Toronto City Council will consider several proposed amendments to the city’s dangerous dogs bylaw later this month, aimed at improving public safety. The changes, requested last November by Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher, focus on increasing transparency and compliance for dangerous dog owners.
Key proposals include mandatory signage at the entrances of homes with a Dangerous Dog order and the creation of an online registry listing dangerous dogs in the city, along with details about each incident’s severity. Councillor Fletcher also suggested that letters be sent to condo owners and property management groups informing them of the changes, especially in light of the challenges posed by condo regulations that typically ban signage.
The proposed amendments passed through the Economic and Community Development Committee on April 8. According to Fletcher, bylaw officers would be responsible for ensuring that signage is properly posted during compliance checks.
The initiative follows two serious dog attacks in Fletcher’s ward in 2023, in which a woman and a young boy were mauled. Fletcher explained that city inspectors found that many condos prohibited signage, making it difficult to inform residents about the presence of dangerous dogs.
The online registry is envisioned as a tool to alert residents about dangerous dogs in their neighborhoods, further supporting efforts to protect public health and safety.