Edmonton officials review updated animal control bylaw

Edmonton city councillors are looking at new legislation that could introduce steep new fines for viscous dog attacks, as well as address the city’s large feral cat population.

Particularly, the city is considering updating its 20-year-old animal control bylaw, with steep penalties for vicious dog attacks. Under the proposed bylaw, a dog attack that causes serious injury to a person or kills an animal would come with a $7,000 fine.

“I did hear a couple of people, their dogs got attacked by like big dogs, Pitbulls — stuff like that,” said one local dog owner. “But so far, thank god — I always make sure she’s safe.”

Edmonton council is also looking to update pet licensing fees and even fees around bee and bird keeping in Edmonton backyards. The city is also aiming to advance Edmonton’s trap and neuter program for feral and roaming cats, something city leaders say is a growing problem in Edmonton.

“I remember it being around 75,000, which is the estimated amount of feral cats in the city, in the June report, that’s what’s stated,” said Erin Rutherford, councillor at Ward Aniriniq. “So, it is significant, and it’s having an impact on our wildlife and our habitats.”

Animal welfare advocates in Edmonton say the city’s large feral cat population with out placing will further strain on overburdened animal shelters.

“It’s a really nice balance between controlling populations without creating mass number of animals coming into shelters that already strained,” said Liza Sunley, CEO of Edmonton Human Society. “This is a nice way to humanely manage that population.”

City council will vote on the bylaw later this month.