Pit bulls in Delta will no longer automatically be classified as dangerous dogs.

Civic politicians approved a new animal control bylaw last week that removed the breed specific designation.

"All dogs will therefore be classed on their behaviour as opposed to their breed," municipal solicitor Greg Vanstone stated in a report to council.

Vanstone and Delta Community Animal Shelter manager Sarah Lowe presented the new bylaw to Delta council.

Last November, staff brought forward a number of proposed changes to the municipality's animal control bylaw, which had not seen any alterations since 2001. At that time, the bylaw presented was given preliminary approval and sent to a public hearing.

Following the hearing and a council workshop, staff was directed to make several changes. As a result, Vanstone said, staff brought forward a revised version last week.

The bylaw does not contain any stipulations requiring the licensing of cats, which was debated at the council table earlier this year.

Lowe said having permanent identification through a licensing a program would help solve a "huge" cat problem.

"We have a huge cat issue in Delta and every municipality does," she said.

The shelter currently has around 50 cats. That number can surge to 90 during "kitten season," Lowe said.

She said in many cases when a cat goes missing, the owner assumes it ran away or met with an unfortunate end and does not bother to check with the shelter.

Licensing would allow the shelter to reunite more lost cats with their owners, Lowe said.

"Dog licensing has been very successful," she said.

The return rate for stray cats is "very low," Lowe said, at about 11 per cent. The return rate for stray dogs is about 90 per cent.

The municipality is still considering a $20 cat licensing fee, which would also help offset the cost of running the shelter.

The report from Vanstone said that since April the municipality has heard directly from three residents in favour of cat licensing and another three against it.

Municipal staff are still looking into the issue and will report back to council in the new year.

The new bylaw will also mean an increase to Delta's dog licensing fees. Licensing a spayed or neutered dog will now cost $35 for a year, or $55 for an unsprayed or unneutered dog, up from $20 and $40.

Licenses for dogs considered aggressive or dangerous cost $210 for spayed and neutered and $510 for unsprayed or unneutered.