Summer bylaw enforcement includes off-leash dogs: City of Toronto

By News Staff

There will be more bylaw officers in the parks this summer, a city spokesperson said Wednesday, but that’s not unusual.

Every summer there are more bylaw officers in the parks, “enforcing and educating residents about all of the bylaws,” Tammy Robbinson told CityNews in an email.

In the past, the city has cracked down on dog owners who don’t keep their dogs on a leash. Dogs must be on a leash, except in designated “off-leash” areas. This summer, bylaw officers will “remind residents about what the rules are … and remind them that not everyone loves dogs and we have to share public spaces.”

In 2016, there were 1283 complaints about dogs not being properly leashed, leading to 127 charges.

So far this year, there have been 652 complaints, leading to 49 charges. The fine for breaking the law is $360.

In 2014, Toronto focused its efforts on education, advising residents that dogs were to remain tethered to their owners at all times except when on the owner’s personal property or in a designated off-leash zone. The city investigated 829 reports of dog handlers violating that law and laid 161 charges that year.

In 2015, the city conducted an “enforcement blitz” that was considered unusual in Canada.

Click here to find an off-leash dog park in your area.

With files from The Canadian Press

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