Item - 2013.LS23.5
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on October 8, 2013 without amendments and without debate.
- This item was considered by Licensing and Standards Committee on September 19, 2013 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on October 8, 2013.
LS23.5 - Chapter 349, Animals - Status Update
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted on Consent
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on October 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2013, adopted the following:
1. City Council adopt Toronto Animal Services' Guiding Principles on Animal Euthanasia as described in Attachment 1 to the report (September 3, 2013) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.
2. City Council convey its full support to the College of Veterinarians of Ontario to approve the request from Toronto Animal Services for a mobile spay/neuter clinic that would provide free services to residents of Toronto.
3. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to conduct further research and public consultations and report back to the March 2014 Licensing and Standards Committee meeting on:
- an anti-roaming by-law;
- expanding the list of prohibited animals to include snakes, flamingos and other animals;
- prohibiting the sale of all animals caught in the wild, and owners of wild animals must be able to prove their animals were captive bred in humane circumstances;
- a ban on veterinary surgeries that are deemed unnecessary;
- a ban on pinch/choke collars; and
- the mandatory spaying/neutering of companion animals.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ls/bgrd/backgroundfile-61271.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ls/comm/communicationfile-39900.pdf
(September 19, 2013) Letter from Suzana Gartner (LS.New.LS23.5.2)
(April 19, 2013) Submission from Anna-Maria Mountfort (LS.New.LS23.5.3)
LS23.5 - Chapter 349, Animals - Status Update
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Licensing and Standards Committee recommends that:
1. City Council adopt Toronto Animal Services' Guiding Principles on Animal Euthanasia as described in Attachment 1 to the report (September 3, 2013) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards.
2. City Council convey its full support to the College of Veterinarians of Ontario to approve the request from Toronto Animal Services for a mobile spay/neuter clinic that would provide free services to residents of Toronto.
3. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to conduct further research and public consultations and report back to the March 2014 Licensing and Standards Committee meeting on: an anti-roaming by-law; expanding the list of prohibited animals to include snakes, flamingos and other animals; prohibiting the sale of all animals caught in the wild, and owners of wild animals must be able to prove their animals were captive bred in humane circumstances; a ban on veterinary surgeries that are deemed unnecessary; a ban on pinch/choke collars; and the mandatory spaying/neutering of companion animals.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Licensing and Standards Committee:
1. Requested the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to report to the Licensing and Standards Committee on ways and means of lowering the owner surrender rate, including best practices of other municipalities including New York City and Seattle, and respond to the submission made to the Licensing and Standards Committee by Suzana Gartner.
2. Requested the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to provide an update to the October 2013 Licensing and Standards Committee meeting on the Licensing of Wildlife Operators.
3. Requested the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to report to the Licensing and Standards Committee and the Budget Committee in the first quarter of 2014 on ways and means to support the work of the Toronto Wildlife Centre.
4. Referred the following motion to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, for consideration and appropriate action:
Motion 1 by Councillor De Baeremaeker:
“City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Prohibited Animals, so that the prohibited list includes ‘animals whose biological and behavioural needs cannot be met in a residential setting’.”
Origin
Summary
The report responds to the submissions filed at the Licensing and Standards Committee on May 27, 2013. The submissions highlight a number of issues and proposals concerning Toronto Animal Services (TAS) that can be categorized into the following topics: prohibited animals, euthanasia, spay/neuter program, pet licensing and fees, animal welfare and customer service.
TAS has undertaken many initiatives highlighted in the submissions and identifies proposals that require further research and consultation because of their impact on pet owners, pet shops, dog trainers or veterinarian practices.
The report recommends that Council adopt the guiding principles on animal euthanasia and convey its support to the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) to approve a mobile spay/neuter clinic that would provide free services to residents of Toronto. The report also recommends that staff research and consult the public on the following topics for report back at a future Licensing and Standards Committee meeting: mandatory spaying/neutering of animals, ban on pinch and choke collars, ban on medically unnecessary veterinary surgeries and expanding the list of prohibited animals.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ls/bgrd/backgroundfile-61271.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ls/comm/communicationfile-39900.pdf
(September 19, 2013) Letter from Suzana Gartner (LS.New.LS23.5.2)
(April 19, 2013) Submission from Anna-Maria Mountfort (LS.New.LS23.5.3)
Speakers
Irene Borecky
Anna-Maria Mountfort (Submission Filed)
Motions
City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Prohibited Animals, so that the prohibited list includes "animals whose biological and behavioural needs cannot be met in a residential setting".
That Recommendation 3 in the report (September 3, 2013) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, be amended to read as follows:
"3. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to conduct further research and public consultations and report back to the December 2013 Licensing and Standards Committee meeting on: an anti-roaming by-law; expanding the list of prohibited animals to include snakes, flamingos and other animals; prohibiting the sale of all animals caught in the wild, and owners of wild animals must be able to prove their animals were captive bred in humane circumstances; a ban on veterinary surgeries that are deemed unnecessary; a ban on pinch/choke collars; and the mandatory spaying/neutering of companion animals."
That the Licensing and Standards Committee:
1. Request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to report to the Licensing and Standards Committee on ways and means of lowering the owner surrender rate, including best practices of other municipalities including New York City and Seattle, and respond to the submission made to the Licensing and Standards Committee by Suzana Gartner.
2. Request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to provide an update to the October 2013 Licensing and Standards Committee meeting on the Licensing of Wildlife Operators.
That the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, be requested to report to the Licensing and Standards Committee and the Budget Committee in the first quarter of 2014 on ways and means to support the work of the Toronto Wildlife Centre.
That Motion 1 by Councillor De Baeremaeker be referred to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, for consideration and appropriate action.
That Motion 2a by Councillor De Baeremaeker be amended by replacing the words "December 2013" with "March 2014".