Have a dangerous dog? Expect a visit from city staff

Owners of dogs deemed dangerous in Toronto can expect a visit from city staff under tough new measures being implemented in the wake of a number of severe dog attacks in the last two years.

Starting this week, staff are expected to visit all dog owners who have received dangerous dog orders, the city said in a news release on Wednesday. The visits, which will continue into May, will be prioritized according to the severity of the behaviour of the dog in question. There are currently 373 dangerous dog orders in place in Toronto.

Owners will receive a standardized warning sign that must be posted on their property and will be reminded of the requirements of dangerous dog orders.

According to the city, owners of dangerous dogs must muzzle their dogs when they are in public, obtain a dangerous dog tag, ensure their dogs are socialized properly, make their dogs undergo obedience training and not allow their dogs to go into off-leash areas in Toronto.

The sign that must be posted, which includes a QR code, reads in part: "Warning. Dangerous Dog on Premises." The QR code leads to the city's webpage on dog bites or attacks.

The city has also created a public list of dangerous dogs on its open data portal. The list includes the first three digits of the dog owner's postal code, their ward number, the dog's name, breed and colour and the date of the dog attack that led to the order.

Coun. Paula Fletcher, who represents Ward 14, Toronto-Danforth, said on Wednesday that she pushed for a review of how Toronto Animal Services handles dog attacks after a woman in East York was seriously injured in a mauling by two dogs last July.

The woman was out for an evening walk when she was attacked. The dog owner was charged and the dogs were put down, according to the city.

Since that mauling, there have been two more high profile dog attacks this year. In March, a boy was left with life-altering injuries after being bitten and dragged by a dog in Little Norway Park playground in Toronto's Harbourfront area, and a woman now faces charges. In February, a woman was seriously injured after being attacked by two dogs while she was waiting at a bus stop in Rexdale. A man now faces charges in connection with that attack.

"I think what we found after these three attacks was that many owners were not taking these very seriously," Fletcher said.

The message now, said Fletcher: "This is a serious matter. If your dog has one of these orders, you are required to keep the public safe from your dog."

Fletcher said the city hopes that the public list, along with enforcement and compliance, will increase public safety.

"It's the eyes and ears of the public that will help maintain safety with these dogs," she said. "If the requirements are followed, that should make the public safer."

City council decided in March to increase enforcement, create a public list of dangerous dogs, provide a warning sign to owners and provide access to discounted training for owners with dangerous dogs who cannot afford training.