Is Prince Rupert barking up the wrong tree when it comes to dangerous dogs?

The current outcry over dogs perceived to be dangerous to the community seems to be pitting the wishes of some citizens in town, against the advice from the veterinarian world.

A recent high profile incident on 4th Avenue West seems to have been the lightning rod for the call to ban certain breeds of dogs from the city. A suggestion that both the provinces head veterinarian and the city’s local vet both agree wouldn’t be particularly effective.

Local critics point to the city’s dog control bylaw as an ineffective piece of local legislation that has done little to define aggressive behavior and has resulted in residents becoming hostages in their own homes.

The full story was presented on Thursday’s front page of the Daily News

CRITICS CLAIM THE CITY’S DOG CONTROL BYLAW HAS NO TEETH
But veterinarians say that outlawing certain breeds not the way forward
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Pages one and three

The head veterinarian for the B.C. SPCA does not recommend the city of Prince Rupert follow Ontario's example and try to ban specific breeds of dogs from the city.

Dr. James Lawson told a group of concerned citizens Wednesday night that with existing cross-breeds and new breeds of dogs being constantly developed, breed banning is not an effective way to control dangerous dogs.

"I don't believe in breed banning. It's impossible to do," said Lawson.

Rather, he said the city needs a bylaw to deal with incidents in which a dog shows aggressive behaviour toward another human or dog.

"You judge a dog by its behaviour and hold the owner responsible," he said.

Dr. Paul Kennedy of the Pacific Coast Veterinary Hospital added that he recommends people put down a dog once it has attacked a human because of the liability; however banning specific breeds would not be effective.

"Within specific breeds, there are both good and bad," he said.

The city is currently reviewing its animal licencing and control bylaw in a bid to deal with complaints about feral cats and dangerous dogs.

Residents from Fourth Avenue West, who said they had been living in fear of aggressive dogs in their neighbourhood for the past two years, said the city’s bylaw lacked bite.

Area resident Dave Fisher said the dogs in question have charged people and other dogs, but despite multiple phone calls, neither RCMP nor the city’s bylaw officer have responded to concerns. The residents want a bylaw that clearly defines aggressive behavior so action can be done before dogs maul people or other animals.

“We are being held hostage up there,” said Fisher.

In addition, neither of the animals on Fourth Avenue West are neutered, he said. They are used for breeding purposes and are passing on their aggressive characteristics to a new generation of pit bulls, he claimed.

One way to control aggressive dog breeding and to curb the problems of an expanding pet population is for expanded licencing, he said.

Lawson said a substantially larger licenecnig system for people whose animals are not fixed, would, in essence, be like charging a breeder’s licensing fee.

Currently, having an intact dog in Prince Rupert only costs $40 more annually to licence that a fixed dog.

Others added that more enforcement would do a lot to help deal with the situation.

Kathleen Palm, a letter carrier in Prince Rupert said the standard for dogs in Prince Rupert is “startling low” compared to other areas of the country.

Any letter carrier or hydro reader in town could tell the city where the dangerous dogs live, she said.

“The safety of people in the community should come first,” she said. “The safety of our children should come first.”

Both Coun. Nelson Kinney and corporate administrator Doug Jay were on hand to take notes at the meeting and will pass on suggestions to council.