REGINA — Animal advocates feel the city’s updated amended animal bylaw is a step in the right direction, but more work needs to be done.
On Wednesday, the city presented the new version at Regina’s executive committee to “ensure dangerous animals in the community can be managed effectively.”
Council had directed city administration in Jan. 2025 to consult with stakeholders and conduct an assessment of animal bylaws across Canadian municipalities.
Administration has now recommended several key changes, including:
- The city can apply to the court for an interim order offering a streamlined process to ensure the owner complies with restrictions pending the dangerous animal hearing. (Before, a city representative is conducting a dangerous animal hearing to have an animal designated as a dangerous animal. Following this, a Justice of the Peace may issue various orders to ensure the owner manages their pet appropriately);
- Dogs must be leashed on public property except for off-leash parks where verbal control is permitted. (The old version allows owners to have either physical or verbal control of their animal in public);
- Animal owners must show identification upon request of a designated officer if there is a process for issuing a ticket (The previous version did not permit identification);
- Holding periods for animals at the Regina Humane Society (RHS) is now 72 hours for unclaimed or released pets (Previously, animals unclaimed could remain at the RHS for 10 days);
- Fines for not showing identification to a designated officer: first conviction ($100), second conviction ($150), third conviction ($200), fourth conviction (fine and subsequent convictions established by the court);
- All fines for allowing an animal to be at large, failure to control an animal and allowing a dangerous animal or animal displaying aggressive behaviour in off-leash dog parks have been proposed to increase by $50 for each offence;
- Animal owners will now be required to report when their animal bites another person;
- Only animals within the city boundary can be taken to the RHS (Previously, animals at large).
Former Regina city councillor Terina Nelson, who helped craft the motion for the review with Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak called this new bylaw “a positive step.”
“Measures for interim court orders, clear leash requirements, and stronger enforcement tools for dangerous animals will help improve public safety. These are important and should be acknowledged.”
However, Nelson said this report is “narrow in scope.”
“This was intended to be a comprehensive review of animal care and control, including prevention, welfare and responsible ownership, not just enforced after [an] an accident occurs.”
Regina resident Angela McLean shared her story of her seven-year-old, who was attacked by a dog in September of 2024, stating the incident wasn’t isolated.
“For years, are neighbours allowed multiple aggressive dogs to roam freely. These dogs chased families, visitors and children in their neighbourhood.”
Despite calling animal control, McLean said the animals would be released the same day and roam freely once again.
“Before my son’s attack, there were clear warning [signs], there were repeat incidents, there were escalating risks, and yet nothing changed.”
McLean said the revised animal bylaw fails to prevent attacks from happening.
“Residents deserve better; they deserve to feel safe. Parents deserve to know their children are protected when they’re playing with their friends on the crescent.”
Nelson said the update doesn’t address tethering dogs or choke collars. She noted that both have been shown to increase aggression in dogs.
Overall, Nelson admitted “feeling disappointed” in the results.
Solutions:
Lisa Koch, executive director of the RHS, said adding responsible pet ownership provisions in the bylaw would strengthen prevention, public safety, and animal welfare in our community.
“Providing provisions in the bylaw allows officers to intervene [in the] early stage, perhaps it could be a warning, it could be education,” noted Koch.
Councillors also wondered how the animal bylaw can prevent an owner from claiming their pet again if they don’t follow guidelines set by an investigator to mitigate risk to the animal or public while the court is reviewing a case.
“Maybe there is a possibility that there is a provision in the bylaw that if you’re not following those orders, then you’re relinquishing your right to owning the pet, so the pet can be taken into care,” said Lindsay West of the RHS.
Administration said they will come back on a yearly basis to report on progress and recommendations moving forward.
The amendments to the bylaw will be discussed for final approval next week.
