The City has finally come up with some guidelines for dog owners in the city, and pitbull owners and those of other more ah, energetic breeds will be held to a higher standard than the run of the mill mutt owner.
City council explored the new regulations which will come into effect after the next council meeting when the bylaw is given assent, with Councillor Thorkelson making note that it has suddenly become very expensive to be a dog owner, depending on the breed of dog that you wish to keep around the house.
Using the Pitbulls as an example, the new cost of licencing will be $150 a year for sterilized dogs and $200 for unsterilized dogs before March 1, pitbull owners will also be on the hook for some aesthetic changes to their homes, as they are now required to post signage warning the public of the animal's presence, keep the animal muzzled and leashed at all times in public or off-leash areas, and must provide for an enclosed pen or six-foot high fence in their backyards.
Should their animal still somehow manage to get into trouble, the impound fees that they are charged will be increased as the occurrences multiply, from $250 for a first offence, $500 for a second offence and $1,000 for each subsequent offence.
Unrestricted dogs will be bailed out of doggie jail for a singnifcantly less amount, ranging from $50 for a first offence, $85 for a second offence and $135 for subsequent offences.
With Mayor Herb Pond out of town and Acting Mayor Tony Briglio holding down the gavel, the remaining six members of council weighed their options and brought in the bylaw with bite by a measure of 4-2.
The Daily News featured all the snarling and gnashing of teeth of the council meeting as the front page story in Wednesday's paper.
COUNCILLORS GET THEIR TEETH INTO DANGEROUS DOG BYLAW
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Pages one and three
Pitbulls will be presumed guilty under the city's new dog control bylaw and as it is currently proposed, their owners will have to pay.
At Monday night's council meeting, in a four-to-two vote, council decided pitbulls and associated breeds (restricted dogs) would face the same restrictions, regulations and fees as dogs with a proven track record off attacking other animals or humans (dangerous or vicious dogs.)
"You are sure making it expensive for a lot of people in town," said Coun. Joy Thorkelson, after the new bylaw passed the first three readings.
"I just have a problem treating restricted dogs the same as dangerous dogs."
Under the new bylaw, anyone licensing a pitbull will face fees of $150 a year for sterilized dogs and $200 for unsterilized dogs before March 1, as well as be required to post signage warning the public of the animal's presence, keep the animal muzzled and leashed at all times in public or off-leash areas, and require an enclosed pen or six-foot high fence in their backyards. Impound fees will also be the same for "restricted" breeds and vicious dogs - $250 for a first offence, $500 for a second offence and $1,000 for each subsequent offence.
This compares to impoundment fees for unrestricted breeds of $50 for a first offence, $85 for a second offence and $135 for subsequent offences.
These are the same requirements for a "dangerous" or "vicious" dog that has attacked a person or animal or shown aggressive behaviour.
Thorkelson, who was supported by acting mayor Tony Briglio, made several attempts to change the bylaw to differentiate between "restricted" and "dangerous" dogs.
"We heard at the public hearing that we had on dogs and cats that there were two really varying opinions," she said.
On one hand, some people, such as the head veterinarian of the B.C. SPCA, felt legislating specific breeds was a waste of time, for there is good and bad in every breed and it is the owner who determines the characteristic of the animal. On the other hand, some people felt certain breeds have a track record and should be legislated.
"This bylaw says they are restricted dogs because they are supposed to be more dangerous ... " said Thorkelson.
"It makes the present ownership of these dogs very expensive and my concern is that we are going to find it is quite difficult for some of these people pay the money to have these dogs."
She suggested council apply a grandfather clause for existing pitbull owners, dropping the fee down to $100 in the first year and working up to $250 over time.
This way, it would discourage people from buying new restricted dogs but it would not punish existing owners of peaceful restricted dogs.
Pitbull owners already face significant added costs for fencing and signage, she said.
"It's a fair amount of money someone will have to put out to keep the dog," she said.
If a restricted dog became a dangerous or vicious dog, the owner would then face the full fee of $200.
Acting Mayor Tony Briglio also voiced his concern.
"I, for one, could go for a dangerous dog bylaw but not restricted just based on breed that an animal happened to be," he said.
However, neither councillors Sheila Gordon-Payne, Kathy Bedard or Ken Cote wanted to discuss the issue. Coun. Thorkelson voted against the bylaw when it was passed.
The bylaw is expected to receive assent at the next meeting and them come into force after that.
Showing posts with label City of Prince Rupert Dog bylaw controversy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City of Prince Rupert Dog bylaw controversy. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Friday, December 14, 2007
More barking to come before pet bylaws to be introduced
The controversial bylaw regarding dogs in Prince Rupert is still stuck in the system of the city’s bureaucratic layers, as city staff try to come up with a program that will be acceptable to all.
The topic however is still high on the mind of Prince Rupert residents who continue to share their thoughts with city councilors, so much so that Councillor Thorkelson is of the opinion that a discussion paper may be need to guide city staff on their duties, a paper that she believes should include feedback from local residents.
Mayor Pond called the debate in council chambers over dogs one of the “most memorable moments” of the past year in council.
This sadly seems to explain the state of the city these days. Sure there may be failing infrastructure all around, double counted millions of dollars no longer available to the city, a need to once again tax the remaining residents of the town, questions over the city owned telecommunications company and an ever expanding collection of empty store fronts along Third Avenue.
The topic however is still high on the mind of Prince Rupert residents who continue to share their thoughts with city councilors, so much so that Councillor Thorkelson is of the opinion that a discussion paper may be need to guide city staff on their duties, a paper that she believes should include feedback from local residents.
Mayor Pond called the debate in council chambers over dogs one of the “most memorable moments” of the past year in council.
This sadly seems to explain the state of the city these days. Sure there may be failing infrastructure all around, double counted millions of dollars no longer available to the city, a need to once again tax the remaining residents of the town, questions over the city owned telecommunications company and an ever expanding collection of empty store fronts along Third Avenue.
But in the eyes of council, the dog debate is the most memorable event of the year!
It kind of makes you wonder if they see the big picture over on Third Avenue some days.
The contentious dog bylaw issue was examined in Thursday’s Daily News as the front page story of the day.
CITY NOT READY TO LET PET BYLAWS OFF THE LEASH YET
City staff working on suggestions but council may invite more public input
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Pages one and three
The bylaw that’s going to the dogs isn’t quite ready yet, and city staff has requested more time to put the finishing touches on the revamped and sometimes controversial dog bylaw.
That said, the topic still came up at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Coun. Joy Thorkelson suggested that instead of trying to come up with a revised dog bylaw that will more than likely still cause controversy, that it might be an idea to put together a discussion paper instead with feedback from the community.
“I’m just wondering if it would be a lot easier on our nerves,” she said. “If we did that instead of a bylaw… it’s very difficult to change a bylaw after a third reading.”
For example, at the meeting, a report was presented by the Boulevard Transportation Group regarding parking in Prince Rupert (see Friday’s Daily News for full story). The recommendations from that report along with suggestions from the local Parking Advisory Task Force, will then be used to help city staff come up with appropriate future bylaws regarding parking.
Thorkelson suggested the city try a similar idea when it comes to animal control bylaws.
“Like the parking, we have a discussion paper, and now we can build a bylaw from that,” she said. “You bring another bylaw, and we could have the same reaction as last time.”
Mayor Herb Pond agreed with Thorkelson, and suggested this could very well be what takes place with the cat bylaw, but that the dog bylaw is almost complete, and will be ready for full discussion and a potential vote at the next city council meeting, set for Mon. Jan 14.
“The bylaw provoked a lot of people, but that’s a good thing,” he said.
“And I agree with you that discussions around the concepts are easier… but the dog bylaw can probably come back. It might not hurt to have discussions about the cats and exotic animals.”
That said, he reminded council that he believed the open discussions regarding the issue, when many members of the public took the time to speak their mind, was one of the “most memorable moments” of the past year inside council chambers.
Chief Administrative Officer Gord Howie said that a full report will accompany the revised dog bylaw come Jan. 14.
“We had hoped to have it here by this meeting,” he said. “We’re also working on a report to accompany the bylaw with pros and cons and additional information.”
Thorkelson added that a discussion paper from the get-go might have been the way to go, considering how the original animal bylaw has now basically been discarded, as the city splits it into two- a separate bylaw for dogs, and another eventual bylaw for cats.
“What a lot of work was put into something that was just tossed,” she said. “It may have been the highlight of the year if it was based on ratings… but it also caused a lot of angst.
It kind of makes you wonder if they see the big picture over on Third Avenue some days.
The contentious dog bylaw issue was examined in Thursday’s Daily News as the front page story of the day.
CITY NOT READY TO LET PET BYLAWS OFF THE LEASH YET
City staff working on suggestions but council may invite more public input
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Pages one and three
The bylaw that’s going to the dogs isn’t quite ready yet, and city staff has requested more time to put the finishing touches on the revamped and sometimes controversial dog bylaw.
That said, the topic still came up at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Coun. Joy Thorkelson suggested that instead of trying to come up with a revised dog bylaw that will more than likely still cause controversy, that it might be an idea to put together a discussion paper instead with feedback from the community.
“I’m just wondering if it would be a lot easier on our nerves,” she said. “If we did that instead of a bylaw… it’s very difficult to change a bylaw after a third reading.”
For example, at the meeting, a report was presented by the Boulevard Transportation Group regarding parking in Prince Rupert (see Friday’s Daily News for full story). The recommendations from that report along with suggestions from the local Parking Advisory Task Force, will then be used to help city staff come up with appropriate future bylaws regarding parking.
Thorkelson suggested the city try a similar idea when it comes to animal control bylaws.
“Like the parking, we have a discussion paper, and now we can build a bylaw from that,” she said. “You bring another bylaw, and we could have the same reaction as last time.”
Mayor Herb Pond agreed with Thorkelson, and suggested this could very well be what takes place with the cat bylaw, but that the dog bylaw is almost complete, and will be ready for full discussion and a potential vote at the next city council meeting, set for Mon. Jan 14.
“The bylaw provoked a lot of people, but that’s a good thing,” he said.
“And I agree with you that discussions around the concepts are easier… but the dog bylaw can probably come back. It might not hurt to have discussions about the cats and exotic animals.”
That said, he reminded council that he believed the open discussions regarding the issue, when many members of the public took the time to speak their mind, was one of the “most memorable moments” of the past year inside council chambers.
Chief Administrative Officer Gord Howie said that a full report will accompany the revised dog bylaw come Jan. 14.
“We had hoped to have it here by this meeting,” he said. “We’re also working on a report to accompany the bylaw with pros and cons and additional information.”
Thorkelson added that a discussion paper from the get-go might have been the way to go, considering how the original animal bylaw has now basically been discarded, as the city splits it into two- a separate bylaw for dogs, and another eventual bylaw for cats.
“What a lot of work was put into something that was just tossed,” she said. “It may have been the highlight of the year if it was based on ratings… but it also caused a lot of angst.
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