Edmonton city council looking to increase fines for dog attacks, bites

If you’re a dog owner, you may want to pay extra attention to your dog when in public around other dogs or people, as the City of Edmonton looks to increase fines for dog attacks and bites.

“People, just like children. They have pets, they have to take responsibility,” said Eve, a dog owner.

Eve often brings her two-year-old dog Kahlua to this off-leash dog park in west Edmonton. She’s happy the city is considering increasing fines for animal attacks after her last dog, Laila, was injured in multiple attacks.

“It was not a very good experience, and you have to take your dog to the vet, and in one instance, I had to go to the hospital,” she explained.

Edmonton’s current animal control bylaw is 20 years old. The city says increasing fines for animal attacks would help protect animals and people, while also encouraging pet owners to be more responsible.

“We’re seeing a lot of conflicts between pets, pets on pets, pets with kids, pets with other humans, and so we need to make sure our bylaws are reflective of what Edmontonians wanna see in terms of responsible pet ownership,” said Erin Rutherford, the councillor of Ward Anirniq.

Under current law, if a dog attacks or bites, attacks any person or animal, there is a $500 fine.

Administration proposes to increase this fine to $2,000 if the dog attacks another pet and causes a serious injury, and to $3,000 if the dog seriously injures a person or kills another pet. With higher fines for second offences.

The proposed bylaw also increases fines for dogs considered ‘restricted’ based on past convictions under the animal licensing and control bylaw.

“I think what the public expects is that first time something happens there going to be a level of fine. If it happens repeatedly, I think there’s an expectation that the accountability needs to increase as well,” said Liza Sunley, the CEO of the Edmonton Humane Society.

The majority of the dog owners CityNews spoke with Monday say they’re in favour of seeing increased fines for animal attacks.

“If your dog can’t be safe off leash then don’t bring it here,” said Debbie, a dog owner.

Anne, another dog owner, said, “If you have steeper consequences of course you’re gonna want to make sure you don’t get fined or your dog is behaving or put a muzzle on it if it’s the type of dog that’s going to bite people.”

Kevin, another dog owner, said, “I think it’s fair to tell you the truth because when you have a dog like his size, you have to have control of him.”

A draft bylaw was discussed in front of the city council on Monday. The final version of the animal control bylaw will be presented to the council in August.