Nova Scotia, Canada - Municipality seeks input to put bite on pet owners

[Rene Allegrini]

Municipal councils asked for input to put the bite on pet owners

Pit bull incidents show control bylaws need strengthening, say municipalities

BRIDGEWATER — Municipalities across the province are being asked what they think of getting broader powers to deal with pet owners through strengthened animal control legislation.

It’s an initiative of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, but stems from the District of Guysborough’s dealing with a couple accused of violating the municipality’s pit bull ban.

Guysborough banned pit bulls in 1995. Marilyn and Williard Cameron were charged with two counts of having a fierce or dangerous dog. They were ordered to get rid of their adult pit bull and a pup that’s allegedly part pit bull. More than a year later, the case remains unresolved. The next scheduled court date is Sept. 20.

Several residents wrote to council at the time asking it to allow the dogs to stay. Out of that debate arose the formation of this new UNSM animal control committee.

"Council here is keenly interested in seeing if powers can be enhanced to hold owners responsible, or to hold irresponsible owners responsible," said Dan McDougall, chief administrative officer for the District of Guysborough and chairman of the new UNSM committee reviewing animal control powers for municipalities.

"We feel there’s very little power to hold the owners responsible," he said, and hope that if the legislation were changed to hold pet owners more accountable, they would then be more responsible.

"Council said to animal groups it has the responsibility in legislation to deal with animals, but not to deal with people," Mr. McDougall said.

Indeed, when the Camerons were charged, Warden Lloyd Hines told The Chronicle Herald provincial legislation limits what municipalities can do to control the behaviour of pet owners. Because of that bylaw enforcement officers have to control the animals, he said.

The UNSM committee is asking municipalities across Nova Scotia for their ideas on enhancing animal control legislation. Mr. McDougall said he expects it to take a good year to develop recommendations.

The committee is comprised of three municipal administrators, a provincial employee, an employee of the UNSM and a bylaw enforcement representative. When asked for its input last week, Region of Queens council said it is concerned the committee has no elected officials on it, but Mr. McDougall said its recommendations will go before the union so that all municipalities can fully debate them.

( bware@herald.ca)

The ChronicleHerald.ca