Town of Picture Butte upholds aggressive dog classification

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

The Town of Picture Butte is once again up upholding its aggressive dog classification and conditions for Monty Cahoon’s senior Schaunzer, Milo, who has been at the centre of a year-long aggressive dog classification appeal.      

Picture Butte councillors made that decision to uphold the classification, following the Oct. 14 regular council meeting where they brought the matter before council in a request for decision (RFD), and ultimately went behind closed doors to finalize it. 

In a follow-up email Oct. 30, Picture Butte CAO Keith Davis spoke about council’s decision and the reason behind it.    

“Council made a motion to keep the aggressive dog classification and current restrictions for Mr. Cahoon’s dog,” said Davis, noting the restrictions include that the dog must be kept on a leash no longer than one metre while in the public, and that the dog is not left unattended in any public space. 

“This determination was made due to a number of incidents and complaints that our bylaw officer received regarding Mr. Cahoon’s dog during the year preceding the initial aggressive dog classification,” he added. 

That initial classification came in the fall of 2024 after councillors deliberated on the aggressive dog classification appeal last November (2024) and ultimately upheld it and the conditions. However, council agreed to reconsider the classification and review it in September 2025, thus, extending the appeal period to September of this year. 

In an emotionally charged meeting on Oct. 14, where tempers flared at times, councillors discussed the aggressive dog classification and appeal in front of Monty Cahoon and several family members and friends who were there to support him.  

“Another decision on this classification and the recommendation is that, regardless of the decision (Oct. 14) is that you don’t keep the appeal process open, that your decision is final,” Davis told councillors at the meeting. “In the bylaw, there’s no good behaviour for an aggressive dog. It’s either classified as an aggressive dog or not. It puts the onus on the dog owner to make sure that dog is under control at all times and doesn’t cause any incidents.” 

Davis explained that if the classification was removed and another incident occurs, the town could be held liable because they “were aware there were issues with this dog and took off that classification and conditions associated with it.” 

During the Oct. 14 meeting, Davis noted more complaints were received in 2025, which according to the statement Davis provided to the Sunny South News in an email, did not have any impact on council’s decision to uphold the classification. 

Town of Picture Butte bylaw officer Wesley Noble issued two tickets to Cahoon for dog-related offences – one for breaching conditions and the other for chasing and biting (another dog). The incident took place at the off-lease dog park in August.  

“During that year period, we have had further complaints and we have had this incident at the dog park where it was further evidence for the aggressive dog classification,” said Davis. “That we’re recommending to council that we keep the aggressive dog classification because of the things that have happened within the year period. If nothing had happened within that year period, we may have come with a different recommendation to council,” he added, noting the courts are dealing with the tickets issued in August. 

John Ansell, a friend of Cahoon’s, spoke up at the meeting about the August incident and questioned the tickets issued to his friend. 

“The other guy also had four dogs that went after his,” said Ansell. “I saw the four dogs after I was there … I go by the dog park all the time. This gentleman had one of his own and three other dogs that he was looking after, that’s how I know,” Ansell added. 

Picture Butte Mayor Cathy Moore questioned Ansell’s remarks after learning he was not at the dog park during the incident. She reminded him why they were discussing the matter.

“I’m sorry, that doesn’t fly. Please sit,” said Moore. “We’re here to talk to Mr. Cahoon about the appeal, not about if there were four dogs there (at the dog park).”

“It’s still not an aggressive dog. I don’t care what you say,” replied Ansell.  

Moore said council would further discuss the matter and a letter would be mailed to Cahoon, informing him of their decision. 

“We will have further discussion on this and a letter will be mailed to you to let you know – we will register the letter and let you know what our thoughts (are) and decision is,” said Moore.   

Karen Hann, Cahoon’s niece, confirmed last week that the town did deliver a letter to Cahoon’s doorstep and when reached for comment following the meeting, Hann said the family was very disappointed with how the matter has been dealt with by the town and how her uncle has been treated throughout this ordeal. 

“I’m very upset at how poorly he’s been treated through this whole process in the past two years,” said Hann. “That’s been very stressful to see someone I love, who is elderly and in poor health be treated like this.”

There were several areas of concern the family highlighted in an appeal letter to the town in October. Those concerns are also highlighted in a letter to the Alberta Ombudsman, noted Hann, and include, improper interpretation of provincial law and town bylaws and lack of evidence of unprovoked aggression, unreliable and potentially colluded witness testimony, inconsistent with standards of credibility, disproportionate and punitive response to unproven allegations, and misconduct and procedural unfairness by town officials.

Hann said her uncle is considering all options at this point in arguing the aggressive dog classification, including taking the matter to the Alberta Human Rights Commission and possibly to the courts.

Cahoon had a court date on Sept. 23 for the two tickets issued in August and plead not guilty. The matter was put over until the new year, when he is set to return to court in January 2026.