Sturgeon County's dog control bylaw will extend to another acreage subdivision despite some concern among council about a policy that requires residents to file a petition before rules take effect.
Dog owners in the Green Acres subdivision, located in Sturgeon Valley, now have to purchase licences for their animals and ensure they're on leash or tethered if taken off property. It also includes provisions to ensure dog owners do not allow their animals to bark or howl excessively.
Deputy fire chief Pat Mahoney said some 66 per cent of residents petitioned the county in March to implement the bylaw. Green Acres is the 35th subdivision to fall under the dog control rules out of 79 multi-lot subdivisions in Sturgeon County.
Onus on residents criticized
Despite unanimous agreement to add Green Acres to the bylaw, Div. 6 Coun. Karen Shaw questioned a process that puts the onus on residents before it looks at implementing dog control rules. Sturgeon requires at least 60 per cent of residents to support the petition before the matter is put before council.
"Why do we make it so difficult for people that live in subdivisions?" Shaw asked administration. "Why don't we have consistency in all subdivisions? Why do they have to petition?"
Shaw said the current approach has led to unfortunate instances where bylaw officers have refused to look into complaints about abandoned animals because the calls originated in areas where the bylaw doesn't apply.
Shaw said in once case officers would not pick up an abandoned dog that was in considerable pain after it had a run-in with a porcupine and had numerous quills on its face and body.
"This poor animal suffered for days and days and finally just disappeared," she said. "It just seemed to me there was an animal in distress and we couldn't respond … it seems a little bit of a disconnect."
Mahoney said animal control officers are only allowed to respond in areas where the bylaw is in place. Complaints from other areas would not be followed up.
"It's outside the scope of the animal control officer. There wouldn't be any action."
Peter Tarnawsky, director of public services, pointed out council last reviewed Sturgeon's dog control policy in 2009 when the decision was made to stick with the petition process. If council wanted to expand dog control rules to the rest of the county's 45 subdivisions it would come with a cost in the form of extra animal control officers.
Coun. Jerry Kaup said a universal dog bylaw could have negative consequences. Neighbours in subdivisions that get along with each other don't want dog control rules and wouldn't want to have to resort to a petition to have the bylaw repealed, he said.
"They want to enjoy their dogs and are happy with that."
The bylaw takes effect on July 12 in Green Acres. Failing to purchase a licence or allowing a dog to roam at large can each lead to $100 fines. Failing to pick up after a dog can result in a $150 fine.
