Councillors in the Halifax Regional Municipality have agreed to ask the province to create a dangerous dog registry.
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, councillors agreed to write a letter to the province on the issue.
Councillor Cathy Deagle Gammon says the province should take on the role of keeping track of dangerous dogs.
“Call your MLA and make sure that they are aware of exactly what this is and why it is so important,” she says. “And why it is important to everybody in our community to be feeling safe as they walk the roads of HRM.”
Under the current rules, municipalities can impose such a designation, but there’s nothing stopping owners from avoiding sanctions like muzzle orders by simply moving to another municipality.
The fine amounts for a dog attack were reviewed multiple times, the report notes. The current penalty amount for an attack is $300, which is increased to $600 for a dangerous dog attack.
“The other fine option is a prosecution referral,” it notes. “Where a higher fine amount is deemed appropriate, a Compliance Officer can use a prosecution referral form requiring the dog owner to go to court. If found guilty, the court can impose a fine up to the maximum amount prescribed in the bylaw of $5,000.”
The decision comes after a teenage boy from Shelburne County died after being attacked by three dogs in January.
Drew Nickerson was transported to Halifax via LifeFlight helicopter after he was mauled by two Cane Corsos and one Rottweiler while riding his bike near a property in Welshtown.
An obituary page for Nickerson remembers the boy as a “kind, loving ‘outdoor kid’ through and through, who enjoyed riding and ramping his bike.”
“He had a special love for horses and all animals, especially his loyal dog Zig whom he loved beyond words,” it reads.