Dog Owners’ Liability Act
What is D.O.L.A?
Provincial legislation that applies to all dog owners
Outlines owners’ responsibilities (reasonable precautions)
Explains penalties
Civil Liability
“Owner” = person who possesses or harbours a dog
All dog owners liable for damages from bite or attack
Possible reduction in damages if plaintiff is partially at fault
Provincial Offenses Act
Ontario Court of Justice proceedings relate to:
Bites and attacks (people or other domestic animal)
Posing a menace to safety (people or other domestic animal)
Owner not taking reasonable precautions to prevent
In order to protect the public, the court may order:
Euthanasia of the dog
Measures for the owner to control the dog (muzzles, warning signs, etc.)
Court may consider:
Past behaviour/temperament
Seriousness of injuries
Any justification of the dog’s actions
Probability of another attack
Potential to inflict harm
Owner precautions to prevent future attacks
Other relevant circumstances
Penalties
Jail term up to 6 months
Maximum fine of $10,000
Corporate fine maximum of $60,000
Pit Bulls
On August 29, 2005, amendments to DOLA (Bill 132) were proclaimed
These amendments involved several issues, but commonly referred to as the “Pit Bull Ban”
Bans pit bulls in Ontario
Places restrictions on existing pit bulls
Toughens penalties for owner of all potentially dangerous dogs
Allows officers to perform search and seizure without a warrant in urgent cases or in public
places.
Which Dogs are “Pit Bulls”?
A Pit Bull is defined as:
A pit bull terrier
Staffordshire bull terrier
American Staffordshire terrier
American pit bull
What is D.O.L.A?
Provincial legislation that applies to all dog owners
Outlines owners’ responsibilities (reasonable precautions)
Explains penalties
Civil Liability
“Owner” = person who possesses or harbours a dog
All dog owners liable for damages from bite or attack
Possible reduction in damages if plaintiff is partially at fault
Provincial Offenses Act
Ontario Court of Justice proceedings relate to:
Bites and attacks (people or other domestic animal)
Posing a menace to safety (people or other domestic animal)
Owner not taking reasonable precautions to prevent
In order to protect the public, the court may order:
Euthanasia of the dog
Measures for the owner to control the dog (muzzles, warning signs, etc.)
Court may consider:
Past behaviour/temperament
Seriousness of injuries
Any justification of the dog’s actions
Probability of another attack
Potential to inflict harm
Owner precautions to prevent future attacks
Other relevant circumstances
Penalties
Jail term up to 6 months
Maximum fine of $10,000
Corporate fine maximum of $60,000
Pit Bulls
On August 29, 2005, amendments to DOLA (Bill 132) were proclaimed
These amendments involved several issues, but commonly referred to as the “Pit Bull Ban”
Bans pit bulls in Ontario
Places restrictions on existing pit bulls
Toughens penalties for owner of all potentially dangerous dogs
Allows officers to perform search and seizure without a warrant in urgent cases or in public
places.
Which Dogs are “Pit Bulls”?
A Pit Bull is defined as:
A pit bull terrier
Staffordshire bull terrier
American Staffordshire terrier
American pit bull
