London city councillors have unanimously endorsed a review of the city’s dog licensing bylaw and its enforcement following a dog-on-dog attack in the city’s east end. This review comes after resident Stephen Karchut called for changes to the bylaw following an incident in October 2024 in which his dog, Sampson, was bitten by another dog. The incident escalated when the offending dog’s owner refused to provide any details, including their dog’s license number, prompting Karchut to push for stronger accountability measures.
The Incident
In October, Karchut was walking his dog in the neighborhood near Clarke and Hamilton roads when Sampson was bitten several times by another dog. The woman who owned the dog gained control of her pet but walked away without offering any information, leaving Karchut concerned about the potential veterinary costs to treat Sampson and update his vaccinations.
Karchut argued that the bylaw should require dog owners involved in attacks to provide their contact and pet information, to help resolve disputes fairly and protect pets. “It’s about making sure owners can hold each other accountable and resolve things in a fair and straightforward way,” Karchut told the city’s community and protective services committee. “It’s not about punishment, it’s about protecting pets, promoting compliance, and fostering a community of responsible pet owners.”
Support for Change
Councillors, including Hadleigh McAlister, Sam Trosow, David Ferreira, and Jerry Pribil, all voiced support for reviewing the bylaw. McAlister, who brought the motion forward on Karchut’s behalf, emphasized the importance of improving municipal regulations based on constituents’ concerns. “This gives us the opportunity to look into this further,” McAlister stated.
Although complaints regarding dog licensing enforcement are rare, Trosow noted that the city should have clear protocols for situations like Karchut’s, where residents are unsure of what to do when a dog owner refuses to provide necessary information. “As I understand it, there is a hole in this bylaw. How it went on this long, I’m not sure,” Trosow remarked.
Bylaw Enforcement and Review
Orest Katolyk, the city’s bylaw enforcement manager, provided an overview of the city’s efforts in handling dog-related incidents. In 2024, the city investigated 330 dog bites, with only 1-2% of those cases facing difficulties in identifying the offending dog’s owner, including those involving homeless individuals. Katolyk noted that the review would examine operational aspects of the bylaw, focusing particularly on how to improve transparency and accountability after such attacks.
The committee’s recommendation to review the bylaw will be presented to the city council for approval at the next regular meeting on January 21, 2025. If approved, this review could lead to changes that would ensure pet owners in London are more accountable when their dogs are involved in attacks, providing better protection for pets and clarity for residents.
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