report the bite or attack as soon as possible after treatment is complete.
The City issues dangerous dog orders for dogs involved in dangerous acts. The order includes the following requirements:
View a registry of dogs with a dangerous dog order.
If someone observes a dog they believe to be a dangerous dog without its muzzle or in an off leash dog park, a complaint can be made to 311 and the matter will be investigated.
If immediate medical attention is required, or if the offending dog is still at large, residents should first call 911. Dog bites or attacks can be reported by calling 311 or online. For rabies prevention, you must also report incidents to Toronto Public Health online or by calling 416-338-7600.
If your pet has been bitten or attacked by a dog, report it to Toronto Animal Services by calling 311 as soon as possible. If your dog has been injured seek veterinary medical attention for your dog.
If you are the owner of a dog that has bitten:
If your pet has been bitten or attacked by a dog, report the bite or attack to Toronto Animal Services by calling 311 as soon as possible.
Once Toronto Animal Services receives information about a dog that has committed a dangerous act, the following happens:
Staff from Toronto Animal Services will walk you through the process after you’ve had a negative encounter with a dog. An officer will:
The officer will collect all evidence as part of the investigation.
Depending on the details of the incident, Toronto Public Health may:
If a dog commits a dangerous act, the city’s response depends on the severity and the dog’s history. For minor first offenses, the owner may receive education and possibly a warning. For severe or repeated offenses, a dangerous dog order is issued which can require the dog to be muzzled, restricted from off-leash area, microchipped and mandatory training. Find out more about dangerous dog orders.
As required by the Animals Bylaw, when the dangerous act is reported to the City of Toronto, a Toronto Animal Services officer will examine all available evidence and circumstances to determine the severity of the act. The officer may consider factors such as the extent of the:
An officer may give different weight to each of these factors depending on the specific case and may consider other factors as relevant, such as medical reports and the intensity of the act. The officer’s expertise will also contribute to the determination of severity.
The officer may use the bite level scale described below as one tool to determine the severity. Any dangerous act at Level 3 or above will generally be considered severe.
Obnoxious or aggressive behaviour but no skin contact by teeth and no injury. Dog growls, snarls, lunges, but no teeth touch skin.
Skin contact by teeth. Includes skin nicks, scrapes, redness and welts caused by movement of teeth; may also include movement of dogs nails and claws against the skin. Mouth and teeth touch skin and there are pressure marks or indentations that leave scratches or abrasions and there may be slight bleeding caused by forward, backward or lateral movement of teeth against skin – no distinct punctures.
One to four punctures from a single bite with no deep punctures (less than one half of the length of the dog’s canine teeth). There may be skin tearing (abrasions or shallow lacerations) in a single direction, caused by the victim pulling or owner pulling dog away, or gravity (e.g. dog jumps up).
One to four punctures from a single bite with at least 1 deep puncture (deeper than one half of the length of the dog’s canine tooth. May include deep bruising around the wound (dog held on for a number of seconds and bore down) or lacerations in both directions (dog held on and shook its head from side to side). With this type of bite, the dog clamps down and there is not a quick release (bite and hold). Lacerations will often occur as the individual pulls away while the dog has a hold with their teeth.
Multiple-bite incident with at least two level 3 bites or multiple-attack wounds with at least one level 3 bite in each. Includes severe injuries as a result of an attack (e.g. fracture). Dog bites multiple times in a row, connecting with the skin, causing punctures and often tears. Some bites may be bite-release and some may be bite and hold. The dog does not bite and back away but instead bites, releases and then lunges forward again immediately often directing the bite toward vulnerable areas. These are serious bites that can be life threatening.
Victim (human or animal) is deceased as a result of bite or attack.
Download a tip sheet about Canine Bite Levels by Dr. Sophia Yin.
The City is committed to ensuring that all residents and dog communities are safe from dangerous dogs, through a variety of education and enforcement actions, including.
Off-leash dogs on school properties have led to a number of unwanted interactions and complaints. Residents can call 311 or submit information online to report dogs off-leash on school properties. If information about the dog owner is not available, then the following information needs to be provided:
Data collected from these calls and requests will help the City identify the schools where dogs off-leash is particularly challenging. Based on the data, the City will be working with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to educate dog owners on the need to comply with City bylaws.
Information about severe dog attack or bite incidents in Toronto, where the dogs or the dog owners involved have not been located, will be made available in this section. Residents can provide information to help investigations via email: tasemru@toronto.ca.
Most negative encounters with dogs result from dogs being off-leash. As a dog owner you are responsible for your dog’s actions and need to prevent your dog from engaging in dangerous acts. Please always keep your dog on a leash, unless you are in an official dogs off-leash area. The leash cannot be longer than two metres. The City recommends that you securely attach the leash to a collar or harness.
Learning to understand how to interact with dogs – and how they interact with each other – is like learning a new language. Approach and interact with dogs in a safe manner by:
If a loose dog comes charging, you can appear less threatening by:
Encourage safe interactions between dogs and children by:
Socializing is important for puppies as they can learn to meet and enjoy a variety of people, animals, places and things. Done properly, socializing helps puppies feel comfortable and friendly in various situations.
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UnsubscribeMunicipal Licensing and Standards collects your personal email address under the legal authority of the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 349, Animals, Article IV, Dogs, section 349-15. The information will be used to facilitate sending out listserv messages to subscribed individuals about severe dog attack or bite incidents in Toronto, where the dog(s) or the dog owner(s) involved have not been located. Questions about this collection can be directed to the Manager, Policy and Planning Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, City Hall, 16th Floor, West, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2 or by telephone at 416-392-9830.