By Sheri Monk

Imagine a world in which cats are on leashes and dogs are never left unattended in a backyard. A draft animal control bylaw unveiled at the last Maple Creek town council meeting Jan. 26 envisions that pet utopia.
However, the draft bylaw is in its first form which is a compilation of policy in other municipalities, combined with extensive research conducted by Richard Drockner, town bylaw officer.
Currently, rottweilers, pitbulls and any cross thereof are currently banned from town limits. Many municipalities have moved away from legislation banning specific breeds and have instead replaced it with comprehensive laws with harsh penalties and stiff fines and/or jail time for dangerous dogs. The new draft bylaw does not prohibit ownership of any specific breed.
While Mayor Barry Rudd has said council already had the bylaw on council’s horizon, a recent issue pertaining to a family with two rottweilers unable to move into town propelled the issue onto centre stage.
The current draft is comprehensive and would require a dog pound to be built to code for the law to be enforced.
“I don’t think that any bylaw is a good bylaw unless it is enforced,” said Councillor Tina Cresswell.
Council asked Drockner a number of questions for clarification and Rudd instructed everyone to take the draft home to study before discussing further.
Other clauses contained in the draft include limiting the number of pets to any one household at two, regardless of species. For instance, one dog and one cat, two dogs or two cats, with exception of vet clinics and pet boarding facilities.
Additionally, any animal feces contained in the pet owner’s own yard must be removed within one week, dogs (or cats) cannot be left alone in a yard or outdoor kennel unless the owner is at home to supervise.
Anyone owning a dangerous dog (as defined by the bylaw) will have to post a sign declaring the property home to such an animal and will be subject to additional measures for outdoor kennels. Additionally, owners of dangerous dogs would be required to carry $300,000 of liability insurance and would require a special $500 annual dangerous dog licence.. Dangerous dogs are defined in the bylaw as having attacked a person or domestic animal, being attack-trained, (with exception of police dogs and guard dogs protecting commercial property) or chases or threatens in a menacing manner any human or domestic animal.
All pets – including cats – must be on a leash not exceeding three metres in length while outside and not confined by a kennel. Dangerous animals must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than one metre.
Fines range from as little as $50 for a violation of a pet not displaying its licence tag to $1,000 for dangerous dog infractions. All pets must be licensed and fines and fees are increased when pertaining to animals which are not spayed or neutered.
Drockner and town administrator cautioned council and the public that the proposed bylaw is currently a very preliminary work in progress geared to stimulate ideas and discussion.
Town council is encouraging the public to submit feedback on the bylaw, which can be downloaded from www.thebadger.ca in its entirety by clicking on the online version of this article. It is also available at town hall upon request.
Council would like residents with questions, concerns or suggestions to submit letters, faxes or emails as discussion continues. A public meeting may be held for further open dialogue on the matter.

The bylaw in pdf here – download file (pet_bylaw_draft.pdf 618kb)