COUNCIL REPORT: AMENDMENT TO ANIMAL CONTROL, FEES AND CHARGES, AND MUNICIPAL TICKET INFORMATION BYLAWS

AMENDMENT TO ANIMAL CONTROL, FEES AND CHARGES, AND MUNICIPAL TICKET INFORMATION BYLAWS

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated April 2, 2026 from the Director of Protective Services titled “Amendment to Animal Control, Fees and Charges, and Municipal Ticket Information Bylaws” be received.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

Option #2: That Council proceed only with amendments to Fees and Charges Amendment No. 958, 2016 (Amendment Bylaw No. 1166, 2026).

Option #3: That Council maintain the current bylaws with no amendments.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s consideration of amendments to:

Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 643, 2007

and to outline the required bylaw readings and adoption steps for Council’s consideration.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:

At the December 2, 2025 Council meeting, Council resolved to amend Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005 to include an aggressive dog designation.

Following this direction, staff consulted with the Capital Regional District (CRD) Animal Control Service to review enforcement practices and recent fee updates. Staff also completed a broader review of the bylaw and identified additional updates required to ensure consistency with current regulations and related bylaws.

The proposed amendments represent a coordinated update to the Town’s animal control framework and are being advanced through three separate bylaws, each of which is being presented for first, second and third readings.

1) Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005 (Attachment A):

This bylaw introduces:

An aggressive dog designation as an alternative to the dangerous dog designation
A more graduated, behaviour-based enforcement approach
Updated provisions to align with current CRD enforcement practices
Administrative updates, including revisions to park listings

Staff are requesting first, second and third readings of this bylaw.

2) Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1166, 2026 (Attachment B):

This amendment updates applicable fees to:

Align with the CRD Animal Control fee structure
Ensure consistency between enforcement and cost recovery

Staff is requesting first, second and third readings of this bylaw.

3) Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 643, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 1167, 2026 (Attachment C):

This amendment updates the ticketing schedule to reflect:

New and revised offences
Updated enforcement provisions associated with the Animal Control Bylaw amendments.

Staff is requesting first, second and third readings of this bylaw.

The proposed amendments support a more flexible and preventative approach to animal control by introducing enforcement tools that better reflect varying levels of animal behaviour.

The addition of an aggressive dog designation allows for earlier intervention in lower-risk situations, while maintaining stronger measures for more serious incidents. This approach promotes responsible pet ownership while maintaining public safety.

Alignment with CRD practices ensures consistency in enforcement across municipalities and supports efficient service delivery.

ANALYSIS:

Impacts and implications can be summarized as follows:

Impact Area	Summary
Community Impact:	Improved classification and enforcement tools will enhance public safety and support responsible pet ownership.
Financial Implication:	No direct financial impact. Fee updates align with existing CRD charges.
Inter-governmental Relations Impact:	The amendments align the Town’s bylaws with CRD Animal Control Services, ensuring consistent regional enforcement.

ALIGNMENT:

The recommended option aligns with the Town’s following core guiding documents as follows:

Strategic Plan: Supports the priority of Community Safety and Security.

Official Community Plan: Supports maintaining safe and livable neighbourhoods.

Other Policy Documents: n/a

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL:

The desired level of public participation for the recommended option is:

[X] Inform [ ] Consult [ ] Involve [ ] Collaborate [ ] Empower
[ ] N/A

TIME CRITICAL:

Timely consideration is recommended to ensure alignment with current CRD enforcement practices and fee structures.

CONCURRENCE:

CONCURRENCE:	Initials	Comments
Chief Administrative Officer	SS

REVIEWED BY:

REVIEWED BY:	Initials
Director of Corporate Administration/Deputy CAO
Director of Finance & Technology
Director of Development Services
Director of Engineering
Director of Protective Services	PH

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A – Red Line Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005
Attachment B – Red Line Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016
Attachment C – Red Line Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 643, 2007
Attachment D – Draft Animal Control Bylaw 614, 2005, Amendment Bylaw No. 1165, 2026
Attachment E – Draft Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1166, 2026
Attachment F – Draft Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 643, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 1167, 2026