Response to EC6.9 - Incident and Operational Review of Serious Dog Attacks

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The decision

2024-03-20 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on March 20 and 21, 2024, adopted the following: 1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals to include a provision that the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards is to create and maintain a public record listing information (including the dog owner's Forward Sorting Area (first three digits of the postal code), ward number, the dog's name, breed and colour, and the date of the dangerous act) of all served Dangerous Dog Orders, which is to be posted in a map and easily searchable format and information organized by postal code and bite severity as well as any other information deemed important by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.

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2. City Council request the Mayor to include resources in the 2025 Budget (up to $500,000) for the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division to implement a proactive communication strategy and public education campaign to support compliance and enforcement with the goal of reducing the occurrence of dangerous dog acts. 3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to assess the feasibility of including photos of dogs on the public record of Dangerous Dog Orders, with such assessment to include privacy, technology, and legal considerations, and report back to the October 23, 2024 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee. 4. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report back to the October 23, 2024 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee on: a. an update on whether all 450 dogs subject to a 'Severe' Dangerous Dog order are in compliance with the updated by-law; b. details on the changes implemented in 2024 and proposed in the 2025 budget to support a switch to a focus on proactive enforcement of the most severe and dangerous cases; c. a proposed increase to the fines or fee structures for unlicensed dogs that are subject to Dangerous Dog orders; and d. an update on the results of the 2019 Ombudsman Recommendations, including the provision of accurate and timely information to victims, the elimination of staff's ability to deal with severe dog bites in the first instance and any additional recommended changes to improve that process. 5. City Council request the Government of Ontario to consider amendments to the Dog Owners' Liability Act (DOLA) to provide an expeditious process to hear the Dog Owners' Liability Act proceedings, as well as an explicit mechanism for municipalities to recover costs incurred by the municipality when it holds an animal pursuant to a warrant or interim control order under the Dog Owners' Liability Act. 6. City Council express its support to the Premier of Ontario and the Ontario Attorney General for higher set fine penalties for offences related to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals, Section 349-15 (Dogs that have bitten, attacked or pose a menace.)

The vote

Adopt Item as Amended · Carried, 21-0

Absent (5)Brad Bradford, James Pasternak, Lily Cheng, Nick Mantas, Vincent Crisanti

The whole record, all 26 members

Every name opens that member’s record.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

On September 21, 2023, the Economic and Community Development Committee adopted EC6.9 - Incident and Operational Review of Serious Dog Attacks. The item included a letter from Councillor Paula Fletcher in response to a serious dog attack occurring on July 30, 2023. Staff were directed to review the specific incident, as well as procedures and processes of Toronto Animal Services (TAS) for the compliance and enforcement of Dangerous Dog Orders, including in the immediate aftermath of a serious dog attack.

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The Committee also requested staff review relevant Toronto Public Health (TPH) processes and procedures, as well as options to make dangerous dog charges known to the public. TAS within Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) investigates dangerous acts committed by a dog. TAS enforces requirements under Chapter 349, Animals (the Animals By-law), which requires owners to take reasonable precautions to prevent their dog from engaging in a dangerous act. The By-law also sets out criteria for when a Dangerous Dog Order may be issued and outlines associated conditions a dog owner must comply with. TAS may also commence proceedings under the provincial Dog Owners' Liability Act (DOLA), which states that dog owners are liable for any damages resulting from a bite or attack by their dog. TPH investigates dog bites or attacks that could be conducive to the transmission of rabies to people. Investigation processes are dictated by the Health Protection and Promotion Act, its regulations, guidelines, and protocols from the Ministry of Health specific to the prevention of rabies. This report summarizes results of operational reviews undertaken by MLS and TPH, as well as actions staff have completed and work that is currently underway to improve processes to support effective and timely dog investigations and enhance public safety. This report was developed in consultation with TPH, Legal Services, and Strategic Public and Employee Communications. Legal Services is preparing a supplementary report for this item.

Staff recommended

The Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards recommends that: 1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals to include a provision that the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards is to create and maintain a public record listing information (including the dog owner's Forward Sorting Area (first three digits of the postal code), ward number, the dog's name, breed and colour, and the date of the dangerous act) of all served Dangerous Dog Orders, which is to be posted in a manner available to the public.

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Considered

2024-02-20 · Economic and Community Development Committee · adopted
Decision as filed
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that: 1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals to include a provision that the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards is to create and maintain a public record listing information (including the dog owner's Forward Sorting Area (first three digits of the postal code), ward number, the dog's name, breed and colour, and the date of the dangerous act) of all served Dangerous Dog Orders, which is to be posted in a manner available to the public.
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2. City Council request the Mayor to include resources in the 2025 Budget (up to $500,000) for the Municipal Licensing and Standards Division to implement a proactive communication strategy and public education campaign to support compliance and enforcement with the goal of reducing the occurrence of dangerous dog acts. 3. City Council request the Government of Ontario consider amendments to the Dog Owners' Liability Act (DOLA) to provide an expeditious process to hear DOLA proceedings, as well as an explicit mechanism for municipalities to recover costs incurred by the municipality when it holds an animal pursuant to a warrant or interim control order under DOLA.
Clerk’s note
The Director Toronto Animal Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and the Deputy Medical Officer of Health gave a presentation on Response to 2023.EC6.9: Incident and Operational Review of Serious Dog Attacks.
2024-03-20 · Toronto City Council · amended

On the record

The item as the City filed it