A City committee is looking at making the dangerous dog laws tougher for owners.
In light of a vicious dog attack of a woman at a Rexdale bus stop, the City is looking at putting more teeth into its dangerous dog bylaws.
The owner of two dangerous dogs is on the run after the animals on February 9 jumped on a woman throwing her to the ground and began mauling her that she received more than a dozen stitches.
The dogs attacked the woman and bit and ripped her cheek and arm and left her with a broken arm. The dogs were not on a leash and the owner took off with the animals and is sought by police.
The City wants all dangerous dogs to be put on a public website with their photos, types and colours for all to see.
An Economic and Community Development Committee will consider at a meeting on February 20 amendments to the Serious Dog Attacks bylaw.
The Committee is being asked to create a list of dangerous dogs that will be available on a City website. The list will have a description of the dangerous dog, part of an area code where the dog lives and offences committed by the animal.
The City wants to amend bylaws “to create and maintain a public record listing information, including the dog’s owner, first three digits of the postal code, ward number, the dog’s name, photograph, breed and colour, and dates of all served Dangerous Dog Orders,” according to a report.
If approved owners will be fully responsible for those who have been attacked or bitten by their dogs.
The public list of dangerous dogs will allow residents be aware of vicious animals in their area so they can stay away.
“Dangerous Dog Orders are not currently posted on the City’s website, and the City does not have a public list of dangerous dogs,” according to a report by Municipal Licensing and Standards.
The report is also requesting $500,000 to create a communication strategy and public campaign to support compliance and enforcement with a goal of reducing dangerous dog acts.
“There is a need to change public behaviour and increase awareness of why dogs need to be leashed, how owners can prevent dangerous dog acts and how people and children can safely interact with dogs,” according to the report.
Canines deemed as Dangerous Dogs will be required to wear a special dog tag, banned from off-leash parks and their photos will be on file.
The City is being called on to make owners solely responsible for damages or injuries suffered by victims after their dog attacks someone.
The Ontario government is also being asked to make amendments to the Dog Owner’s Liability Act (DOLA), to provide hearings for dog biting cases, and a way for municipalities to recover costs when it holds an animal on a warrant or interim control order.
All dog bites or attacks are investigated by Toronto Public Health officials to ensure there is no transmission of rabies to people.
This report summarizes actions staff have completed and work that is currently underway to improve processes to support effective and timely dog investigations and enhance public safety.
The changes stem from the vicious attack of Rexdale woman by two dogs whose owner and dogs fled and are being searched for by police.
When a Dangerous Dog Order is issued, the dog owner must ensure the animal is muzzled except when on the owner’s premises, that a warning sign is posted on their premises and the dog is banned from the City’s off-leash areas in parks.
The owner must also obtain a dangerous dog tag and the animal must wear the tag; plus be microchipped, the City must keep a photo of the animal on file and the owner must make sure the dog receives socialization, obedience training in 90 days.
The Order lasts the life of the dog unless rescinded on an appeal to the Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal.
In severe or repeated cases the owner of the animal can undergo a DOLA hearing and an order sought to euthanize the dog.