In a unanimous decision during the regular council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13, Strathcona County Council approved three readings for an amendment to the Responsible Dog Ownership Bylaw. The amendment eliminates the requirement for dog owners to purchase annual dog licenses, marking a significant change in local pet ownership regulations.
Commencing April 1, 2024, the new regulation mandates that local dogs must wear visible identification on a collar or harness, incorporating the owner’s current phone number. This move is aimed at simplifying the process for pet owners while ensuring a straightforward means of contact in case of any issues.
Ward 1 Coun. Robert Parks expressed his support for the amendment, emphasizing its potential to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. “This gives us the opportunity to end what I’ve jokingly called a ‘dog tax’ and put ownership on the owners of the dogs to have proper ID. It gets us out of the dog licensing game,” Parks stated.
Under the updated bylaw, failure to attach an identification tag to a dog’s harness or collar will result in penalties. The first offence incurs a $150 charge, the second offence carries a $300 fee, and the third offence is met with a $500 charge. These measures aim to encourage responsible dog ownership and compliance with the new identification requirements.
