BATTLEFORD — To curb dangerous dogs from injuring people or other animals in Battleford, the council of the Town of Battleford passed a new Dangerous Dog bylaw at their Feb. 5 meeting.
According to the bylaw, it's written to both protect the safety, health and welfare of people and property, while ensuring the humane treatment of dogs by regulating and prohibiting the keeping of dangerous dogs in town.
“It's another one of those things we identified we don't have, to address those situations whether it's a dog running at large that's perceived to be dangerous or it is an actual animal who's showing signs of aggression," Mayor Ames Leslie told the media following Monday's council meeting.
"So this gives more power to the town and ultimately to the Public Safety Officer or the RCMP," he added.
Sparing a dog who has been provoked, a dog may be considered dangerous ranging from whether it can be proven that it behaves viciously or menacingly, or if it has a known disposition to attack people or other animals.
The bylaw also does note an exemption for dogs that are acting in the performance of police work, are working as guard dogs on commercial property, are securely secured in a property, or are defending property against a person who has committed an offence or trespassed.
“There's been some reports from members of the community [about dangerous animals at large] and as the PSO officer said, [the dangerous animal bylaw] was somewhat buried into our previous animal control act, and there was really no significance or truth, or weight to it," Mayor Leslie said when asked if there was a specific instance that led to this bylaw.
"This is just a way to pull it out so we can cite that bylaw specifically, to help address or at least to have that conversation with the homeowner."
The bylaw includes standard information related to charges, the process, and the destruction of dangerous dogs as justified by a judge.
In response to a portion of the policy that empowers a peace officer to enter a home without a warrant, and by force if necessary, should there be reasonable belief of a dangerous dog inside, the mayor said, “I think there is a little bit more clarity there ... you can't just kick down a house for any reason but there has to be support from the courts," Mayor Leslie said.
"But it does give us the authority ... if we have to take the extreme measure to confiscate that dog, it gives us the ability to do it."
Offences and penalties that an owner may be guilty of should their dog attack a person or animal without being provoked, may be fined up to $10,000 or face up to six months of jail time.
"I think society has started to realize that punitive penalties or damages are one way to make people realize right from the start, 'I need to pay attention,'" Mayor Leslie added.
"For years we've had $20 fines, $50 fines and it doesn't seem like it has the same effect."
