Menu

Responsible Pet Ownership

Jun 28, 2019

Over the next few months, Animal Services will be focusing on patroling in Waverley West. By-law officers will be frequencing the parks and walkways in the ward ensuring pet owners are complying with the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law. Pet owners must remove their dog or cat excrement from any public space ie. boulevards, parks, pathways. Pet owners must also have their dogs on-leash in all public spaces unless they are in a designated off-leash dog area. Non compliance may result in a $200 – $400 fee.

Off Leash

Letting your pet run loose puts them and the community in danger and contributes to the already explosive pet population in Winnipeg.

The By-law states that dog owners must keep their dogs on a leash at all times except when on the owner’s property, on the property of another person who has consented to the presence of an unleashed dog, or in a designated off-leash area. The leash must be held by a person able to control the dog. A dog found running loose is considered as “running at large”. According to the By-law, running at large means that the dog is not:

  • on its owner’s property;
  • on other property with the consent of the owner or occupant;
  • in a designated off-leash area;
  • securely confined in a vehicle or other enclosure; or
  • securely leashed and in the custody of someone able to control it.

Cleaning Up After Your Dog

Other than being a nuisance and causing neighburhoods to look unsightly, dog and cat excrement may be harmful to public health because roundworms and other diseases can be passed to humans by pet feces. Young children are especially susceptible because they play and crawl in parks.

The By-law states that where a dog defecates on property other than the property of its owner, the dog owner must remove the excrement immediately and dispose of it in a sanitary manner. A dog owner who fails to clean up after their dog may face charges ($400 or $200 for early payment) under the By-law.

For a list of all fines related to the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, see HERE