WESTLOCK — Westlock County councillors got their first look last week at the draft “Responsible Animal Ownership” bylaw, which in its current form would require residents of hamlets, summer villages and country residential subdivisions to purchase a $15 licence for any dog over the age of four months and limit those residents to owning two dogs.
The draft bylaw was presented to county councillors during their May 14 committee of the whole meeting.
Chief administrative officer Tony Kulbisky said there had been a lot of work done on the draft bylaw, which is intended to replace the municipality’s “very, very outdated” dog bylaw.
Kulbisky stressed that the licensing requirement indicated in the bylaw, as well as the two-dog restriction, would not apply to farms or acreages.
“It’s only where we have a high concentration of people,” he said.
Though it was not stated as such in the meeting, the licensing requirements also do not apply to dog owners simply visiting the county or residents who are caring for another person’s dog for less than four weeks. Service dogs, police dogs, guide dogs and search and rescue dogs would also be exempt.
It was also later clarified that residents of hamlets, summer villages and residential subdivisions who currently own more than two dogs would be grandfathered in.
Kulbisky said the licensing requirement was really more about facilitating the return of lost animals to their owners.
"Having a licence and dog tag will help us identify the owner of the animal quicker and avoid having it be brought to a pound outside of the county,” he said.
Kulbisky said this bylaw will likely return to a future committee of the whole meeting for further revisions before it goes to first reading.
He noted that the county’s two open houses at the Pembina Heights Community Hall on June 18 and the Pickardville Community Hall on June 20 would be the perfect opportunity to engage with the public over the draft bylaw and get their feedback.
Council reaction
Coun. Sherri Provencal said she would like the bylaw to emphasize more strongly that the licensing requirement and the two-dog limit would only apply to hamlets, summer villages and residential subdivisions.
She expressed concern that people picking through the county’s different bylaws and policies might see those provisions and jump to the conclusion that farm dogs would fall under the same rules.
Kulbisky said that a lot of those concerns could be addressed through the county’s communication plan as they invite feedback on the draft bylaw.
“We’ll be working with our local media to make sure the public gets the right information,” he said.
However, he noted the public's onus to read through the bylaw before jumping to conclusions.
Provencal also took exception to a part of the bylaw that says if a designated officer refuses to issue a licence for a dog or if an owner refuses to acquire one, a dog may be removed from the municipality or surrendered to the county for euthanasia.
“I’m sorry, but I will not agree to that,” she said, adding that she would understand if a dog was vicious or diseased and had to be put down.
Noting that this is the first time such a bylaw has come before this current council, Coun. Isaac Skuban said this was one of those situations where you would prefer not to have a bylaw at all, but it is necessary given the high number of roaming (and possibly abandoned) dogs in the county.
He acknowledged that some people will look at this bylaw and say they should be able to have as many dogs as they want, but the county also has to keep its hamlets safe.
Reeve Christine Wiese questioned where the two-dog limit came from, noting that Calgary allows people to own up to six dogs and Barrhead allows up to four. She later indicated she would like to raise that limit.
Sgt. community peace officer Darcy DeVos said the two-dog limit had been in place within the county previously and is spelled out in the land-use bylaw.
“It’s good to cap it at two, especially in hamlets, because it just gets out of hand,” he said.
DeVos also pointed out the bylaw contained provisions that would allow people to apply to own more dogs, though those applications may be turned down in certain circumstances.
Wiese also commented on the $15 fee, adding that it had seemed quite reasonable and even a little low to the dog-owners she had spoken to.
Deputy reeve Ray Marquette praised the draft bylaw, noting that he would approve it at that same meeting if it were possible.
He suggested that if people cared about their dogs, they would make sure they don't run loose.
“If your kid is missing, you find them. If a dog is part of a family, it should be looked after,” he said.
