The number of dog bites within the first quarter of the year was higher than usual.

Five incidents have been recorded for the months of January to March, making up 1.33% of the quarters complaint reports.

Municipal Enforcement Manager Tim Stobbs says it's not off the charts but dog bites are always a concern.

"Sometimes it's not necessarily the dogs fault it can be a dog that is put into a position where it's frightened or something, but we are concerned every time a dog is engaged with biting another animal or biting a person...We find that we end up with a few conflicts at the dog park, or when dogs are off leash and of course our normal ones that are close to a residence."

Stobbs says it's important to remember that dogs need to be socialized to their surroundings.

"Probably the most important thing you have to remember is that dogs are living breathing things and they need to be socialized to their surroundings. Often times we end up in a situation where dogs are placed in an unusual situation for them where they are stressed or sometimes people just don't control their dogs...so at the end of the day people have to understand they have to confine their dogs sometimes if they have those propensities."

Dog owners can pay a hefty fine for dog bites, first offenses for a dog to animal bite is $250 while a dog to human bite is $500.

Stobbs wants to remind residents that both licensed and unlicensed dogs at large can be fined, for most incidents happen when dogs are off leash.

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