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Town eases dog ownership rules

Black Diamond dog owners have a little more wiggle room when it comes to the number of pooches they can house.
Black Diamond council changed its animal control bylaw to allow three dogs per household, and eliminated its special license for a third and fourth dog.
Black Diamond council changed its animal control bylaw to allow three dogs per household, and eliminated its special license for a third and fourth dog.

Black Diamond dog owners have a little more wiggle room when it comes to the number of pooches they can house.

During Black Diamond Town council’s March 4 meeting, council changed the town’s animal control bylaw to allow three dogs per household rather than two.

The change comes after council amended the same bylaw almost a year ago.

Councillors also eliminated the fancier license that allowed a third and fourth dog under strict guidelines and a costly fee because no one registered for the special license since it was added in May 2014.

“The intent of the bylaw is not being upheld,” Joanne Irwin, the Town’s chief administrative officer, told council. “We know there are many households that have more than two dogs and those people are not coming forward for various reasons. One we have heard is it’s because of the cost of the fancier licenses.”

The special license cost $350 for spayed and neutered dogs and $400 for those that aren’t.

It required owners to gain permission from neighbours and have their property inspected to ensure the environment suited the needs of that many dogs.

“The whole intent of asking for people to license their dogs is so the animal control officer and community peace officers who pick up the dog know who to give it back to right away,” Irwin told council. “The cost and the stress of the animal is very high if the animal has to be kennelled. The intent is let’s get it back to the owner as soon as possible, and it’s not really doing the job that we hoped it would.”

Senior peace officer Jim Berry said a plebiscite held three years ago revealed the majority of residents preferred two dogs per household. Yet, administration is aware of several residents with more than two dogs and the Town is fielding calls from people interested in moving to Black Diamond who own more than two dogs.

“We had a few phone calls like that the last four or five months,” he said. “It seems that more and more residents that are moving to town looking to buy a new home have three dogs, so we try to accommodate that.”

Information presented to council listing rules in a dozen other communities showed most have a limit of three dogs per household. Longview and Taber allow two while Calgary, Cochrane and High River have no limit, according to the information provided.

It shows Black Diamond’s licensing fees are on par with the other municipalities, yet its costs to allow three and four dogs were significantly higher than the others.

Coun. Jackie Stickel suggested the cost to license a third dog should be the same as the first one, of which council agreed.

“If the issue is people are having a problem paying the fee let’s make it simple,” she said.

The bylaw charges $20 to license spayed and neutered dogs and $60 for those that are not, while the cost for licensing a second dog was $25 and $65.

Council revised the bylaw so the cost to license a second and third dog is the same as the first - $20 and $60.

Councillors also discussed the number of dogs that should be allowed in the town’s off-leash park following concerns brought forward by the Town’s peace officers.

Berry said several people are complaining about the large number of dogs per person being brought into the park, many who are from other communities.

“Some are bringing in up to 10 dogs for one or two people to control,” he said. “There are incidents of dogs fighting and the owner can’t get the dog back because they have to chase six or seven dogs.”

The peace officers suggest a limit of six dogs per person in the park.

“When there is seven or more dogs there is no way to control those dogs off leash,” Berry said, adding there is currently no limit.

Council questioned how one person could control even six dogs off leash at a time.

“It’s like trying to keep ducks in a row,” said Coun. Judy Thomson. “It doesn’t happen.”

Having had experience walking dogs as a business, Coun. Ruth Goodwin said when it comes to handling several dogs in an off leash area a person doesn’t have full control.

Councillors made various suggestions including limiting the park to three dogs per person or requiring those bringing more than one dog to have only one unleashed at a time, but agreed to do more research before making a decision.

“I think this one might need a little more work on it,” said Mayor Sharlene Brown. “What do other communities do that have off leash parks?”

Council agreed to hold off further changes to the bylaw until this fall when revisions will be made in response to the findings of the backyard hen pilot project.

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