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Town of Annapolis Royal

  1. In this bylaw,

    1. “Dog” means any dog, male or female.
    2. “Owner” of a dog includes any person who possesses or harbours a dog.
    3. “CAO” means the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Annapolis Royal.
    4. “Animal Control Officer” means any person who is appointed by the Council as the Animal Control Officer under this bylaw.


    1. On or before the first day of March in each year the own of any dog shall register such dog with the CAO, shall pay the tax provided therefor by this bylaw, and shall obtain from the CAO a tag for such dog.
    2. A dog shall be exempt from registration and from tax if his owner proves that the dog is under the age of three months.


    1. The owner of a dog who has become owner thereof after the first day of March and which dog is of an age not less than three months, shall immediately register the dog and pay the tax.
    2. The owner of a dog not registered with the CAO, which dog at any time has become or is over the age of three months, shall immediately register the dog and pay the tax.
    3. Where the owner acquires ownership of a dog after the expiration of six months of the year he shall only be charged with one-half of the dog tax.
    4. Registration made and tax paid the first day of March shall be effective until the last day of February next following the making and payment thereof.


  4. The tax shall be annually as follows:
    One neutered male or spayed female dog; $15.00
    One male dog, not neutered or one female dog, not spayed; $30.00

  5. The CAO shall keep a record of every dog registered showing the date and number of registration, and the name and description of the dog with the name and address of the owner. The owner shall furnish this information to the CAO at or before the time of registration.

  6. The CAO shall supply the owner with a metal tag for each dog registered, with the number and year of registration stamped thereon, and the owner of every registered dog shall keep on such a collar with the tag attached thereto.

  7. If the owner files with the CAO a statutory declaration that a tag has been lost, the CAO may replace the tag that has been lost.

  8. Any owner within the Town who sells or transfers any dog shall report to the CAO the dale or transfer, the name and address of the person to whom it was sold or transferred, a description of the dog, and the number or registrations as shown on the tag issued by the CAO.

  9. The CAO shall transfer the registration of such dog to the new owner thereof on payment of the amount by which the tax on the dog to the new owner would exceed any tax paid on the dog by the previous owner, or in any other case, without charge.

  10. The owner of a dog
    1. which runs at large;
    2. in respect of which the tax imposed by this bylaw is not paid;
    3. which is fierce or dangerous;
    4. which without provocation has attacked or injured any person or property;


    is guilty of an offence against this bylaw and is subject on conviction to the penalty prescribed by Section 24.



    1. The Animal Control Officer or any constable or peace officer, without notice to or complaint against the owner of such dog:

      1. may impound any dog found running at large;
      2. may impound any dog in respect of which the tax imposed by this bylaw has not been paid;
      3. may impound and kill or may kill on sight any dog which is fierce or dangerous or which is found running at large and which has been impounded twice within a period of ninety days for having been found running at large.

    2. Any dog which is off the premises of the owner without being under the effective restraint or control of some person shall be deemed to be running at large for the purpose of this bylaw.

  12. If any dog with the Town of Annapolis Royal without provocation injures any other person’s property the owner of such dog shall be liable upon conviction to a penalty not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) and in default of payment shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding five days.

  13. Any person who shall keep or harbour a dog within the Town of Annapolis Royal that disturbs the quiet of the neighbourhood by barking or howling or in any other manner shall upon conviction thereof forfeit a penalty not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and in default of payment thereof shall be imprisoned for a period not exceeding two days.

  14. The Council shall appoint an Animal Control Officer who shall keep all dogs delivered to him and furnish then with food and water.

    1. Upon any dog being impounded the Animal Control Officer shall, if the dog bears a tag issued by the CAO of this Town, mail to the registered owner by ordinary mail postage prepaid and in every case shall post in the Town Hall and in two other public places within the Town, not later than forty-eight hours before the time fixed therein a notice in the following form:



      DOG NOTICE
      TAKE NOTICE that a dog (insert brief description with number on tag, if any) has been impounded in the animal pound of the Town of __________ at __________ And unless such dog is claimed (and registered) not later than ( hour, day, and date) said dog may be destroyed or disposed of according to law.

      Dated __________ this __________ day of __________ , A.D. , 20 __

      Name (Animal Control Officer)


    2. The Animal Control Officer shall not destroy or otherwise dispose of an impounded dog for a period of not less than seven clear days following impounding of said dog, excepting a dog described in section 11.{1} {c}.

  16. If at the expiration of the time fixed by the notice, the dog is not claimed and not registered according to this bylaw the Animal Control Officer shall dispose of the dog, either by selling it or destroying it.

  17. The proceeds of any sale shall be paid over to the CAO.

  18. If the owner appears and claims his dog before the time fixed by the said Notice, the dog shall be delivered to him on payment of any tax required by this bylaw and on payment of the fees set out in the following schedule:


    19. SCHEDULE OF FEES

    1. for preparing and posting notices; $10.00

    2. for board for each dog for each twenty-four (24) hour period and for any portion of a twenty-four (24) hour period; 10.00

    3. for apprehending each dog; 20.00

  19. Any person who violates any provision of this Bylaw other than Sections 12 or 13, where separate penalties are imposed shall be liable on conviction to a penalty not exceeding thirty days, and further provided that the penalty for violation of Section 2, 3 or 6 of this bylaw shall be as provided by Section 4 {3} of the Sheep Protection and Dog Regulation Act, R.S.N.S. 1967, Chapter 281 and any amendments to Section 4 (3) of the said Act.

  20. Any and all provisions of the existing bylaw of the Town relating to dogs or dog control is hereby repealed and this bylaw shall stand in its place and stead.


    21. EFFECTIVE DATE
  21. This Bylaw shall be retroactive to February 18, 2002 as per Council Motion number 13 of the same date.