If you’re going to spend time outside this winter, dog owners are reminded to keep your pets under control.
That reminder comes from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Over the the past ten years the MNRF has been involved in several investigations of dogs chasing, injuring and or killing deer.
Conservation Officer Colin Langford provides some tips to help protect you, your dog and wildlife.
“Ensure that your dog is on a leash or a tie out of some sort [in the yard]. For dog owners, there’s tons of resources available for training and training aid. Collars, fencing, tie outs, longer leashes. There’s lots of things that dog owners can do to keep their dogs safe and also wildlife safe,” Langford emphasizes.
While dogs can encounter deer anytime of the year, Langford explains having to run through deep snow or ice is very stressful for deer.
“The winter presents challenges because food is also scarce and if they’re being chased by dogs specifically, it uses up a lot of their fat reserve and they can’t withstand that through the winter until spring. So the end result is usually death, even if the dog doesn’t catch it,” Langford says.
Langford adds that not only is allowing your dog to chase deer illegal, but your pet could get injured or killed in the process.
If you do encounter a deer, Langford says the best thing to do is stop, slowly back away and allow it to cross as deer can become aggressive.
More from the MNRF:
Dogs that aren’t under control can be hit by cars, exposed to diseases , attacked by other animals or get accidentally captured in legally set traps. Allowing your dog to chase or ‘be at large’ against any wildlife is illegal and owners could face fines up to 25 thousand dollars.
In Ontario, there are laws that help to protect deer from chase during non-hunting season, such as:
1. Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, it is illegal to let a dog be at large in an area inhabited by deer, moose, elk or bear during the closed season.
2. Under this legislation, we may charge dog owners whose dogs are found chasing deer during the closed season. The maximum fine for an individual under the FWCA is $25,000.
