A new animal control bylaw will increase the number of licensed dogs people can keep in 黑马磁力 Township from two to three, among other changes and modernizations.
The bylaw, approved by Township council in a 6-2 vote on Monday, May 26, is based on consultations with other municipalities and with the 黑马磁力 Animal Protection Society (LAPS), which operates the Township's animal shelter and provides animal control services.
The large new bylaw includes a significant number of changes.
In addition to allowing more dogs per property, it has stricter standards for barking and noise complaints related to dogs, it adds a definition and requirement for service dogs like seeing-eye dogs, it modernizes the process of getting a dog licence and allows people to pay for multiple years of a licence in advance, and it increases the licensing and impoundment fees for dangerous dogs.
Another provision allows for the Township to offer a spaying and neutering program.
Councillor Barb Martens asked if the Township was planning to start offering that service directly.
Chief administrative officer Chan Kooner said that section authorizes Township staff to enter into an agreement with LAPS to offer that service or offer it directly through the Township, but there is no agreement right now. The provision is there to offer flexibility in the future, Kooner said.
Martens approved of many of the changes, but said she wanted to give LAPS a chance to review the bylaw before it was passed.
鈥淚 do appreciate that staff have taken a lot of time on this. It鈥檚 not just amendments. It鈥檚 a whole overhaul," she said.
She made a motion asking that LAPS be allowed to review the bylaw before council voted on it.
Coun. Margaret Kunst agreed, mentioning the recent overhaul of a public spaces bylaw that had the horse riding community up in arms, resulting in some later amendments. She suggested taking one more meeting to let LAPS review the bylaw in advance would prevent similar issues, if there are any.
鈥淚 think this is a great reform," Mayor Eric Woodward said, noting the Township had consulted with experts. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 appropriate to advance this."
The referral was defeated in a 5-3 vote, and the bylaw itself passed in a 6-2 vote with Martens and Coun. Kim Richter opposed.
The new bylaw will take effect if it is given final approval at a future council meeting.
