MINTO – Town officials are reminding residents about the kennel provisions in the municipality’s updated dog licensing bylaw.
The town notes in a press release the bylaw was updated in April of 2019, to accommodate changes to licensing guidelines, and a graduated fee system.
All kennels operating within the Town of Minto are required to abide by the guidelines as set out in the most up to date version of A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations, from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
The release also notes kennels are subject to an inspection annually before the kennel license can be renewed, and “it is at the discretion of the town to refuse to renew the license,” should the kennel not pass inspection.
Staff inspections of potential kennels include records checks to ensure that all dogs are immunized properly, the names and addresses of the individuals the dogs are to be sold to, and the number and sex of all dogs in the kennel.
“Staff also look to ensure that no dogs are being kept in unsanitary conditions, and that all kennels are providing sufficient designated space for the proper enrichment and socializing of puppies,” town officials state.
Municipal staff are also authorized to complete random inspections and can call in a veterinarian or the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to do a wellness check if warranted, the release points out.
CAO Derrick Thomson told the Advertiser the July 8 press release was issued as “a general reminder to the public of our kennel by-law.”
The July 14 council meeting agenda included six letters expressing concern about the number of approved kennel licenses and the quality of some operations.
“We are quickly becoming one of the known puppy mill capitals,” states Minto resident Darlene Eschlboeck in one of the letters.
