THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD

WHEREAS the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, Chapter C. 25, as amended, provides that Municipalities may pass By-laws for licensing, regulating, prohibiting, impounding, muzzling, or selling animals; and

WHEREAS Section 103 (1) (c) of the Municipal Act, 2001 provides for the establishment of procedures for the voluntary payment of penalties out of court where it is alleged that the by-law respecting animals being at large or trespassing has been contravened; and

WHEREAS Section 128 of the Municipal Act, 2001 provides that a local municipality may prohibit and regulate with respect to public nuisances; and

WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Laird deems it advisable to exercise such authority;

NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Municipality of the Township of Laird hereby enacts as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

1. “Bite” means piercing or puncturing of the skin as a result of contact with a dogs tooth or teeth.
2. “By-Law Enforcement Officer/Provincial Offences Officer” means the person appointed by Council to uphold the provisions of this By-law or his/her delegate.
3. “Clerk” means the Clerk Administrator for the Corporation of the Township of Laird.
4. “Dangerous Dog” means a dog that has attacked, bitten or caused injury to a person or other domestic animal, or a dog previously designated as a potentially dangerous dog that is kept or permitted to be kept by its owner in violation of the requirements for such dog.
5. “Disabled Person” refers to a physically, vision or hearing-impaired person who is the owner of a dog which serves as a guide or leader.
6. “Dog” means any dog male or female over the age of six (6) months.
7. “Kennel” means a place or confine where purebred dogs are bred and raised and registered in the Register for the Canadian Kennel Club Incorporated.
8. “Owner” means and includes a person who possesses or harbours a dog and, where the owner is a minor, the person responsible for the custody of the minor.
9. “Pound keeper” means the shelter operated by the Sault Ste. Marie and District Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Humane Society (SPCA) on behalf of and under agreement with the Corporation of the Township of Laird.
10. “Township” means The Corporation of the Township of Laird.

2. LICENSING AND REGISTRATION

1. Notwithstanding Section 4 of this by-law, every owner of a dog shall obtain a license annually and cause the dog to be registered, numbered, described and licensed with the Township as soon as the dog has attained the age of 6 months.
2. No person shall:
   1. register an unspayed female dog as a spayed female;
   2. register an unneutered male as a neutered male;
   3. use a tag upon a dog other than the dog for which it was issued.
   4. own, harbour or keep more than 5 dogs unless in a licensed kennel (section 4a)
3. Upon application for a license, the dog owner will be required to produce a certificate signed by a registered veterinarian that the dog has been inoculated with an anti-rabies vaccine within a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of application for the license.
4. Dog tags shall be worn at all times, and shall bear the serial number and the year in which it was issued and a record shall be kept by the Township of Laird showing the name and address of the owner and the number of the tag issued to such owner
5. No license tag or registration shall be transferrable and the license tag shall expire and become void upon the sale, death, or other means of disposal of the dog.
6. Every license issued pursuant to this By-law shall expire on the 31st day of March in the following year.

3. PENALTY FOR NON-RENEWAL

Any person who fails to renew a dog license on or before March 31 of each year shall be subject to a penalty as set out in Schedule “A” attached hereto and forming part of this By-law.

4. KENNELS

1. If a Kennel license is issued as per By-law,868-08 by the Township of Laird for a kennel of pure-bred dogs registered in the register of The Canadian Kennel Club Incorporated the owner shall pay an annual license fee to the township in accordance with the rates established in Schedule “A: for a license fee for the kennel, no further license fee is required to be paid in respect of such pure-bred dogs while they are a part of the kennel. The Owner is still required to obtain license tags while dogs are a part of the kennel. (Laird Township does not allow boarding kennels as per By-law,868-08)
2. Regardless of the number of dogs per household, all dog owners within the Township of Laird shall comply with this by-law relating to running at large, barking or howling, or causing a nuisance or disturbance.

5. DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE

1. No dog shall be permitted to run at large within the Township of Laird.
2. For the purposes of this by-law a dog shall be deemed to be running at large when it is found not to be under the care and control of a person and on a leash within 3 meters (10 feet) of that person, or leashed to a structure, unless the dog is on the property of its owner or a person who has consented to it being on his property while it is unleashed.
3. The By-Law Enforcement/Provincial Offences Officer or O.P.P. Officer shall make all reasonable efforts to identify and contact the owner of every stray dog received, whether the dog is living or dead.
4. No leash shall exceed 3 meters (10 feet) in length.
5. Every leash used or carried for the purpose of restraining any dog shall be substantially constructed or composed of strong material such as a chain or rope and shall be capable, at all times, of securely restraining such dog.
6. The owner of any dog found to be running at large may be issued an Offence Notice and required to pay the fee as set out in Schedule “A” attached hereto and forming part of this By-law.

6. IMPOUNDING AND DESTRUCTION

1. A dog which is found running at large contrary to the provisions of this by-law may be seized and impounded in the Pound.
2. A dog so impounded shall be held for a period of four days and if not claimed and released to the owner thereof within such period, such dog may then be euthanized or sold by the Pound keeper as he or she may deem appropriate.
3. A dog so impounded shall not be released until the owner thereof has paid to the Pound keeper all fees during which the dog has been impounded plus any administrative fees approved by the Board of the Society.
4. Where a dog is adopted under this by-law the proceeds of the adoption shall be paid to the Pound keeper.

17. EFFECTIVE DATE

This By-law shall come into force and effect on the day it if finally passed

READ and passed in Open Council this 16th day of January 2025.

Mayor __________________________
Shawn Evoy

Seal

Clerk ___________________________
Jennifer Errington

SCHEDULE “A” TO BY-LAW #2040-25