Does a Person Have to Pick Up Their Dog’s Poop On My Lawn?
The short answer: Yes. Is it illegal to not pick up your dog’s poop in Ontario? Also yes because in the City of Hamilton, there is a municipal by-law which states that the owner of an animal must immediately pick up any feces left by their animal on any area they do not own. By not picking it up, a person would be contravening section 8.1 of the by-law found below.
Found in By-law No. 12-031, For Responsible Animal Ownership, section 8.1 states that:
“Every owner of an animal, except the owner of a service animal or a police animal, shall immediately remove and dispose of any feces left by the animal on any premises except premises owned or occupied by the owner”.
(City of Hamilton, By-law No. 12-031, For Responsible Animal Ownership (January, 2018)
This means that if a person’s dog poops on your lawn one morning, the owner of the dog must pick it up and dispose of it immediately. However, the by-law does not stop there. Section 8.2 also requires animal owners to dispose of feces left by an animal in a timely manner, even on their own premises.
This means that your neighbour is able to file a “dog poop complaint” to the City if they see your animal’s feces piling up in your yard! Is there a dog poop fine if you do not abide by this rule? There could be. Each municipality may set their fine(s) accordingly. For example in Vaughan, the fine for not picking up your dog’s poop is approximately $200.
The three ways a complaint can be made are:
1. Call Animal Services at 905-574-3433
2. Email AnimalServices@hamilton.ca
3. Complete an online complaint form
(For more information on filing a complaint and to complete the form, visit hamilton.ca)
Moreover, if your tenant is not picking up their dog’s poop, you are also able to file a complaint using the options above.
The by-laws of each city may differ so be sure to review them and your city’s official website for more information! You may also want to seek legal advice if you plan on taking any legal action regarding a matter related to an animal and their owner. In all, it is important to know your rights and responsibilities as the owner of an animal or property.
