A sunny afternoon at Scarborough Bluffs beach quickly took a turn for a Toronto woman who says she was shocked to receive a $615 fine simply for having her dog by her side.
In a TikTok video posted on June 29, Alexandra Abad recounted her experience being ticketed at the Bluffs for bringing her American Bully to the beach — a fine she didn’t see coming.
“I got there around 2:30 p.m., and I see other people with dogs on the beach,” Abad told Now Toronto, who lives in the city’s west end and was visiting the beach at the Bluffs for the first time. “I always felt like beaches are public spaces where you can bring dogs.”
@lifewitlexi It's my dog's first time at life too she can't enjoy the beach? 😒
♬ original sound – Alexandra 💋
But shortly after settling down, she said she noticed a woman in uniform taking photos of her. “She said she was a peace enforcer,” Abad recounted.
“She goes, ‘You’re not allowed to have dogs on the beach,’ and then she started pointing out a sign — the smallest sign — of no dogs on the beach, and it just didn’t make sense to me, because there were already dogs on the beach,” Abad said.
According to Abad, the enforcement officer said she was on-site that day due to a dog attack involving a child that had occurred the day before.
“She told me she was going to ticket every single dog here. But because I cooperated, she gave me the lowest ticket, which was $615,” she said.
Abad said she was told others could be fined up to $2,000 depending on their level of resistance and co-operation.
But, Abad was confused because she and her American bully weren’t kicked off the beach.
“We stayed on the beach the whole day. I don’t really know what the purpose of giving me a ticket was when she let me stay at the beach,” she explained.
Abad said her dog remained leashed the entire time and wasn’t causing a disturbance.
“It was weird because police officers came up to me and they even complimented my dog, but they didn’t say anything about me having the dog on the beach. I don’t know why that happened, because I felt like if they were really enforcing this law — why didn’t the police come to me and say the same thing?” Abad questioned.
In a statement to Now Toronto, the city said dogs are generally prohibited on beaches with very few exceptions, in order to protect public health, ensure safety for all park users, and preserve local wildlife and ecosystems.
“All dogs must be leashed in public unless they are in an officially designated dogs off-leash area,” a city spokesperson said, adding that these rules are in place to help maintain clean, safe, and enjoyable spaces for everyone.
The City also noted that signage is typically posted at beaches to inform the public of these regulations and that information is available on its website. It runs annual public education campaigns on responsible dog ownership, reminding residents to keep dogs on leash in public unless in designated areas.
“We thank everyone for their ongoing cooperation to preserve the natural beauty of our parks and ensure a safe environment for all,” the statement read.
The Parks Bylaw states, “While in a park, individuals having control of a dog shall not allow the dog to enter a swimming beach except between November 1 and March 31.”
There are exceptions for individuals accompanied by a service animal and for working dogs providing services to the city. In all other cases, dogs must stay off the beach during the warmer months, regardless of whether they are leashed, according to the city’s bylaw that took effect in June 2024.
However, for dog owners like Abad, the problem lies less in the rule itself and more in how it was communicated.
“At least, one — be consistent with it (the rule), and two — just make it aware that you’re not allowed to have dogs. Before I even walked in, someone should’ve told me so I didn’t have to sit there, I could have switched beaches before I even came in,” she said.
Abad said she plans to dispute the ticket and hopes the city takes steps toward creating more dog-friendly spaces like parks, beaches, and public areas.
The city does offer several designated off-leash areas where dog owners can bring their pets.
