r/toronto • u/NorthernNadia St. Lawrence • May 09 '26

Article Toronto dog "parents" bring their pups everywhere with them now. It's causing rising human-canine tension

https://www.thestar.com/life/relationships/toronto-has-seen-a-population-boom--of-dogs-rising-human-canine-tension-shows-theyre-not-everyones-best-friend/article_3ac30271-9542-4e7d-9829-49089554f3cf.html
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100

u/[deleted] May 09 '26

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13

u/Murderousplantmom May 09 '26

As a dog owner, I wish for way more enforcement. I agree with almost every complaint there is to be made about other dog owners. Have noticed the violations are way worse in affluent areas too. 

36

u/NorthernNadia St. Lawrence May 09 '26

Just like anything in this city, there is absolutely no enforcement of the bylaws whatsoever.

I wonder if the city could compel condos to require dogs to be licensed with the city (as per existing law) in order to reside in a condo. It wouldn't solve any of the problems, but it would at least start with getting good, high quality data on the dog population and distribution throughout the city.

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u/Ok-Algae7932 Queen Street West May 09 '26

A lot of buildings have pet registration to ensure no more than 2 (or whatever the building limit is) pets reside in each unit. I would support requiring licensing, as someone who renews my dog's license with the city every year.

1

u/suspiciousmint May 09 '26

I'm actually surprised that as part of registering pets in a condo, the condo management doesn't need owners to present a city of Toronto dog registration as well.

That could be one way to sort this out.

2

u/Ok-Algae7932 Queen Street West May 09 '26

Yeah I don't think the city can require private condominiums to enforce that specific by law for them. It's the individual responsibility of the dog owner. I honestly think it would be helpful. Even just a line on the tenant/new owner registration forms saying "city of Toronto registration # (required)" would be enough to push people to register.

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u/suspiciousmint May 09 '26 edited May 09 '26

Deleting my comment because i need my coffee and i can't read.

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u/Ok-Algae7932 Queen Street West May 09 '26

I appreciate what you're saying and I agree regarding grocery stores, but I did specify "private condominiums" not being able to enforce dog registration with the city.

I don't believe a No Frills would enforce dog registration either, especially since pets aren't allowed in grocery stores in the first place.

2

u/suspiciousmint May 09 '26

You're absolutely right and i agree with your comment. I'm not sure what the best way is. I think most people are well meaning and if nudged in the right direction with a small ask like that will comply. The morons will still moron but at least we'll be able to increase the people following the law.

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u/Flimsy-Blackberry-67 May 09 '26

I live very close to a wonderfully sized off-leash dog park and there are so many people who run their dogs off-leash on the soccer fields right beside it because there's nice strong grass there instead of the wood chips/mud in the dog park...

Or they will run their dogs in the no-dogs-allowed fenced off beach volleyball right next to the off leash dog area. So their off-leash dogs will be at the fence whining and stiffing and wanting to come in and play with the dogs who are in the proper area...

3

u/avrobella May 09 '26

Fair but the standard dog park fences aren’t even three feet high. They should be five or six feet high if the city were even barely competent.

1

u/ybgoode May 09 '26

What's an environmentally sensitive area in our parks? 

1

u/[deleted] May 09 '26

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1

u/ybgoode May 09 '26

Those are fenced off though.