The staff entrance to Whitehorse city hall. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – City officials say complaints about aggressive and off-leash dogs have been increasing this year
City manager Valerie Braga says bylaw services had already been preparing a seasonal response plan aimed at stepping up education and giving more attention to dog-related complaints.
“Bylaw Services has been noticing an increase in the number of complaints related to dogs, and a program for this season was already in development in order to provide some extra education and extra investigation in regards to these incidents,” said Braga.
City staff says every complaint is investigated and can lead to a warning or fine, depending on what’s found. More serious cases can be escalated under the city’s dangerous dog process.
At Monday’s meeting, councillors raised concerns about repeat incidents and asked whether tougher enforcement or higher fines might help deter violations. Administration says education remains a key focus, along with a broader review of the city’s off-leash rules, but no changes have been finalized.
