MAPLETON – The township is looking for a new canine control officer.
The township’s current canine control agreement expires on June 30 and the service provider has declined a renewal of a three-year contract with the township.
Council passed a bylaw on May 14 allowing township staff to apply for an RFP to secure a contractor for the canine control position.
“The reality of it is, I am not sure what we would do if we don’t have [a canine control service,” chief building official Patty Wright told council.
“It would be difficult to have any kind of bylaw that regulates anything unless we have that pound keeper and the dog catcher basically.”
During a previous meeting on March 12, council passed a new canine licensing bylaw that would introduce lifetime dog tags and a one-time enumeration of dogs in the area.
At the time, Wright told council the canine licensing program cost the township $4,500 in 2018.
Wright acknowledged concern over the cost of the new canine control agreement being added to the budget, but she stated the benefits would outweigh the cost.
“This should be almost cost neutral and that’s the goal. The initiative is to get enumeration done, get these sales up, to try to make it big,” Wright said.
Not hiring a canine control service would mean township staff, including Wright, would be responsible for enforcement.
“I can’t personally justify me going out in the morning and getting a dog and driving it to Guelph to surrender it to the humane society to pay for it and contribute a day of my salary. I don’t think that is cost effective,” Wright told council in March.
Mayor Gregg Davidson told council that during a recent OPP police services board meeting he was informed new regulations were issued to the OSPCA which operates the Guelph Humane Society.
In March the OSPCA informed the province that it would no longer be enforcing animal cruelty laws.
“Council also needs to keep in mind… legislation changes, when it comes to the OSPCA,” said Davidson.
“They no longer will have the authority to do it, to look at large animals and animal bylaws, things like that. All of this falls on the OPP to do all the animal issues, whether it be livestock animals or any kind of animal problems that are out there and the OPP are not equipped to do this whatsoever,” said Davidson.
“So to not have something locally would be a real … I think it would be a wrong thing to be doing.”
Wright told council that having an enumeration to ensure dogs in the township are tagged will hopefully also pay for the canine control service provider.
“I think that the tag sales has to start paying for more of this service … This should be almost cost neutral and that’s the goal,” said Wright.
Councillor Marlene Ottens asked whether council could see a report from the previous canine control officer.
“I would like to see … how many calls did she do, how often was she called, how many dogs did she pick up, what service was she providing for what kind of money. Is it possible to get that?”
Wright told council she knew from preparing the 2019 budget that the program made less than $5,000 with the current level of dog tag sales.
“I think this is the key point that we do not have enough tags sold,” said Wright.
“Not attached to a kennel operation there is less than 300 tags sold in Mapleton and to me that is where the money has to come from and that’s what we have to do, we have to chase those and get the revenue up to make this a viable program.”
She added, “So it does come down to legislative requirements to have dog catchers; there isn’t any. Is it desirable? In my opinion, yes, but that’s again up to council.”
The resolution passed unanimously.
The provincial government then announced on May 17 that it is considering allowing humane societies to continue to enforce animal cruelty laws once the OSPCA stops doing so next month.
The province is currently working on introducing new legislation it hopes to roll out in the fall.
keep in mind … legislation changes, when it comes to the OSPCA,” said Davidson.
“They no longer will have the authority to do it, to look at large animals and animal bylaws, things like that. All of this falls on the OPP to do all the animal issues, whether it be livestock animals or any kind of animal problems that are out there and the OPP are not equipped to do this whatsoever,” said Davidson.
“So to not have something locally would be a real … I think it would be a wrong thing to be doing.”
Wright told council that having an enumeration to ensure dogs in the township are tagged will hopefully also pay for the canine control service provider.
“I think that the tag sales has to start paying for more of this service … This should be almost cost neutral and that’s the goal,” said Wright.
Councillor Marlene Ottens asked whether council could see a report from the previous canine control officer.
“I would like to see … how many calls did she do, how often was she called, how many dogs did she pick up, what service was she providing for what kind of money. Is it possible to get that?”
Wright told council she knew from preparing the 2019 budget that the program made less than $5,000 with the current level of dog tag sales.
“I think this is the key point that we do not have enough tags sold,” said Wright.
“Not attached to a kennel operation there is less than 300 tags sold in Mapleton and to me that is where the money has to come from and that’s what we have to do, we have to chase those and get the revenue up to make this a viable program.”
She added, “So it does come down to legislative requirements to have dog catchers; there isn’t any. Is it desirable? In my opinion, yes, but that’s again up to council.”
The resolution passed unanimously.
The provincial government then announced on May 17 that it is considering allowing humane societies to continue to enforce animal cruelty laws once the OSPCA stops doing so next month.
The province is currently working on introducing new legislation it hopes to roll out in the fall.
