Law Society of Saskatchewan
Find Legal AssistanceMember ProfileMember ResourcesContact
  • 0
    Cart
  • My Account
  • About Us
      • News
        • Legal News (Legal Sourcery)
        • Podcast
        • ReSource
        • Videos
        • Benchers’ Digest
        • Case Mail
      • Mission and Values
      • Committees
      • Convocation
      • Benchers
      • Annual and Financial Reports
      • Contact Us
  • Initiatives
      • Access to Justice
        • Future of Legal Services Initiative
          • The Limited Licensing Pilot
        • Limited Scope Legal Services – Information for the Public
        • Limited Scope Legal Services – Information for Lawyers
        • Saskatchewan Access to Justice Week
      • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
        • Demographic Data Collection FAQ
        • Equity Office
      • Legal Information
        • Legal Information Guidelines
        • Saskatchewan Access to Legal Information
      • Truth and Reconciliation
        • Additional Resources
        • Information on Indigenous Class Action Settlements
      • Saskatchewan Justicia Project
  • Regulation
      • Definition of the Practice of Law and Unauthorized Practice of Law
      • Firm Regulation
        • Designated Representative (DR) Hub
      • New Sole Practitioner/Small Firm Practice Program
      • Act, Code and Rules
        • The Legal Profession Act, 1990
        • Code of Professional Conduct and Amendments
        • Law Society Rules, Amendments and Practice Directives
        • Rules Concordance – Read More
      • Hearings, Decisions and Rulings
        • Hearing Committee Adjudicator Roster
        • Pending Discipline Matters
        • Discipline Decisions
        • Conduct Review Database
        • Ethics Rulings Database
        • Pending Admissions and Education Matters
        • Admissions and Education Decisions
        • Disqualification and Reinstatement
      • Lawyers with Practice Conditions/Restrictions
      • Lawyer Trusteeships and Successors
      • Potential Complaint Outcomes
        • Ethics Committee
        • Competency Committee
        • Conduct Investigation Committee
  • Public
      • Finding Legal Assistance
      • Find Legal Assistance Search Guidance
      • Get Legal Information, Resources, and Options for Assistance
      • What to Expect From Your Lawyer
      • Looking For Lost Wills
      • Making a Complaint
        • Complaints Process
      • Common Client Concerns
        • Understanding Lawyers’ Fees
        • Quality of Service
        • Conflict of Interest
        • Confidentiality
        • Withdrawal
        • File Transfers
      • Common Client Concerns
        • Role of an Estate’s Lawyer
        • Role of Opposing Lawyer
        • Breach of Trust Conditions/Undertakings
        • Lawyer’s Conduct in Court
        • Lawyer’s Outside Interests
  • Lawyers and Students
      • Becoming a Lawyer in Saskatchewan
        • Students-at-law
        • Transfer Lawyers
        • International Applicants
        • Western Canada Competency Profile
      • Becoming a Principal
      • Career And Volunteer Opportunities
        • Students Seeking Articles
      • Membership Services
      • Mentorship Program
      • Awards, Bursaries, Scholarships
      • Locum Registry
      • Expanded Practice Advisor Program
      • Forms and Fees
        • Law Society Forms
        • Trust Account Forms
      • Western Conveyancing Protocol
        • Protocol for Saskatchewan
      • Practice Resources
        • General Resources
        • Successor Listing
        • King’s Bench Rules
      • Health and Wellness
      • Pro Bono Legal Services
  • Legal Resources
  • CPD
      • CPD Activities
        • CPD Calendar of Activities
        • CPD On Demand (Subscription)
        • Recorded Versions Shop
        • Study Group Resources
      • CPD Policy
        • Reporting CPD Hours
        • Eligible CPD Activities
        • Remedial CPD Plan Information
        • FAQs for Members
        • FAQs for CPD Providers
      • Contact Us
      • Volunteers
      • Presenter Section
  • Shop
Law Society of Saskatchewan Access to Justice Pro Bono Stories – Part 4

The information provided on this blog is to, the best of our knowledge, accurate and up-to-date as of the date of posting. However, please be aware that information can change rapidly and without notice. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented after the posting date. It is advised that readers exercise due diligence and independently verify the accuracy of information they find on this blog news feed. Here are links to the most current information available in relation to our Membership, Saskatchewan Case Law, and Saskatchewan Legislation.

Pro Bono Stories – Part 4

October 28, 2021

Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan (PBLS) is celebrating Access to Justice Week by sharing stories from our volunteers. PBLS volunteers directly support low-income people in Saskatchewan who would otherwise not be able to access a lawyer.

Today’s Pro Bono Stories are from two of our many amazing volunteers who volunteer under Pro Bono Membership Status. The Pro Bono Membership Status allows lawyers to volunteer with approved pro bono organizations. Pro Bono members are exempt from Law Society and SLIA fees. Fees are also waived for Law Society provided CPD.

Ron Cherkewich

A report from a day in the trenches:  It is a dog’s life and a dog “gone” shame (dogs don’t have a charter of rights)?

I accepted a panel referral to assist a lady who received a charge under a municipal bylaw alleging that she owned a dangerous dog. The complained of conduct was:

that your dog … without provocation and in a menacing manner, approached another dog in an apparent attitude of attack; [“barked”]

It seems the bylaw does not distinguish or differentiate between the above rather innocuous conduct and egregious conduct such as:

that your dog … without provocation, bitten, inflicted injury, assaulted or otherwise attacked a person or domestic animal. [“bit”]

Under the municipal bylaw a “bark” is treated like a “bite”. Therefore a finding by a Court that your pooch barked at another dog (present case) or mauled a person to death (not this case) would attract the same judicial sanction:  being branded (tagged) as a dangerous dog. An adverse conclusion on either a bark or a bite would result in, among other things, the pooch being branded and stigmatized for life with that label: dangerous dog.

In this case after the incident and before charges were laid, at the owners own initiative, the pooch was confined to a leash, restricted to a fenced pen, psychoanalyzed, enrolled in canine rehabilitation and anger management courses, and yes, therapy from a professional dog whisperer!

Indeed, the pooch had an exemplary record – no previous charges or like incidents and no known propensity to bark nastily at other dogs – even when provoke! A history of only joyful and rapture full barking. Unlike the Criminal Code which tends to favour humane treatment of criminals, this bylaw has no provision for an absolute or conditional discharge, diversion programs, probation or even contemplate an application for a pardon. Shamefully, the bylaw denies history. It does not provide for credit or recognition for pooch’s canine ancestors historically being known as, in this case, a (wo)man’s best friend.

When it came to sentencing all the above was to no avail. Exemplary conduct counted for naught. No second chance, no mercy.

Once labeled as a dangerous dog under the bylaw our best friend is now hopelessly branded, aka tagged, for life. This vicious bylaw pursues pooches indiscriminately and with (I have to use this word) dogged persistence. Cruel and usual punishment? If you are a human being of course this would be the case. However, it seems we save our worse treatment for our best friends and spares the criminals?  An injustice?  Some may think so. There is however no legal recourse. Dogs are neither contemplated by the Charter (of Human Rights) nor do they have their own Charter (not yet anyway – see link, which at para 11 under LEGAL RIGHTS contemplates: 11 All animals have rights to engage in normal and natural behaviours).  A Charter of Animals Right has yet to be enshrined. Until then, it appears there is no room for an Application for Judicial Review based on cruel and unusual punishment.

“Dog” gone shame some would say!

Just another typical frustrating day in the life of PBLS volunteer lawyer. Time to move on. File Closed.

Ron Cherkewich volunteers with the Northern Rural Clinic as well as on the General Panel, Seniors Panel and the Cory Cardinal Inmates Legal Assistance Panel. Ron Cherkewich received the 2020 Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan Volunteer of the Year Award for his ongoing display of exemplary dedication to the provision of Pro Bono services through PBLS.

Interested in volunteering or learning more? For PBLS, please visit pblsask.ca or email [email protected].

Share this:
    

Archives

Categories

SUBSCRIBE

Subscribe for the latest news from our blog "Legal Sourcery".


Submit News Post

Submission Guidelines

Online Tools

  • Search
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • LSS Initiatives
  • For Lawyers & Students
  • For the Public
  • Regulation
  • CPD

Subscribe Now

Subscribe for the latest news from our blog "Legal Sourcery".

Stay Connected

Twitter
Facebook
Linkedin

© 2025 Law Society of Saskatchewan. Website & Hosting by OmniOnline