A motion to amend the city's bylaws about dangerous dogs is moving to city council after it passed unanimously at Tuesday morning’s economic and community development committee.
Officials proposed that owners of dogs with a dangerous dog order must post signage about the order on their private property, in a location where it is visible to any person passing or entering the building.
The motion also recommended signage be posted the outside of the unit door for apartment or condominium buildings where the dog owner resides.
The bylaw amendment, which will be considered at city council later this month, represents a change to Chapter 349 of the Toronto Municipal Code which only states that a warning sign for dangerous dogs must be posted on private property. This amendment would require signage to be placed in a fully visible area or outside of someone's front door if they live in an apartment or condo.
The committee motion was originally put forward by Coun. Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) in November.
A dog mauling incident left an East York resident hospitalized in the summer of 2023.
"The horrific dog mauling in my ward last summer shook our community," said Fletcher in a 2024 news release. "The city's response was concerning to many residents and highlighted issues in our processes for dealing with dangerous dogs."
The committee motion also recommended that city council develop a public document or bulletin on its websites that outlines elements for determining the severity of a "dangerous dog act," like an attack.
This could include a bite scale that details the nature of injuries to a person and/or domestic animal, including whether someone is required to seek medical attention, or whether the dog in question behaved in a manner that may pose a public safety risk.
Recent steps taken by the city saw the implementation of dangerous dog warning signs on the properties of owners with dangerous dog orders, and the launch of a "dangerous dog orders map," which details information about a dog bite, attack or menacing behaviour in Toronto.
The city also launched a public education campaign in Toronto which promoted responsible dog ownership.
Coun. Alejandra Bravo (Davenport), chair of the committee, said at Tuesday's meeting that in many Toronto communities, there is one dog for every two people among the general population.
Bravo said the city needs to ensure pets and humans can cohabitate in a way that ensures all people are safe.
“This is really about responsible dog ownership," Bravo said. "It’s about disciplining humans to be better dog owners — and I wish that we could actually license humans and not dogs because I think that's where the behaviour really lies and where the accountability belongs.”
Bravo said it is important that Toronto never again see anyone disfigured, or children injured, as a result of a dog attack.
