Town of Thorsby explores new pet ownership bylaw

THORSBY -- A new responsible pet ownership bylaw is currently in the works in the Town of Thorsby.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the township's current dog control bylaw to broaden definitions, while also expanding the overall scope of the bylaw to encompass other animals, such as stray cats. The updated language contained in the new legislation also accommodates Peace Officers and the full scope of their abilities, including provisions around animal seizures. 

A first draft for the new responsible pet ownership bylaw was included in Thorsby's Committee of the Whole meeting on June 9, 2026, with plans for council to consider it for first reading at their regular meeting later this month. Chief Administrative Officer Donna Tona says the bylaw will set out updated requirements around licensing while also addressing concerns around dogs at large.

"We've had a bit of a dog issue here in Thorsby -- nothing horrible, but a nuisance really -- and we had no teeth to enforce some of these issues," said Tona. "We've made several changes to the current Dog Control Bylaw 2022-07, notably being the usage of the word 'Animal' to broaden and encompass the actions of other animals and pets, such as when stray cats excessively urinate on properties."

The draft sets out requirements that animal owners must ensure their dogs are not running at large, and that they remain under the owner's control at all times. It also sets out standards that owners must remove any excrement their dog places anywhere other than their owner property -- but to that effect, an accumulation of excrement on private properties is not permitted. 

The primary aspect of the bylaw sets to provide authority for Peace Officers to capture and impound any animal, dog, or vicious dog, found to be running at large, or found to have bitten someone. It also sets guidelines to prevent residents from interfering with, or attempting to obstruct a CPO who is attempting to capture a dog which is subject to impoundment or seizure.

"This is a big one here, where if we're seizing your dog, you can't interfere with us," said Tona. "We had that happen in Morinville when I was there. We had a dog in a kennel and were loading it, and they tried to beat on the Peace Officer with a shovel." 

Under the proposed bylaw, dog licenses would range between $25 and $50, while a license for a dog deemed to be vicious would be set at $200.