There are some stray dogs. There is no stray dog crisis.
That was the assessment of 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 new bylaw enforcement officer. One of the first directives Ken Chalmers was given, upon his appointment to the new position, was to investigate reports of problem pooches. After six weeks of consideration and investigation, he went before mayor and council to report his findings.
He has attended to calls, and made judgement decisions, but discovered that 鈥渕y findings, after a six-week study, are that yes, we have animals roaming but I don鈥檛 think we have a chronic or severe issue.鈥�
He was aware of six telephone calls or counter calls regarding animals at large, and said he also monitored the situation on Facebook and found 鈥渆ight reports of wandering dogs, three lost cats, and possibly a horse at large,鈥� he said. 鈥淎lso in the past month, bylaw has picked up the same dog twice and housed one dog for the RCMP, at their request, because of a homeless person who was hospitalized.鈥�
One of the most common concerns expressed by the public, said Chalmers, was worry over dogs at large being struck by vehicles. No incidents of injury or death have been reported. No close calls were reported, either.
鈥淲hat I found was, most dogs return or are picked up by their owners at the end of each day. They go to work, leave the dogs outside, the dogs go for a wander,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here does not seem to be a large-scale population of dogs out roaming the town at night. Most are doing their roaming during the day.鈥�
No packs have been reported, nor any particular dangers due to dogs showing public aggression.
鈥淚 continue to prioritize actioning calls with regard to animals at large if it is a public safety issue in that animals are near schools, hospitals, shopping malls, places of worship. I will attend to those quickly,鈥� said Chalmers. 鈥淚f they are just a nuisance鈥hen I just let it go and I don鈥檛 consider it a significant issue, not a danger.鈥�
The bylaw enforcement officer has the authority to take action on any dog that is unlicensed and at large. Anyone who leaves their dogs unattended on their own property, and that dog leaves the property, is committing a bylaw offence, according to Section 6-Animal Control of Bylaw 1044.
Dogs must be licensed as of four months of age, and must be on a leash in any public place.
Under Section 7(g) of the bylaw, 鈥淚f the Animal Control Officer believes that a dog is a dangerous dog, (they) may apply to the provincial court鈥or an order that the dog be destroyed.鈥�
Under Section 11 of the bylaw, it reiterates that the authorities can take steps on any dog that is unlicensed and/or unleashed in a public place, and/or deemed to be dangerous and/or found to be off the owner鈥檚 property.
There are also stated rules for impounding dogs and, if deemed to be appropriate, the use of capture tools.
