Bylaw #335/05
A Bylaw to Prohibit the keeping of Dangerous Dogs in the Town of Stoughton
The Council of the Town of Stoughton, in the Province of Saskatchewan enacts as follows:
1. For the purpose of this bylaw the expression:
(a) “dangerous dog” shall mean:
i) any dog without provocation, in a vicious or menacing manner, chased or approached a person or domestic animal in an apparent attitude of attack;
ii) any dog having an inclination, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation, to cause injury or to otherwise threaten the safety of persons or domestic animals;
iii) any dog which has without provocation, bitten, inflicted injury, assaulted or otherwise attacked a person or domestic animal;
iv) any dog owned primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or is trained for dog fighting.
v) any Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull, Rottweiller, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Great Dane or any dog of these mixed breeds.
But shall not include:
i) any dog acting in the performance of police work;
ii) any professionally trained dog working as a guard dog on commercial property:
– securely enclosed on the property by a fence or other barrier sufficient to prevent the escape of the dog and the entry of children of tender years;
– defending that property against a person who was committing an offense.
iii) any dog classified as a “ Guide Dog” or “ Service Dog “ which has been trained by a recognized training facility
(b) “ owner includes”
i) a person who keeps, possesses or harbors a dog;
ii) the person responsible for the custody of a minor where the minor is the owner of a dog.
2. Subject to Sections (4.) & (5.) of this bylaw, no owner shall keep, possess, or harbor a dangerous dog within the Town of Stoughton.
3. Any owner shall, at the request of the council, provide to the council a letter from a Veterinarian registered in accordance to The Veterinarians Act, 1987 certifying the breed or mixed breeds of the owner’s dog.
4. Any Owner living in the Town of Stoughton at the date of the adoption of this bylaw who keeps, possesses or harbors a dangerous dog as defined in section 1 (a) (v) of this bylaw shall be permitted to keep their existing dog provided they comply with the following:
(a) provisions of Bylaw #222/88.
(b) provide third party liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000.00.
(c) provide and keep the dog in a six foot high kennel of chain link construction or of material
approved by council.
(d) if the owner removes the dog from the enclosure, he shall muzzle and leash it and keep it under his direct control and supervision;
(e) the owner shall display a sign, not less than eight inches by twelve inches with one and a quarter inch lettering, on his or her property warning of the presence of the dog and shall continue to display that sign in good condition so long as the dog is present on the property.
5. The Stoughton Police Commission, upon receipt of a dog complaint, shall consider the complaint to determine if the dog mentioned in the complaint matches the definition of a “Dangerous Dog” as defined in Section (1.) of this bylaw.
(a) Acting on the recommendation of the Stoughton Police Commission, the Chairman of the Police Commission, may declare a dog to be a “Dangerous Dog”.
(b) The Owner of a dog declared to be a “Dangerous Dog” by the Chairman of the Stoughton Police Commission shall be served, by Registered Mail, a letter stating that he or she shall be permitted to keep the dog provided all provisions of Section (4.) of this bylaw are complied with.
6. Any owner found guilty of an infraction of this bylaw upon conviction shall be liable to a penalty of $500.00, and should a person who harbors a “dangerous dog” not remove the dog by a given date, an additional penalty of $25.00 per day shall be applied to the original $500.00 penalty.
7. Bylaw # 332/04 is hereby repealed.
8. This bylaw shall come into force and take effect on the date of the final passing thereof.
Certified a true copy of Bylaw #335/05 adopted by resolution of council on the 15th day of March 2005.