Dog By-law No. 206 — full text

This is an automated transcription (OCR) of the captured official document — minor recognition errors are possible; the source document governs. Snapshot f72dd1684437 · verified 2026-06-05 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

## Title ## Town of Annapolis Royal Dog By-Law #206 1. This By-Law is entitled the "Dog By-Law". ## Definitions - (1) "at large" means: 2. In this Bylaw words and phrases have the same meaning as in the Municipal Government Act or as provided below: 3. (a) off the premises of the owner without being on a leash or under the effective care and control at all times of a responsible and capable person; or 4. (b) on a tether of sufficient length to permit the dog to wander beyond the property boundaries of the premises of the owner. - (2) "destroy" means humanely euthanized; - (3) "dog" has the same meaning as in the Municipal Government Act or successor legislation from time to time; - (4) "domestic animal" includes pets and farm animals; - (5) "escape-proof enclosure" that does not allow the dog to jump, climb or dig its way out of while it is on the property of the owner - (6) "extraordinary expense" means any expense incurred by Municipal Staff in relation to a dog except for provision of food and shelter ; - (7) "fierce or dangerous dog" means any dog: 11. (b) that, in the absence of a mitigating factor as defined herein, has attacked or injured a domestic animal; 12. (a) that, in the absence of a mitigating factor as defined herein, has attacked or injured a person ; 13. (c) that, in the absence of a mitigating factor as defined herein, approaches any person or domestic animal in an apparent attitude of attack upon streets, sidewalks, any public grounds or places, or on private property other than the property of the owner; 14. (e) that is rabid or appears to be rabid or exhibiting symptoms of canine madness. 15. (d) trained or used for dog fighting; or - (8) "impound" means to seize and hold in custody. - (9) "mitigating factor" means a circumstance that may excuse the dangerous behaviour of a dog and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may include: 18. (a) aggressive behaviour while acting in defense of an attack by a person or domestic animal; 19. (b) aggressive behavior while acting in defense of its young; 20. (d) aggressive behavior resulting from being teased, provoked, or tormented. 21. (c) aggressive behavior as a reaction to a person or domestic animal trespassing on the property of its owner; 22. (e) aggressive behavior caused by the complainant leaving food or attractants of any type out of doors; 23. (f) the dog is a professionally trained dog lawfully engaged in law enforcement duties under the control of a law enforcement officer. - (10) "Municipal Staff" means the The Municipality of the County of Annapolis employees designated by CAO - (11) "Town Staff" means a Town employee designated by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to act on the Town's behalf for the purpose of this By-law or a peace officer designated to act on the Municipality's behalf for the purpose of enforcing this By-law; - (12) "owner" has the same meaning as in the Municipal Government Act or successor legislation from time to time. ## Registration 3. Town residents have the option to register their dog and receive a dog tag on a volunteer basis for a one-time fee as set by Town Council from time to time by policy or motion. 5. A fee as set by Town Council from time to time by policy or motion is required for a replacement tag. 4. The registration can be transferred to a subsequent dog. with the registration information updated 6. Residents may register their dog and receive a tag at Town Hall. ## Administration of By-law 8. Municipal staff shall collect on behalf of the Municipality any impounding fees, daily pound fees and any other additional expenses, charges or fees as are authorized in this Bylaw. 7. Municipal staff shall be responsible for the enforcement of this By-law. 9. Municipal staff shall protect the confidentiality of all persons involved in an investigation to the greatest extent possible, except as may be required to be disclosed for court prosecution and in accordance with Part XX, Municipal Government Act Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy) ## Contravention of By-law 10. Every owner: - (1) whose dog runs at large; or - (2) whose dog has attacked or injured a person; or - (4) who fails to comply with a notice to muzzle, securely leash, and ensure that the dog is under the control of a person not under 18 years of age when the dog is off the property of the owner the dog; or - (3) whose dog has attacked or injured a domestic animal; or - (5) who fails to comply with a notice to keep the dog securely restrained either indoors or inside an escape proof enclosure that does not allow the dog to jump, climb or dig its way out of while it is on the property of the owner; or - (6) who fails to remove the feces of his / her dog from public property or private property other than the owners; or - (8) who owns, keeps or harbours a fierce or dangerous dog is guilty of an offence under this Bylaw. Each contravention is a separate offence and subject to a separate charge. - (7) whose dog persistently disturbs the quiet of the neighbourhood by barking, howling or otherwise; or ## Dogs Barking 11. No dog shall be permitted to persistently disturb the quiet of the neighborhood by barking, howling or otherwise making noise to a degree beyond what the Bylaw Enforcement Officer determines to be normal. 12. In Determining what is "normal" in the context of this section, the Bylaw Enforcement Officer shall consider one or more, but not limited to, the following factors; - b) The frequency and duration of the reported disruptive behaviour - a) The time of day that the dog is reported as disruptive - c) The proximity of neighbors and population density of the neighbourhood. 13. The Owner of a dog which persistently disturbs the quiet of a neighbourhood within the meaning of this part commits an offence under this Bylaw. If the Bylaw Enforcement Officer determines, upon reasonable grounds, that a dog is being disruptive, as defined in this section the Bylaw Enforcement Officer shall give a written warning to the dog owner before taking any other action under this Bylaw. ## Dogs Running At Large 14. Municipal Staff may, without notice to or complaint against the owner, impound any dog that runs at large contrary to this By-law. 15. When a dog is impounded, Municipal Staff shall check for a tag or electronic identification device. If a tag or electronic identification device is found, Municipal Staff shall make at least three attempts to contact the owner of the dog. However, it remains the responsibility of the owner of a missing dog to contact Town or Municipal Staff to ascertain whether the dog has been impounded. 16. Any dog which has not been recovered by its owner at the expiry of a period of 72 hours after being impounded may be given away or destroyed. 17. Whenever the 72 hours of impounding time expires on a weekend or holiday, Town Staff shall hold such dog until the expiry of the first business day following the weekend or holiday to permit the owner to recover the dog. 18. Where a dog is injured, ill or diseased before or after being impounded such that in the opinion of Municipal Staff and on the advice of a veterinarian it should be euthanized without delay for humane reasons, the dog may be euthanized in a humane manner without giving notice to the owner or permitting any person to recover the animal. 19. Where a dog is injured, ill or diseased before or after being impounded such that in the opinion of Municipal Staff it should receive veterinary treatment without delay for humane reasons, the dog may receive treatment without giving notice to the owner or permitting any person to recover the animal prior to receiving treatment. 20. Upon verification of proof of ownership, the owner of a dog which has been impounded for being at large may recover the dog after making payment (or satisfactory arrangements for payment) of: - (2) a daily pound fee (as set by Town Council from time to time by policy or practice); - (1) an impounding fee (as set by Town Council from time to time by policy or practice); - (3) all travel expenses incurred by the Municipal Staff; - (5) reimbursement for any extraordinary expenses incurred by Municipal Staff in relation to the dog; and - (4) all necessary veterinary costs incurred to care for the dog; - (6) a mandatory registration fee (tag and / or microchip at the discretion of Town Staff). 21. If a dog is not released to its owner, the fee, expenses and costs payable in section 16 may be recovered by the town from the owner as debt. 22. In a circumstance that previous warnings or tickets have been given to the owner of a dog which has been at large, Municipal Staff may refuse to permit the owner to recover the dog. Any dog which is not permitted to be recovered by its owner may be given away or euthanized. ## Fierce and Dangerous Dogs 23. If a dog is fierce or dangerous, Municipal Staff may do any one or a combination of the following: - (1) impound the dog: - (3) issue the owner a notice to keep the dog securely restrained either indoors or inside an escape-proof enclosure that does not allow the dog to jump. climb or dig its way out of while it is on the property of the owner; - (2) issue the owner a notice to muzzle, securely leash, and ensure that the dog is under the control of a person not under 18 years of' age when the dog is off the property of the owner the dog; 24. If in the opinion of Municipal Staff a dog is an imminent threat to the safety of humans or domestic animals, Municipal Staff may have the dog euthanized without permitting the owner to recover it and issue a notice to the owner informing that the dog has been euthanized. 25. If a notice has been issued to the owner in accordance with Section 19, the owner may recover the dog after making payment (or satisfactory arrangements for payment) of: - (1) an impounding fee (as fixed by policy or motion); - (2) a daily pound fee (as fixed by policy or motion); - (4) all necessary veterinary costs incurred to care for the dog; and - (3) all travel expenses incurred by the Town; - (5) reimbursement for any extraordinary expenses incurred by Town Staff in relation to the - (6) a mandatory registration fee. 26. Where a dog impounded in accordance with Section 19 is injured, ill or diseased before or after - being impounded such that in the opinion of Municipal Staff it should be euthanized without delay for humane reasons, the dog may be euthanized in a humane manner without giving notice to the owner or permitting any person to recover the animal. 27. If a dog is destroyed, the fees, expenses and costs payable in Section 21 may be recovered by the Town from the owner as a debt. 28. The failure of the owner to comply with any notice issued in accordance with Section 19 shall be an offence under this By-law. ## Penalty 29. Any person who contravenes any provision of this By-Jaw is punishable on summary conviction by a fine of not less than $200.00 and not more than $1,000 for a first offence; and not less than $300.00 and not more than $1.000 for a second offence: and not less than $400.00 and not more than $1,000 for a third or subsequent offence. ## Repeal 30. The Town of Annapolis Royal Dog By-Law effective October 7. 2020. ## Effective Date 31. This by-law shall be effective on the date of publishing. This is to certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a by-law passed at a duly convened meeting of the Council of the Town of Annapolis Royal, held the 16" day of July 2025. Given under the hand of the Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer and the seal of the Toon of Annapolis Royal chis 17 day of July. 2025.    Nandi Millest Campbell CAO Sandi Millett-Campbell Mayor Amery Boyer  | FIRST READING | June 18. 2025 | |------------------------------|-----------------| | NOTICE OF INTENT PUBLICATION | June 19,2025 | | SECOND READING | July 16, 2025 | | MINISTERIAL APPROVAL | N/A | | DATE OF PUBLISHING | July 17,2025 | | FORWARDED TO MINISTER | July 21, 2025 | | POSTED TO TOWN WEBSITE | July 17, 2025 | ## DOG NOTICE ## Town of Annapolis Royal TAKE NOTICE that a dog described as/bearing tag#t, has been impounded in the animal pound of The Town of Annapolis Royal, located at → and unless such dog is claimed and registered not later than \_ the said dog may be destroyed or disposed according to law. Dated at A.D. 20\_ \_ NS. This day of Pound Keeper