City updates pet bylaw for the first time in 20 years

Edmonton has updated its animal bylaw for the first time in 20 years. Changes include regulations on animal welfare, dog attacks, feral cats and more.

Edmonton’s pet bylaws saw changes for the first time in two decades after city council voted to do so Tuesday.

The new bylaw includes a tiered attack scale for dog bites in which fines escalate under the Dunbar Dog Bite Scale.

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A household limit on animals will remain at three dogs, six cats and a new limit of four rabbits.

There are also new regulations on animal welfare, feral cats, license fees, and more.

The bylaw comes after two years of public consultation.

Today an amendment moved by Ward Anirniq Coun. Erin Rutherford was made, allowing the city manager to impose conditions on a license to keep pigeons.

Rutherford said she’s heard complaints from some of her constituents regarding domestic pigeons from excess cooing to the smell of feces coming from backyard coops.

“It’s not to prevent people that have pigeons from being able to continue to have pigeons,” said Rutherford of the amendment. “It’s just making sure that we can still progress with the great things that are in the bylaw while having an ongoing conversation and being able to do things in the meantime with any problem pigeon owners.

There are currently only 76 pigeon licenses in the city, but one $15 license can cover up to 75 pigeons.

“It’s not a big number, but it should be like when it’s located near people, it can have a big impact on those surrounding properties,” Rutherford told CTV News Edmonton.

The city is to provide full details on the new bylaw Wednesday morning.