A public meeting about a proposed Guelph-Eramosa dog kennel bylaw got somewhat heated on Monday night, with about a dozen people split fairly evenly on the issue.
Bylaw enforcement officer Mathew Williamson stressed the bylaw was only in draft form as presented to council. But that didn’t stop members of the gallery from voicing their opinions.
Val Findlay, who lives on Indian Trail, complained about the “continuous barking, day and night” from nearby Cedar Ridge Kennels, which she said shows a “lack of consideration” for neighbours.
“We’ve had enough,” Findlay told council.
David Locke, owner and operator of the kennel, presented council with a petition signed by 23 other residents who had no complaints about the noise from his business.
Locke said he is against the bylaw and stressed the noise often comes from other dogs living nearby.
Paul Parkinson, who owns a mink ranch in the township, argued the proposed bylaw, as it pertains to barking, could be detrimental to his business because he keeps several dogs.
“A working dog has to bark,” Parkinson said. He expressed frustration that the a new bylaw could impact the business of someone who has been operating in the municipality for 50 years.
“It affects the working farmer,” he said of the bylaw.
Councillor Doug Breen wondered aloud what would happen to existing operations once the bylaw is passed. He asked if they would have to be in continuous operation to be considered legal, non-conforming. Williamson replied the township would have to consider operations on a case-by-case basis.
Mayor Chris White said when it comes down to it, the issue is really about barking, and particularly barking at night. Locke and Findlay seemed to agree on that point – and that point only.
Williamson said there are no barking restrictions included yet in the bylaw, as he was hoping to get information on the issue from the public and the operator’s perspective.
White stressed it is important to consider the bylaw in general terms and not as it applies to one particular business.
That comment seemed to upset Locke, who said his is the only kennel in the township, and although his business is monitored by Williamson, he had “been targeted” in an article in The Acton Tanner.
White replied that council did not write the article in question, and he had to ask several times for Locke to stop interrupting.
“We don’t pass bylaws for fun,” the mayor said. “We have to come to some arrangement that’s livable for everyone.”
White had to caution Findlay and Locke about making personal comments, after they started arguing about who lived in the area first and from where the night time barking comes.
White said the township would hold another public meeting once all the details discussed were incorporated into the bylaw. He said council will try to balance the concerns of the public and businesses like those owned by Locke and Parkinson.
“The whole purpose [of the bylaw] is to maintain civility,” White said. “The last thing we want to do is drive business out of our community or shut down working kennels.”
