Item - 2024.EC16.3

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council reiterate its request to the Government of Ontario to amend the Dog Owners’ Liability Act (DOLA) to provide an expeditious process to hear 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.

2. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals to replace Section 349-15.1(6) with the following:

“(6) That arrangements are made with the City to enable the City to collect photographs of the dangerous dog that:

(a) are clear and have a neutral background,

(b) show the front, back, left side and right side of the dangerous dog,

(c) do not contain personal information as defined by the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), such as information that would identify a person or address, and

(d) include any other necessary identifying information of the dangerous dog as determined by the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.”

The City is committed to continuous improvement of the dangerous dogs program to support prevention of dangerous acts and effective enforcement of Dangerous Dog Orders. Following an increase in dangerous dog service requests since 2022, as part of Item 2024.EC10.2, the City reviewed its procedures and processes and has recently taken a number of education and enforcement actions to address dangerous dogs in Toronto, and support public safety.

So far in 2024, the number of Dangerous Dog Orders and written warnings served by Toronto Animals Services (TAS) is trending down compared to previous years. Toronto Animals Services has also issued fewer charges for dog owner non-compliance with a Dangerous Dog Order so far in 2024, indicating increased bylaw compliance even with an increase in proactive enforcement visits.

This update report includes the following sections:

1. Recent actions to address dangerous dogs

• Details on key proactive actions the City has initiated since spring 2024, including a standard dangerous dog warning sign, development of the Dangerous Dog Orders map, and steps to address off-leash dogs on school properties.

2. 2024 and 2025 public education campaigns

• Results from a summer 2024 campaign, and plans for an enhanced campaign starting in 2025.

3. Responses to City Council directives

• Staff address outstanding directives resulting from Item 2024.EC10.2 and Item 2024.EC13.1.

4.    Service standards for dangerous act investigations

• Clarification of Toronto Animals Services’ service standards related to dangerous dogs.

This report was developed in consultation with Legal Services and Strategic Public and Employee Communications.