Of the 21 incidents of “dog aggression” that the municipality’s senior bylaw officer, Bonny Brokenshire, reported to have occurred between the beginning of 2014 and April, 30 percent of those occurred in Snug Cove. Brokenshire told council this week that nowhere else on the island are such incidents so concentrated, and recommended that the Dog Control Bylaw be amended to include an on-leash area in Snug Cove.
Councillor Alison Morse said that thanks to the amendments made to the Dog Control Bylaw made back in 2005, there was no need to go through a full bylaw amendment to create an on-leash zone. Council had the option of simply passing a resolution, and the regulation will come into effect immediately.
Councillor Sue Ellen Fast said that she was not “fully in favour of the bylaw” and questioned whether the dog aggressions incidents are the result of one poor handler, and if so, suggested other means of regulation.
Brokenshire responded that in fact a minimum of 6 people, and possibly as many as 10, have been associated with dog aggression in Snug Cove. She added that the Cove is also an area where other types of dog incidents - such as feces being left on the sidewalk, barking or dogs running into traffic - have been reported.
Following a brief discussion about the problems that can occur with dogs roaming free on beaches, Fast questioned whether leash laws might negatively impact Bowen’s “laid back” lifestyle, and whether there might be a seasonal element to the complaints being made to bylaw services.
To that, Brokenshire responded that while the number of complaints certainly does rise during the summer, dog incidents in the Cove occur all year long.
Councillor Gary Ander said that this kind of regulation is important in order to give bylaw an enforcement tool.
“Most people I find in the cove have their dogs on leashes. It’s so standard in most of the world, especially in a congested area, that I think its just the way it should be and we’re long overdue for this bylaw.”
A majority of councillors agreed that this measure should move forward, allowing some time for community education on the matter before bringing the regulation into effect in late July. Once that happens, dog owners will be subject to fines of $25 for a first offence, $50 for a second offence within a 12 month period, and $150 for a third offence within a 12 month period.
