By Angela Brown

Council to deliberate on tethering issue

Apr 7, 2017 | 2:01 PM

An animal right’s supporter’s presentation and two signed petitions asking the town to set a limit on tethering dogs might just be enough to encourage the Town of Battleford to amend its bylaw.

If the town takes up the cause it could enforce a restriction on the amount of time, consecutively in a day, dog owners would be permitted to tether or chain their pets outside.

Battleford resident and animal lover Melissa Kainberger spoke to council last Monday urging it to amend its bylaw.

Town of Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said Kainberger “has some valid points.”  

In Kainberger’s presentation, she gave examples of other municipalities that are changing their bylaws to include time limits on tethering, and provided a signed online and community petition.

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Town of Battleford CAO John Enns-Wind said the town’s bylaw already must meet provincial regulations set out for the minimum requirements to protect animal welfare, but if council chooses the town can also increase its own standards above the accepted levels.

As battlefordsNOW previously reported, there are no current requirements in the provincial standards regarding tethering limits.

Kainberger has issues about tethering an animal for too many hours at a time, as research has shown the practise can cause aggression in animals tied up for too long. The animals also have no way to escape if they are threatened by a predator, so their personal safety can be at risk.   

Leslie said council will be considering her recommendations.

“There are a lot of things that need to be thought about – enforcement, and how the law is written to make sure it is done properly. It is something council needs to consider and will discuss in meetings to come.”

He said Kainberger understands some people do need to tether their dogs at certain times for various reasons.

“She felt through her research that 10 hours was the maximum that a dog should be tethered at any point. Whether 10 hours is the set time, or shorter or longer is definitely something that has to be part of the discussion,” added Leslie.

Council plans to discuss the issue in the next few weeks.

He said as an animal owner himself, he agrees dogs shouldn’t be on chains seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

“I do also see having a dog on a tether at some point in the day, whether you don’t have fence or you need to do it when you are away for a bit. I’m open to discussing having a bylaw in place. We just need to work through the details and gain more understand, and research what it means.”

Enns-Wind said the town’s related bylaw is up for review, so the presentation was timely.

“We will be incorporating some of the things she had to say into our thought process as we develop the animal control bylaw. Our bylaw officer will be contacting her when he is ready,” said Enns-Wind. “Basically, what Melissa is asking for is that we increase that standard.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @battlefordsnow