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Municipalities have discretionary authority to address animal control within the municipality. For example, municipalities may:
Municipalities may also choose to not address any or all of the above matters. Concerns about municipal bylaws, policies or procedures, or the absence of them, can only be addressed by your municipal council.
NOTE: This information is not a substitute for legislation dealing with animal control. It is advisable to consult a solicitor on more complex situations.
Municipalities are empowered to pass bylaws respecting wild and domestic animals and activities in relation to them.
A municipal bylaw concerning domestic animals may focus on items such as:
A municipal bylaw concerning wild animals (i.e., exotic pets) may prohibit the harbouring of these animals.
Your municipality may or may not have bylaws to license or regulate animals in the municipality.
A "dangerous animal" is one that:
An animal will not be declared dangerous if the actions occurred while the animal was:
The legislation defines the term "owner" to mean any of the following:
Each of these individuals is considered the owner of the animal and is subject to liability and penalty provisions if a provincial court judge or a qualified justice of the peace declares the animal dangerous.
If an animal attacks a person or domestic animal while under the temporary care of a veterinarian, a humane society or animal shelter, the temporary caregiver is exempt from liability as an owner unless there was negligence.
Cities may pass a bylaw respecting dangerous animals. Peace officers or designated officers have the ability to take limited action to deal with dangerous animals found on premises other than private dwellings.
Northern municipalities have specific authority to declare any animal or class or classes of animal to be dangerous. Legislative provisions within The Northern Municipalities Act, 2010 respecting dangerous dogs may meet local needs. (View sample northern bylaw for Dangerous Dogs.)
In southern municipalities, excluding cities, control of dangerous animals is addressed within The Municipalities Act. Municipalities may pass bylaws to supplement legislated provisions.
The following situations are offences under the legislation and may result in a fine and/or imprisonment:
Contact your municipal office to report a dangerous animal. Your municipality may have policies to you to report incidents involving animals which are alleged to be dangerous.
If your municipality does not have these types of policies, you may want to consider filing a report with law enforcement officials or consulting with a solicitor.
Complaints about alleged dangerous animals must be heard by a provincial court judge or a qualified justice of the peace.
Once a complaint has been made, the animal owner is served notice of a hearing. If the owner does not appear at the hearing, the court may proceed without the owner.
A person found guilty of any of the above offences may face:
The court may issue an order stating the terms under which the owner must keep the animal. For example, the owner may be required to:
In some cases, the court may order that a dangerous animal be tattooed, spayed/neutered.
The decision of the justice of the peace or the provincial court judge may be appealed within seven days.
If a peace officer or an officer designated by the municipality has grounds for believing that an animal is dangerous or has been ordered destroyed, the officer may, under certain circumstances, enter the premises to search for the animal and impound it. If the animal has been ordered destroyed, the officer may deliver the animal to the person appointed to destroy it.
The Stray Animals Act applies to all municipalities (rural, urban and northern). This Act applies to animals such as cattle and other livestock; it does not apply to animals such as cats and dogs. Council can appoint the municipality's administrator or clerk or any other person to administer the Act.
The owner of a stray animal is liable for any damages to property caused by the stray. This is a civil matter between the stray's owner and the property owner. The municipality is not responsible to collect and remit such damage charges.
Read the Stray Animal Guide prepared by the Ministry of Government Relations.
Contact your municipal office for more information about its animal control bylaws. You may also wish to read the following provincial legislation and regulations:
For more information on responsible pet ownership practices, contact your local veterinarian or humane society or:
Animal Protection Services Saskatchewan
P.O. Box 7073
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J1
Telephone: 306-382-0002
Toll Free: 1-844-382-0002
Website: www.animalprotectionservices.ca
Saskatchewan Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
P.O. Box 37
Saskatoon, SK S7K 3K1
Telephone: 306-382-7722
Toll Free: 1-877-382-7722
Fax: 306-384-3425
Email:info@saskspca.ca
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