Toronto Crackdown on Dangerous Dog Owners Includes Muzzles, Signs, Home Visits

A dog walker has her hands full as she walks several dogs along St. Clair Ave. in Toronto, in a file photo. Nathan Denette/ The Canadian Press

Owners of dogs deemed dangerous by the City of Toronto are now subject to a stricter set of rules following an increase in the number of vicious dog attacks since 2022.

Dog owners who have received dangerous dog orders can expect a visit from city staff beginning this week to make them aware of the new rules they must now follow, the city has announced.

The move stems from a new set of guidelines approved by the city council in March.

Currently, 373 dangerous dog orders are in place across the city and visits will occur over the next month, the city said in a press release.

“Visits will be prioritized based on severity of the incidents,” the city said. “ If there is non-compliance with any part of the order, enforcement action will be taken which may include fines of up to $615 or a court-issued fine of up to $100,000 upon conviction.”

City staff will deliver a new standardized sign that dangerous dog owners must install in a visible spot on their property. The sign reads: “Warning. Dangerous Dog on Premises,” and includes a QR code that leads to the city’s webpage on dog bites or attacks.

City staff will also remind owners of the requirements of the dangerous dog order during visits.

The owners will be required to muzzle their dogs in public, obtain a dangerous dog tag, and provide socialization and training to their dogs. They will also be restricted from using off-leash areas. The city said owners will be subject to regular compliance checks to ensure all rules are being followed.

“Making our city safe means preventing negative encounters with dangerous dogs in public spaces,” said Mayor Olivia Chow in a statement. “If someone observes 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 as soon as possible. The simple act of keeping dogs on leashes protects everyone in the community. The City of Toronto is committed to ensuring residents and animals are safe.”

The city has also posted a public list of dangerous dogs that includes the first three digits of the postal code for the dog owner, ward number, the dog’s name, breed, and colour, and the date of the dangerous act.

Dangerous Dog Incidents

Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher called for a review last September of how the city manages severe dog mauling incidents after an incident in her ward that summer left a woman severely injured.

A woman out for an evening walk in East York last July sustained serious injuries after being attacked by two dogs. The city said the dog owner was charged and the dogs were put down in connection with the incident.

Two subsequent incidents confirmed the need for stricter measures, Ms. Fletcher said in a statement.

A woman waiting at a bus stop in Rexdale in February sustained serious injuries after being mauled by two dogs. A man has been charged in connection with the attack.

A child was also the victim of a dog attack last month, sustaining “life-altering” injuries. The dog owner was reportedly inside the playground at Little Norway Park playground in Toronto’s Harbourfront with an off-leash dog, despite signs posted in the park that dogs are not permitted in the area, Toronto police said. A woman has been charged in connection with the incident.

All three maulings involved dogs that were unmuzzled and unleashed, despite owners previously being issued a dangerous dog order prohibiting them from being in public without a leash or muzzle, Coun. Fletcher said.

“I’m very happy to see the city taking proactive measures to enforce dangerous dog orders. These steps will help ensure we prevent violent dog attacks before they happen,” she said in the press release.

“I believe this is the beginning of a new preventative model that focuses on dogs who pose the most risk, holding owners of dangerous dogs to account and empowering residents to know about dangerous dogs in their neighbourhood and how to report them.”

Ward 9 Councillor Alejandra Bravo said increased dangerous dog enforcement was essential for the safety of city residents. That, she said, is why she advocated for an additional $800,000 to be added to the city’s 2024 budget for animal control.

“This work is not over. Today’s announcement is the latest in a series of actions that seek to reduce dangerous dog incidents, and these actions will continue to escalate as needed,” Coun. Bravo said in an April 24 press release. “Addressing dangerous dog behaviour is part of making our communities safer for all.”

Director of Animal Services Dr. Esther Attard previously told The Epoch Times approximately 10 percent of the dogs on the dangerous dog list were linked to a “very severe injury or mauling.” She added that dogs involved in “very serious incidents are euthanized” and are not included on the list.

There were 2,726 service requests registered for potentially dangerous acts by dogs in 2023, an increase from 2,653 the year prior, she said.

“In our experience, most dog attacks could have been prevented if dogs were on leash,” Dr. Attard said. “We strongly urge all dog owners to please keep their dogs on leashes when out in public, except when in designated dogs off-leash areas.”

She said the simple act of keeping dogs leashed is essential for community safety.

“We need all dog owners to step up and help prevent these horrific incidents by always leashing and keeping their dogs under control in public,” she added.

If the city determines a dog has committed a severely dangerous act or it is not the dog’s first offence, a dangerous dog order will be issued, according to the city website. Such orders require the dog to be microchipped and the owner must ensure the dog receives socialization/obedience training within 90 days of receiving the order. The city will also keep a photo of the dog on file.