City council unanimously adopted anti-tethering legislation to its animal control bylaw in an effort to strengthen local regulation regarding the care of Merritt’s canine citizens.
The bylaw now includes section 23.A which states that “no dog shall be tethered without the ability to move around and access shelter and water.” The rule doesn’t specify access to food.
The bylaw isn’t meant for owners who might leave their dog tethered on a sidewalk while they shop inside a store.
“The dog’s not experiencing any stress,” O’Flaherty said of that scenario, noting that is not the purpose or the intent of the bylaw change.
Rather, this bylaw is designed to address cases where dogs are tethered all day without the ability to access shelter and water.
Prior to voting, Coun. Linda Brown expressed the concern she had previously with the amendment that this new rule was unenforceable.
“When we get a complaint, what can we do other than calling SPCA, and if we act, what are the consequences to us acting?” Brown asked planning and development manager Sean O’Flaherty.
O’Flaherty responded by saying the city isn’t superseding any other legislation by acting on this issue within its own bylaws, and believes the new rule is enforceable.
The penalty for violating the bylaw would be a fine between $50 and $2,000 as determined by a judge, as an offender would receive a court summons, O’Flaherty said.
“Any person, owner or otherwise, could be faulted for violating the bylaw,” O’Flaherty said.
However, people who break this rule might be afforded a warning depending on the severity of the incident.
“We more often than not give people a chance to correct the problem,” he said.
Bylaws are complaint driven, so evidence of this infraction brought forward to the city would likely prompt the municipality to conduct its own investigation.
The motion to adopt the amendment passed 7-0 despite Brown’s initial opposition and is now in effect.
