As pet owners, we have a responsibility to not only care for our pets but also to be considerate of our neighbours and the community.

To bring clarity to the regulations around pet ownership and ensure the safety and well-being of our residents, pet owners and pets, Spruce Grove City Council recently approved a new Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw, which replaces the previous Dog and Domestic Animal Control bylaw.

The new bylaw defines the responsibilities of pet owners and identifies rules and regulations for residents who keep pets within Spruce Grove. It also provides a more consistent approach in how dog owners and cat owners need to manage the behaviour of their pets.

Important changes and updates to the bylaw include:

• Cat owners are required to regulate the behaviour of their animals in a manner consistent with that of dogs including they are not permitted to run at large, they must wear a collar with ID tag containing the owner’s phone number, and they must not cause a public nuisance.
• It clarifies the total number of pets that can be kept in a household. There is a limit of five dogs and cats in total, per household.
• Keeping domestic animals (pigs, horses, sheep, goats, geese, turkeys, ducks or cows) as pets within Spruce Grove city limits is prohibited. Pigeons, rabbits, and pheasants are permitted. The City is currently considering a bylaw which would allow residents to raise hens on private property within Spruce Grove.
• Pet owners must take precautions to ensure an animal is not in distress and must ensure care is taken to protect the animal and provide adequate shelter, food, and water.
• Fine amounts for bylaw infractions are increasing to bring Spruce Grove into alignment with other similar-sized cities in Alberta.