

Chris Fox, CP24.com





By-law officers have fanned out at parks across Toronto today as they conduct a ticketing blitz targeting dog owners who refuse to refuse to follow the city’s leash policy.

According to a City of Toronto bylaw, all dogs must be kept on a leash when they are on any property not belonging to their owner, with the exception of 63 designated off-leash areas in the city.

Failure to follow the by-law is punishable by a $360 fine.

“The reason for the officers being out there is to ensure that everybody has the ability to improve the parks by using them in a respectful and mindful manner of all members,” Director of By-law Enforcement John DeCoury told CP24 Friday morning. “We want people to be able to bring their families and their pets. Education is always our first line of enforcement but when we feel people aren’t getting the message we have to elevate it to the tickets.”

According to a news release, by-law enforcement officers will be going through a number of city parks looking for violators of the leash policy, including Trinity Bellwoods Park, Birkdale Ravine, Thompson Park, Wexford Park and Hunter's Glen Park.

The blitz coincides with a spike in the number of complaints concerning loose dogs. In 2013 the city received 130 complaints about dogs running off-leash, but half way through 2014 they have already received 440 complaints.

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