Responsible dog owners know and comply with all laws and regulations, including all municipal,
provincial and federal bylaws, regulations and legislations. This includes laws in effect in cities
that might be on a travel or vacation itinerary. Ignorance of or disagreement with any law is no
excuse. Failure to abide by all laws can be very costly, e.g. stiff fines, a jail term or both. Certain
violations can cost a dog it’s life.
For ease of reference, here are links to various municipal bylaws, provincial regulations and
federal legislation. Dog owners with breeds such as Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American
Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Italian
Mastiffs, Presa Canarios, Fila Brasileiros, Argentinian Dogos and dogs resembing these breeds
should be particularly alert to breed specific legislation.
All dog owners should review
You, Your Dog and the Law: Protecting Yourself, and Your Dog!, an
information brochure written and published by Green & Vespry Law Offices. Dog owners
requiring legal assistance are welcome to contact Terry Green of Green & Vespry Law Offices,
200-190 O’Connor Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2R3, Telephone 613.560.6565.
Links are also provided for legislation pertaining to cruelty to animals and blind persons and guide
dogs.
Be a responsible dog owner. Know the law!
MUNICIPAL BYLAWS
Link
City
HTML PDF
Arnprior, Ontario Bylaw
Belleville, Ontario Bylaw
Brampton, Ontario Bylaw
Brantford, Ontario Bylaw
Brockville, Ontario Bylaw
Calgary, Alberta Bylaw
Edmonton, Alberta Bylaw
Fredericton, New Brunswick Bylaw
Gatineau, Quebec Bylaw
Guelph, Ontario Bylaw
Halifax, Nova Scotia Bylaw
Hawkesbury, Ontario Bylaw
Kingston, Ontario Bylaw
Igaluit, Nunavut Bylaw
Kirkland Lake, Ontario Bylaw
Kitchener Waterloo Bylaw
Lakeshore, Ontario Bylaw
London, Ontario Bylaw
Midland, Ontario Bylaw
Mount Royal (Montreal), Quebec Bylaw
Niagara Falls, Ontario Bylaw
North Bay, Ontario Bylaw
North Grenville, Ontario Bylaw
Ottawa, Ontario Bylaw Bylaw
Pembroke, Ontario Bylaw
Petrolia, Ontario Bylaw
Powassan, Ontario Bylaw
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Bylaw
Coquitlam, British Columbia Bylaw
Red Deer, Alberta Bylaw
Regina, Saskatchewan Bylaw
Russell Township, Ontario Bylaw
Saint John, New Brunswick Bylaw
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Bylaw
Sherbrooke, Quebec
(see Règlments municipaux, Chapitre 10)
Bylaw
Smith Falls, Ontario Bylaw
St. John’s, Newfoundland Bylaw
St. Laurent (Montreal) Quebec Bylaw
Sudbury, Ontario Bylaw
Thunder Bay, Ontario Bylaw
Toronto, Ontario Bylaw
Vaughan, Ontario Bylaw
Vancouver, British Columbia Bylaw
Victoria, British Columbia Bylaw
Whitehorse, Yukon Bylaw
Windsor, Ontario Bylaw
Winnipeg, Manitoba Bylaw
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Bylaw
Note: Many municipalities have breed specific legislation and regulations that pertain to a
number of different breeds and breed crosses. The Province of Ontario has A province-
wide ban on certain breeds, which supersedes Ontario municipal bylaws with breed
specific clauses, unless the municipal bylaws are stronger. Dog owners who are
contemplating travelling with their dog(s) should check all bylaws in locations on their
itinerary before commencing any trip.
PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS
Link
Province
HTML PDF
Alberta Dangerous Dog Act
Animal Protection Act
Alberta
Blind Persons' Rights Act
Additional Powers and Limits
on Powers
British Columbia
Prevention to Cruelty to
Animals Act
Manitoba
The Animal Care Act
New Brunswick
Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Act
Newfoundland and
Labrador
Animal Protection Act
Blind Persons' Rights Act
An Act Respecting the Keeping of Dogs
Northwest Territory
Blind Persons' Rights Act
Nova Scotia
Animal Cruelty Prevention Act
Nunavut
The Dog Act
Animals for Research Act Animals for Research Act
Blind Person's Rights Act
Dog Owners' Liability Act
Dog Owners’ Liability Act
Ontario Tenant Protection Act
Ontario Works Act - Guide Dog
Allowance
Pit Bull Regulations Pit Bull Regulations
Ontario
Ontario Society for the
Prevention to Cruelty of
Animals Act
Dog Act Prince Edward
Island
Animal Health and Protection Act
Animal Health and Protection Act
The Dangerous Dogs Control (Northern
Saskatchewan)
Saskatchewan
Dangerous Dogs - Questions &
Answers
The Urban Muniicipality Act, 1984
Quebec
Animal Health Protecton Act
Yukon Territories
Animal Protection Act
FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS
Link
Canada
HTML PDF
Access Laws for Guide
Dog Users
Access Laws for Guide Dog
Users
Animal Pedigree Act Animal Pedigree Act
NCC Animal Regulations
NCC Animal Regulations -
Background and Summary
National Capital
Commission Animal
Regulations
NCC Offences and Set Fines
National Parks Domestic
Animal Regulations
National Parks Domestic Animal
Regulations
Note: The National Capital Commission Animal Regulations, Offences and Set Fines apply only
on National Capital Commission lands that are located in the National Capital Region of
Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.
National Parks Domestic Animal Regulations apply in all National Parks, see
Canada's
National Parks.
Links for more legislation information
Alliance for Equality for Blind Canadians
American Staffordshire Club of Canada
Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
Dog Legislation Council of Canada
Dog Watch
Good Pooch
National Association of Guide Dog Users
