Keeping your animals within your property is crucial for not only their safety, but the safety of residents in the community. When livestock get loose, they can make their way to roadways and other properties. 

The Stray Animals Act deals with trespassing alpacas, bison, cattle, donkeys, goats, horses, llamas, mules, sheep and swine. This Act imposes obligations and liability on: 

• owners to keep their livestock from trespassing on land owned by another person or on a highway; and
• persons who open and fail to close a gate or tampers with, damages or destroys a gate or fence.

Failure to comply with these obligations can result in civil action for damages or charges under the Act which can result in fines up to $5,000.

What do do if you see loose livestock

If you see livestock on the road, this can be a serious traffic hazard and pose a threat to resident safety. If an animal is on or near the road, please call the RCMP. 

If you have someone else's livestock in your yard, please call Planning and Development Services at 780-464-8080 to notify an Environment Livestock Officer or submit a County Connect. 

Fencing

In order to keep your animals within your property, it is important to have adequate fencing. Different animals may require different types of fencing, and your fences should always be tailored to your specific livestock needs.

• Sheep are best contained with medium gauge page wire about four-feet high
• Goats need taller fences closer to six-feet high
• Pigs require a four-foot, medium gauge page wire fence, but buried a few feet deep, as pigs tend to dig. 

For further information on best fencing practices, please visit your provincial livestock association webpages:

• Alberta Beef Producers
• Lamb Producers
• Goat Producers
• Pig Producers