4146 To establish and regulate the Use of Designated Off Leash Dog ParksI'HE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF TILLSONBU'-kG
BY-LAW 4146
A BY-LAW TO ESTABLISH AND REGULATE THE USE OF DESIGNATED OFF LEASH DOG
PARKS
WHEREAS sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended,
authorize the power to pass by-laws regulating a municipality to provide any service or thing that
the municipality considers necessary or desirable for the public;
AND WHEREAS section 10(2) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25 provides that a
municipality may pass by-laws respecting the social well-being of the municipality, animals and
protection of persons and property;
AND WHEREAS the municipal council of the Town of Tillsonburg considers it desirable to enact
a by-law providing for off leash Dog Parks in the Town;
AND WHEREAS section 11 of the Dog Owners' Liability Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 16 provides
that if there is a conflict between a provision of that Act or of a regulation under that Act and
a municipal by-law relating to pit bulls the provision that is the most restrictive in relation to
controls or bans on pit bulls prevails.
NOW THEREFORE Council of the Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg does enact as follows:
Part I: General
Interpretation
Definitions
1. In this By-law:
Animal" includes any mammal, bird or reptile, but does not include a Dog.
Animal Care and Control By-law" means By-law 3507 being A By-law of the Town of
Tillsonburg to Regulate the Keeping of Animals and the Registration of Dogs and Cats, as
amended or replaced from time to time.
Authorized Hours of Use" means the hours of use for a Dog Park and the times during which
persons, other than authorized Town officials, employees or agents, may enter a Dog Park,
as determined by the Director of Recreation, Culture & Parks.
Authorized Sign" means a sign authorized by the Director of Recreation, Culture &
Parks; posted in accordance with the Sign By-law.
Dog" means a domesticated canine animal, male or female, spayed or neutered
or natural, harboured or kept by any persons.
Council" means the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Tillsonburg.
Dog Park" means the lands enclosed by fence in a Designated Dog Park Area as set out in
Schedule "A" to this By-law".
Dog Licence" means a disc or other shape of metal or plastic furnished by the
Town of Tillsonburg suitable to be securely affixed to a dog's collar or other
restraining device, which must be worn by the dog whenever the dog is off the
owner's property.
Director of Recreation, Culture & Parks" means the Director of Recreation, Culture & Parks
appointed by the Town of Tillsonburg and includes his or her authorized designate.
Leash Free" means without human control by a device, such as a leash, lead, chain,
harness, line or rope or devices of a similar nature.
Licence" means a dog licence issued pursuant to this bylaw.
Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer" means an Officer designated by the Council and
whose duties include the enforcement of this Bylaw.
Restricted Dog" means a restricted dog under the Dog Owners' Liability Act, R.S.O.
1990, c. D.16 or a Dog deemed vicious under the Animal Control By-law.
Sign By-law" means By-law 3798 being A By-law of the Town of Tillsonburg to Prohibit or
Regulate Signs and other Advertising Devices and the Posting of Notices within the Town of
Tillsonburg.
Miscellaneous
2. (i) When this By-law refers to a person or thing with reference to gender or the
gender neutral, the intention is to read the By-law with the gender applicable to the
circumstances.
ii) References to items in the plural include the singular, as applicable.
3. The words "include", "including" and "includes" are not to be read as limiting the
phrases or descriptions thatprecede them.
4. Headings are inserted for ease of reference only and are not to be used as
interpretation aids.
5. Specific references to laws in this By-law are printed in italic font and are meant to refer
to the current laws applicable with the Province of Ontario as at the time the By-law was
enacted, as they are amended from time to time.
ESTABLISHMENT OF DOG PARK. RULES AND CODE OF CONDUCT
6. Dog Parks are established in the fenced areas on the lands described in
Schedule "A" of this By-law as Designated Off Leash Dog Park Areas.
7. In addition to the provisions in this By-law, rules for the use of a Dog Park and
Acceptable behaviours of persons and Dogs in a Dog Park are established in
Schedule "B" to this By-law and as amended by the Director of Recreation,
Culture & Parks.
USE OF DOG PARK
Off Leash Permitted
8. (i) A person may not permit a dog (s) to be Leash Free in a Dog Park unless the
dog(s) is wearing the municipal Dog Licence issued for the current year.
ii) A person may not permit a dog(s) to be Leash Free in a Dog Park unless the
dog(s) is wearing a valid rabies tag.
iii) A person may not permit or cause more than three (3) Dogs to be Leash
Free in a Dog Park.
Restricted Dogs Prohibited
9. Despite subsections 8(i), 8(ii) and 8(iii), no person shall permit or cause a
Restricted/ dangerous dog (s) or a dog required to wear a muzzle to enter a
Dog Park.
Dogs Leashed Inside Double Gates
10. No person shall permit or cause the exterior entry gates to be opened when a
dog is leash free within the double gated areas.
Possession of Leash at All Times
11. A person that has permitted or caused a Dog to be leash free in a Dog Park shall
possess a leash for each Dog that he or she has permitted or caused to be leash
free.
Dog Must be Supervised at All Times
12. No person shall leave a Dog that he or she has permitted or caused to be leash
free in a Dog Park unattended.
Sporting Activities Prohibited
13. No person shall bring or play with any toys in a Dog Park.
Glass, Breakable Materials Prohibited
14. No person shall convey to or on, or enter or be in any area in a Dog Park while in the
possession of any bottles, containers or any other articles, equipment, or utensils,
made of glass, china, ceramic or any other breakable substance.
Other Animals Prohibited
15. (i) No person shall permit or cause any animal other than a Dog to be in a Dog
Park.
ii) No person shall permit or cause any puppies under 4 months of age to be
in a Dog Park.
iii) No person shall cause or permit an unhealthy Dog or a Dog in heat to enter
or stay in a Dog Park.
Park Closure
16. No person shall be in a Dog Park when a Dog Park is closed in accordance with
section 22.1 (iii) or during a time outside the Authorized Hours of Use.
Failure to Comply With Signs
17. No person shall fail to comply with an Authorized Sign.
Smoking Prohibited
18. No person shall smoke within the fenced area or within 9 metres outside of the fence of
the Dog Park.
Excrement
19. Every person having care or control of dog(s) shall forthwith remove and dispose of any
excrement left by the dog(s).
Excessive Barking Prohibited
20. No person shall permit or allow a dog(s) to bark excessive in the dog park.
Persons Must Identify Self
21. When requested to do so by a Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer, no person shall
fail to identify him or herself to a Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer.
ADIu,'iiNISTRATION
22.The administration of this By-law is assigned to the Director of Recreation, Culture &
Parks who is also delegated the authority to make all decisions required of the Director
of Recreation, Culture & Parks under this By-law and to perform all administrative
functions identified herein and those incidental to and necessary for the due
administration of this By-law, including the authority to:
i) Establish parts of a Dog Park for the exclusive use of Dogs to be
determined based on a Dog's height.
ii) Authorize the placement, form, positioning and content of an Authorized Sign
in a Dog Park, whether on a permanent or temporary basis.
iii) Close a Dog Park in whole or in part on a temporary basis to prevent overcrowding, to
perform maintenance or where the Director of Recreation, Culture & Parks
determines it is necessary for the health or welfare of the public or the protection of
property.
iv) Close a Dog Park in whole or in part for certain periods throughout the
year.
v) Set Authorized Hours of Use.
23. The Director of Recreation, Culture & Parks may delegate the performance of
any one or more of his or her functions under this By-law to one or more persons
from time to time as the occasion requires and may impose conditions upon
such delegation and may revoke any such delegation. The Director of Recreation,
Culture & Parks may continue to exercise authority granted in subsection (22) despite
any such delegation.
Notice and to Cease, Leave Park, Etc.
24. Where a person contravenes a provision of this By-law, the permission of such
person to remain in a Dog Park is revoked.
25. (i) A Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer or the Director of Recreation, Culture &
Parks or his or her delegate may issue a verbal or written notice to a person
believed to be in contravention of this By-law to cease the activity that is in
contravention of the By-law.
ii) A Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer may make a written order to a person
believed to be in contravention of this By-law to:
a) cease an activity that is in contravention of the By-law; or
b) leave a Dog Park or Designated Dog Park Area
iii) No person shall fail to comply with an order issued by a Municipal By-law
Enforcement Officer under (25ii).
26. (i) Where a person is believed to have contravened any provisions of this By-law, such
person is subject to the provisions of the Trespass to Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. T. 21
ii) Nothing in this By-law relieves any person from complying with any provision of any
Federal or Provincial legislation or any other By-law of the Town.
iii) Where a provision of this By-law conflicts with the provisions of another By-law in
force in the Town, the provision that establishes the higher standard to protect the
health, safety and welfare of persons or the environmental well-being of the
municipality shall prevail.
Schedules
27. (i) Each of the following Schedules is incorporated into and forms part of this By-law:
Schedule "A" Designated Off Leash Dog Park Area
Schedule "B" Dog Park Rules and Conduct
ENFORCEMENT. OFFENCES. PENALTIES. FINES
28. (i) A Municipal By-law Enforcement Officermay:
a) enforce the provisions of this By-law; and
b) may, where the Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer has reason to believe
that a By-law has been contravened, ask a person in or on a Dog Park or
Designated Dog Park Area to leave a Dog Park or Designated Dog Park Area.
29. (i) Any person who contravenes any provision of this By-law is, upon conviction,
guilty of an offence and is liable to any penalty as provided in the Provincial
Offences Act.
ii) For the purposes of subsection (i), each day on which a person contravenes
any of the provisions of this By-law shall be deemed to constitute a separate
offence under this By-law.
iii)An offence and subsequent conviction under this By-law pursuant to the
Provincial Offences Act or the Municipal Act, 2001, shall not be deemed in any
way to preclude the Town from issuing a separate legal proceeding to recover
charges, costs and expenses incurred by the Town and which may be recovered
in a Court of competent jurisdiction.
iv) Nothing in the By-law relieves any person from complying with any provisions of
any federal or provincial legislation or any other By-law of the Town.
v) Where a provision of this By-law conflicts with the provisions of another By-law in
force in the Town, the provision that establishes the higher standard to protect
the health; safety and welfare of persons or the environmental well-being of the
municipality shall prevail.
VALIDITY
30. If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any section or part of a section of the by-
law invalid, it is the intention of Council that the remainder of the by-law shall continue
to be in force.
EFFECTIVE DATE
31. This by-law shall come into full force and effect on the day of its final passing thereof.
SHORT TITLE
32. This by-law shall be referred to as the "Designated Off Leash Dog Park Bylaw"
READ A FIRST TIW-WAND SECOND TIME THIS 11th day of December, 2017.
READ A THIO MD FINAL TIME AND PASSED THIS 11th day of December, 2017.
Stephen Molnar
Town Clerk — Donna Wilson
SCHEDULE "A" - BY-LAW 4146
DESIGNATED OFF LEASH DOG PARK AREA
E
4
SCHEDU LL "B" - BY-LAW 4146
TILLSONBURG DOG PARK RULES AND CONDUCT
Use the area at your own risk
Dog Park is open from 6:00 AM — 10:00 PM
Dog(s) must be on leash at all times except when in the designated off leash area
Leash your dog while entering and exiting the enclosure
Keep your dog(s) in sight and under control at all times
Each owner/custodian shall not supervise more than three (3) dogs while in the park
At no time may the owner/custodian exit the fenced area without his/her dog(s)
You must clean up after your dog. Stoop and Scoop is mandatory
All dog waste must be cleaned up and properly disposed of
Fill any holes that your dog may dig
No smoking within the fenced area or within 9 metres outside of the fence
Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times
Excessive barking is prohibited. Dogs barking excessively must be removed
Dogs displaying aggressive behavior must be removed immediately
Dog owners are subject to Ontario's Dog Owners' Liability Act
PROHIBITED FROM THE DOG PARK AREA
Dogs not wearing valid rabies and municipal licence tags
Dogs with any sickness
Dogs designated as dangerous/restricted or required to wear a muzzle
Female dogs in heat
Puppies under four months of age
All animals other than dogs
Glass containers
Food
Toys
Prong collars, spike collars and choke collars