Edson town council has passed the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, which puts a greater focus on pet ownership and responsibility, and clarifies regulations around specific challenges.
Bylaw 2313 regulates the number and types of animals allowed in a household, establishes restraint regulations, clarifies the definition for ‘vicious dogs,’ establishes the threshold for addressing nuisance, aggressive or dangerous dogs, and clarifies the complaint process available and penalties for non-compliance.
The town says the changes are based on public consultation done in 2024, as well as the best practices of communities across the province.
One change is the addition of cat licensing and regulation to the bylaw, similar to those for dogs, which officials say received significant support during engagement. This means residents are now required to register their cats. However, no fees will be required to do this for the remainder of the year. Fees will be determined during the annual review of the Fees and Charges Bylaw, set for later this year.
Consultation also showed support for the idea of a lifetime animal licence, but the town is maintaining this as a yearly process for now to ensure it has an understanding of the financial implications associated with adding cats to the program.
Town representatives say overall, the new bylaw has a strong focus on pet owners being held accountable for their pets’ actions, setting expectations and meeting the needs of evolving animal welfare standards.
More information and a FAQ sheet are available online.
Three readings of the bylaw were passed by town council during its regular meeting on June 17.
