A Toronto committee is re-evaluating how it can effectively respond to dog bites and reports of dangerous dogs following a meeting at City Hall.
The Licensing and Standards Committee met Thursday morning to discuss how it handles potentially violent dogs, after consulting with Toronto residents.
The committee reviewed a report published by Municipal Licensing and Standards Executive Director Tracey Cook, published Nov. 10.
Cook's report said there were 688 incidents of dogs biting people reported in 2014. There were 248 reports of dogs biting pets, and 423 reports of "dog menace or attacks."
In response, Toronto Animal Services issued 59 muzzle orders, 202 notices of caution and 220 written warnings. They also laid 73 charges, which resulted in 27 convictions.
The report recommends the city amend its Animals and the Dog Owner's Liability Act to include an increase in penalties for owners not following the bylaw, and additional requirements for dog owners.
The report also recommended increasing public awareness, and rewriting the bylaw to make it easier for the public to understand.
"The ultimate goal is zero dog bite incidents in the City of Toronto," the report said.
Specific details were not provided, and Cook wrote that "further consultation will be required."
