The Moose Jaw Police Service addressed the off-leash dog situation in the city during the Board of Police Commissioners meeting on Thursday.
Commissioner Doug Blanc brought up the story reported by Discover Moose Jaw about a dog attack that took place on June 22 and asked about off-leash dog calls.
The story reported that Ross Peterson’s German Shepard, Cooper, who was on a six-foot-long tether, was attacked by an off-leash dog.
Deputy Chief Rick Johns said they frequently receive calls about dogs and the police service must prioritize which calls they attend.
“We do routinely get a number of dog-related calls, whether it be barking dogs, dogs running at-large or potentially dangerous dogs. We tend to respond to the dangerous dog ones rather promptly, just for the safety of the public,” Johns explained.
He added that the police generally refer dogs running at-large to the Moose Jaw Humane Society, which is contracted by the city to capture stray animals.
Under the city’s Dog Bylaw, the fine for a dog running at large is between $40 and $60. When it comes to leashes longer than two metres, the fine could cost the owner between $40 and $60.