Toronto City’s economic development committee will consider a report addressing serious dog attacks with recommendations which include making public a list of known “dangerous dogs,” enforcing standardized signage on properties where the owners of these dogs live, and carrying out a public education campaign on the issue.
The recommendations follow reports of many dog attacks in Toronto in the last few years. Recently, a woman was left with life-threatening injuries after an attack in Etobicoke, which according to the police is “a common story” for people residing in the area.
In a media release, Toronto-Danforth’s Ward 14 councillor, Paula Fletcher, expresses concern that the city’s response is not adequate.
The media release read: “Dangerous dogs and maulings are serious community safety issues. The city’s response to dog mauling and reports of dangerous dogs must be immediate and coordinated.
“Proactive monitoring, enforcement and communication are needed to keep residents and other dogs safe.”
Fletcher called for the staff review after a dog attack left a woman in East York hospitalized in 2023. She demanded staff recommendations for proactive enforcement of dangerous dog orders, quick removals of animals responsible for severe attacks, and strategies to notify and enlighten residents.
One recommendation that will be considered is demanding up to $500,000 from the 2025 budget to implement a communication strategy and a public education campaign that aims to reduce dangerous dog incidents. This will add to an increase in funding approved by the council recently to employ more bylaw and animal control officers.
Also, city staff recommend that the public record of mad dogs includes listing the first three digits of the postal code of the dog’s owner, the dog’s name, breed, colour, and the date of attack.
Part of the third recommendation is a request to amend the Dog Owner’s Liability Act (DOLA) to the Ford government in order to act fast on DOLA hearing proceedings.
