Summary:
This set of laws comprises the Prince Edward Island (PEI) Dog Act. The Act provides that no owner of a dog shall allow his dog to run at large; any dog found at large shall be deemed to have been allowed to be at large by its owner. In addition, the owner of livestock or any enforcement officer authorized by the owner of livestock, may kill a dog that is killing or injuring the owner's livestock, except where the livestock is on property held under lease, license or permit by the owner of the dog. This Act also outlines licensing requirements for dogs as well as impoundment procedures.
PLEASE NOTE This document, prepared by the Legislative Counsel Office, is an office consolidation of this Act, current to February 8, 2013. It is intended for information and reference purposes only. This document is not the official version of the Act. The Act and the amendments as printed under the authority of the Queen’s Printer for the province should be consulted to determine the authoritative statement of the law. For more information concerning the history of this Act, please see the Table of Public Acts. If you find any errors or omissions in this consolidation, please contact: Legislative Counsel Office Tel: (902) 368-4291 Email: legislation@gov.pe.ca
CHAPTER D-13
DOG ACT
1. In this Act Definitions
(a) “at large” means not under control; at large
(b) “dog” means any male or female dog and includes the young dog
thereof;
domestic animal
(b.1) “domestic animal” means
(i) any livestock, or
(ii) any companion animal, as defined in the Companion Animal
Protection Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. C-14.1;
(c) “enforcement officer” means enforcement officer
(i) a conservation officer appointed under the Wildlife
Conservation Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap W-4.1, and
(ii) a person designated as an enforcement officer by the
regulations;
(d) “injuring” includes wounding, worrying, terrifying or pursuing; injuring
(e) “justice” means a judge of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward justice
Island, and a provincial court judge;
(f) repealed by 2005,c.30.s.1; kennel
(g) “livestock” means cattle, goats, horses, mink, foxes, sheep, swine livestock
or poultry and includes a game animal designated under the Wildlife
Conservation Act R.S.P.E.I. 1998, Cap. W-4.1 that is held on a game
farm;
(h) “Minister” means the Minister of the Crown designated by the Minister
Lieutenant Governor in Council to have the administration of this
Act;
(i) “municipality” means the City of Charlottetown, the City of municipality
Summerside, the Town of Cornwall, the Town of Stratford, or any
municipality to which the Municipalities Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap.
M-13 applies;
(j) “owner of a dog” includes any person who possesses or harbours owner of a dog
a dog and, where the owner is a person under the age of eighteen
years, the adult person responsible for the person’s custody;
(j.1) “Provincial Court” means the Provincial Court as established in Provincial Court
the Provincial Court Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. P-25;
1
2 Cap. D-13 Dog Act (k) “Society” means the Prince Edward Island Humane Society Society (S.P.C.A.). R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.1; 1975, c.27, s.5; 1975, c.78, s.3; 1983, c.33, s.66.; 1994, c.39, s.75 {eff.} March 31/95; 1997(3rd),[1998], c.107,s.34 {eff.} Sept. 15/98; 2005,c.30,s.1; 2012(2nd),c.5,s.1; 2013,c.9,s.1. PART 1 DOG LICENSE 2. (1) Every owner of a dog shall on or before June 1 in each year pay an Annual license fee annual license fee for each dog owned by him; the license fee shall be in such amount and for such types or classes of dogs as may be prescribed by regulation. (2) The license fee shall be paid to the Minister or such other person as Payable to he may designate in writing. (3) Upon receipt of payment of the license fee the Minister or his Issue of license designate shall issue a license for the dog. (4) The dog license is Dog license defined (a) a written certificate describing the dog, identifying the owner and assigning to the dog a unique number that identifies the dog and its owner; and (b) a metal tag not less than two inches square that can be suspended from a collar around the dog's neck and that bears the unique number referred to in clause (a). (5) The dog license shall be in full force and effect from the date of Period license effective issue up to and including June 1 of the year next ensuing. (6) Where a person purchases, acquires or comes into possession of a Acquisition of dog in mid-year dog between June 1 in one year and June 1 of the next year, he shall forthwith pay the license fee and upon receipt of payment of the license fee the Minister or his designate shall issue a license described in subsection (4) that shall, notwithstanding subsection (5), be in full force and effect until June 1 next ensuing. (7) Every owner shall upon receipt of a license suspend the metal tag Use of metal tag, retention of referred to in clause (4)(b) from a collar that is fastened around the dog's certificate neck, and shall (a) retain the written certificate in his possession during the period of its effectiveness; and (b) ensure that the metal tag remains suspended from a collar fastened around the dog's neck during the period of its effectiveness. 2
Dog Act Cap. D-13 3 (8) The Minister or his designate may in any year after the issue of a Renewal of an license described in subsection (4) renew the existing license by existing license endorsement to the certificate referred to in clause (4)(a), and where a renewal is made the certificate and the metal tag remain in full force and effect for the period stated on the endorsement but in no case shall the endorsement state a period that would extend beyond June 1 of the year next ensuing. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.2. 3. Repealed by 2005,c.30,s.2. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.3; Kennel fees 2005,c.30,s.2. 4. An enforcement officer may by notice in writing require any person to Requirement for information deliver to him a statement in writing of (a) the number of dogs owned by that person, and where that person receives the notice in writing he shall comply with the requirement forthwith; or (b) the particulars of the license of each dog. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.4. 5. Where the license fee is not paid in respect of any dog, the owner may Order for destruction of dog, be summoned before a justice and where the justice is satisfied that the license fee not paid license fee has not been paid and will not be paid forthwith, he may order that the dog be destroyed by an enforcement officer on a specified date unless the license fee and such costs as he may allow are paid prior to that date. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.5. 6. An enforcement officer if authorized by a warrant issued by a justice Power to search who is satisfied by information upon oath that there are reasonable and probable grounds for believing that a dog is unlicensed or that there are unlicensed dogs on a premises, may enter and search any premises to determine whether there is an unlicensed dog on the premises and for the purpose of destroying an unlicensed dog an enforcement officer may without warrant enter any premises, seize and destroy the unlicensed dog pursuant to an order of a justice issued under section 5. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.6; 1987, c.6, s.4. 7. (1) Funds collected pursuant to this Act shall be paid to the Minister of Funds payable to Finance, Energy and Municipal Affairs. (2) The Minister may reimburse or remunerate any person who assists Enforcement officer, him in the administration or enforcement of this Act; the reimbursement remuneration or remuneration shall be in such amount and for such purposes as may be prescribed by regulation. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.7; 1983, c.1, s.6; 1986, c.5, s.2; 1993, c.29, s.4; 2010,c.31,s.3; 2012,c.17,s.2. 8. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations respecting Regulations (a) the licensing of dogs; 3
4 Cap. D-13 Dog Act (b) the amount or amounts of license fees to be paid under this Act; (c) the classification of dogs for the purpose of establishing license fees; (d) the reimbursement or remuneration of persons who assist the Minister or his designate in administering or enforcing this Act; (e) the designation of the Society and certain of its members and employees to assist the Minister in administering or enforcing this Act; (f) the powers and duties of the Society where it is designated under clause (e); (g) generally for the better administration and enforcement of this Part. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.8. PART II DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE 9. No owner of a dog shall allow his dog to run at large; any dog found Dogs running at large prohibited at large shall be deemed to have been allowed to be at large by its owner. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.9. 10. (1) The owner of livestock or any enforcement officer authorized by Killing dog permitted the owner of livestock, may kill a dog that is killing or injuring the owner's livestock, except where the livestock is on property held under lease, license or permit by the owner of the dog. (2) Repealed by 2005,c.30,s.3. Pursuing dog onto another's premises (3) Where a person kills a dog pursuant to this section he is not liable Liability of person who kills dog to the owner of the dog for general or special damages respecting the dog or the killing of the dog. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.10; 1975, c.44, s.1; 2005,c.30,s.3. 11. (1) Where livestock is killed or injured by a dog, the owner of the Liability of dog owner for injury dog is liable to the owner of the livestock for general and special caused by dog damages; where the owner of the dog and the owner of the livestock are unable to agree as to the amount of the damages or to effect recovery of damages, the owner of the livestock may make application to a justice to settle the amount of the damages or to make an order respecting the recovery of damages. (2) It is not necessary for the owner of livestock in an action to recover Certain facts not necessary to prove damages to prove that the dog was vicious or accustomed to worry livestock. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.11. 12. Repealed by 2005,c.30,s.4. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.12; Notification of owner re injury to 2005,c.30,s.4. livestock 4
Dog Act Cap. D-13 5 13. Any licensed or unlicensed dog that is at large may be caught and Impounding dog, impounded by a police officer, a security police officer or by an power to enforcement officer. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.13; 2006,c.16,s.63(2). 14. (1) Where a licensed dog is caught and impounded pursuant to Notice of impounding section 13, the captor shall give notice by registered mail to the owner of the dog identified on the license that the dog has been caught and impounded and specifying therein the name of the captor and the place of impounding. (2) The owner of the dog may within ten days of the date of the notice Repossession of dog take possession of his dog after paying to the person impounding the dog such fees as may be prescribed by regulation respecting the catching and maintenance of the dog, but if the owner of the dog fails to take possession of his dog within the ten days the dog shall be destroyed by the person impounding the dog. (3) Where a dog is destroyed pursuant to subsection (2) the owner of Liability for fees where dog killed the dog is liable for the fees referred to in subsection (2) and for the costs of any action that may be necessary to recover the fees. (4) In an action for the recovery of fees under subsection (3) evidence Evidence that dog was destroyed of the notice by registered mail and the metal tag of the dog shall be deemed to be sufficient evidence that the dog was destroyed. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.14. 15. (1) Where an unlicensed dog is caught pursuant to section 13, the Unlicensed dog destroyed, owner dog, if the owner of the dog does not take possession of it after paying not found the fees referred to in subsection 14(2), shall be destroyed at any time after five days from the day of its being caught and impounded. (2) Where the owner of the dog referred to in subsection (1) is Owner identified, liability for costs identified, he is liable for the payment of the fees referred to in subsection 14(2), and for the costs of any action that may be necessary to recover the fees. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.15. PART III DANGEROUS DOGS 16. (1) A peace officer or an enforcement officer may commence a Proceeding commenced in proceeding in the Provincial Court against an owner of a dog if the peace Provincial Court officer or enforcement officer, as the case may be, believes, on reasonable grounds, that (a) the dog has bitten or attacked a person or a domestic animal; or (b) the dog has behaved in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals. 5
6 Cap. D-13 Dog Act (2) A peace officer or an enforcement officer who wishes to Orders under commence a proceeding referred to in subsection (1) shall statutes (a) complete a statement in the prescribed form under oath attesting, on reasonable grounds, to the existence of facts that would justify the order sought; (b) serve a copy of the statement on the owner or owners of the dogs; and (c) file a copy of the statement with the Provincial Court. (3) When a proceeding has been commenced under subsection (1), the Interim order Provincial Court may, pending a determination of whether an order should be made under subsection (4), make an interim order requiring the owner to take measures specified in the interim order for the more effective control of the dog. (4) If, in a proceeding under subsection (1), the Provincial Court finds Order that the dog has bitten or attacked a person or a domestic animal or that the dog’s behaviour is such that the dog is a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals, and the Provincial Court is satisfied that an order is necessary for the protection of the public, the Provincial Court may order (a) that the dog be destroyed in the manner specified in the order; (b) that the dog be neutered or spayed, as the case may be; or (c) that the owner of the dog take the measures specified in the order for the more effective control of the dog or for purposes of public safety. (5) Measures that may be ordered under subsection (3) or clause (4)(c) Measures include (a) confining the dog to its owner’s property; (b) restraining the dog by means of a leash; (c) restraining the dog by means of a muzzle; and (d) posting warning signs. (6) If a dog whose destruction has been ordered under clause (4)(a) is Restraint of dog not taken into custody immediately, the owner shall restrain the dog by means of a leash and muzzle and such other means as the Provincial Court may order until the dog is taken into custody. (7) In exercising its powers to make an order under subsection (4), the Factors Provincial Court may take into consideration the following factors: (a) the dog’s past and present temperament and behaviour; (b) the seriousness of the injuries caused by the biting or attack; (c) unusual contributing circumstances tending to justify the dog’s action; (d) the improbability that a similar attack will be repeated; 6
Dog Act Cap. D-13 7 (e) the dog’s physical potential for inflicting harm; (f) precautions taken by the owner to preclude similar attacks in the future; (g) any other circumstances that the court considers to be relevant. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.16; 2005,c.30,s.6; 2013,c.9,s.2. 16.1 Where, in a proceeding under subsection 16(1), the Provincial Court Order finds that the dog has bitten or attacked a person or a domestic animal or the dog’s behaviour is such that the dog is a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals, the Provincial Court may make an order prohibiting the dog’s owner from owning another dog during a specified period of time. 2005,c.30,s.6. 16.2 For the purposes of sections 16.3 to 16.8, a peace officer includes Peace officer (a) a police officer, a security police officer or municipal bylaw enforcement officer; and (b) an enforcement officer. 2005,c.30,s.6; 2006,c.16,s.63(2). 16.3 (1) Where a justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath Application or affirmation that there are reasonable grounds to believe that (a) a dog is in any building, receptacle or place, including a private dwelling; and (b) it is not in the interests of public safety for the dog to be in that location, the justice of the peace may issue a warrant authorizing a peace officer named in the warrant to enter any building, receptacle or place, including a private dwelling, to search for and seize the dog and any muzzle, collar or other equipment for the dog. (2) Without limiting the generality of clause (1)(b), it is not in the Public safety interests of public safety for a dog to be in a location if (a) the dog has on one or more occasions bitten or attacked a person or a domestic animal; or (b) the dog has on one or more occasions behaved in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals. (3) A peace officer who is executing a warrant under this section may Warrant be accompanied by one or more veterinarians or animal control personnel as are reasonably required to give effect to the safe and humane seizure of the dog, whether the accompanying persons are named in the warrant or not. (4) Every warrant issued under this section shall name a date on which Idem it expires, which date shall be not later than 30 days after the date of its issue. 7
8 Cap. D-13 Dog Act (5) Every warrant shall be executed between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., unless Idem the warrant otherwise authorizes. 2005,c.30,s.6. 16.4 (1) Where the circumstances in clauses 16.3(1)(a) and (b) exist and Exigent circumstances it would be impracticable to obtain a warrant due to exigent circumstances, a peace officer may, without a warrant, (a) enter any building, receptacle or place, including a private dwelling, to search for and seize the dog and any muzzle, collar or other equipment for the dog; or (b) be accompanied by one or more veterinarians or animal control personnel as are reasonably required to give effect to the safe and humane seizure of the dog, whether the accompanying persons are named in the warrant or not. (2) In this section, exigent circumstances include circumstances in Idem which the peace officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that entry into any building, vehicle, receptacle or place, including a private dwelling, is necessary to prevent imminent bodily harm or death to any person. 2005,c.30,s.6. 16.5 (1) A peace officer may seize a dog in a public place if the peace Seizure of dog officer believes, on reasonable grounds that, (a) the dog has on one or more occasions bitten or attacked a person or a domestic animal; (b) the dog has on one or more occasions behaved in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals; (c) an owner of the dog has on one or more occasions failed to exercise reasonable precautions to prevent the dog from (i) biting or attacking a person or a domestic animal, (ii) behaving in a manner that poses a menace to the safety of persons or domestic animals; or (d) there is reason to believe that the dog may cause harm to a person or domestic animal. (2) Subsection (1) shall not be interpreted to restrict seizure of a dog in Idem a public place if the seizure is otherwise lawful. 2005,c.30,s.6. 16.6 A peace officer may use as much force as is reasonably necessary to Force as necessary execute a warrant issued under section 16.3 or to exercise any authority given by section 16.4 or section 16.5. 2005,c.30,s.6. 16.7 A peace officer who seizes a dog under section 16.3, 16.4 or 16.5 Shelter shall promptly deliver the seized dog to a shelter operated by the Society. 2005,c.30,s.6. Obstruction 16.8 No person shall obstruct, impede or assault a peace officer, or any person assisting a peace officer, while the peace officer is exercising his 8
Dog Act Cap. D-13 9 or her authority or performing a duty under this Act or the regulations, and no person shall aid or assist any person in obstructing, impeding or assaulting a peace officer. 2005,c.30,s.6. PART IV GENERAL 17. Repealed by 2005,c.30,s.8. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.17 Application of Act to persons 2005,c.30,s.8. 18. The times and procedures set forth in this Act shall be deemed to be Procedures not in strict conformity directory and a proceeding that is in substantial conformity with this Act is not open to objection on the ground that it is not in strict compliance therewith. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.18. 19. The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations for the Regulations better administration and enforcement of this Act and to carry out the intent and purpose of the Act, and without limiting the generality thereof (a) defining words or phrases for which no or an imperfect definition is given; (b) respecting the taking and impounding of dogs; (c) respecting the duties, powers and liabilities of the Minister and any person designated, appointed or employed by him to administer or enforce this Act; (d) prescribing fees for catching, impounding, feeding and maintaining dogs; and (e) prescribing such forms as may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Act. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.19; 2005,c.30,s.9. 20. (1) Part I and Part II of this Act do not apply to any municipality. Application (2) Part III and Part IV of this Act apply to municipalities and areas of Idem the province not within municipalities. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.20; 2005,c.30,s.10. 21. Every person who fails to comply with this Act or an order made Offences and penalties under subsection 16(4) or section 16.1 is guilty of an offence and liable upon summary conviction to a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $5,000. R.S.P.E.I. 1974, Cap. D-14, s.21; 1994, c.58, s.6; 2005,c.30,s.11. 22. A peace officer referred to in section 16, a peace officer as defined Tickets in section 16.2 and an enforcement officer may issue a ticket under the Summary Proceedings Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. S-9 in respect of a contravention of a provision of this Act or the regulations that such officer is authorized to enforce. 2013,c.9,s.3. 9