By Andrew de Souza

Council to vote on fixing animal control bylaw

Jan 11, 2011 | 5:26 AM

The Prince Albert SPCA took a strong position at Monday’s council meeting, calling for a change to the city’s newly enacted animal control bylaw.

SPCA manager Debbie Lehner took to the podium and called for the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw to be changed. In particular she said the last-minute change to a $20 flat-rate licensing fee that did not differentiate between unaltered and fixed animals was the biggest problem.

“All the education and information we have provided in the past three years has been totally undermined by this bylaw,” Lehner told council.

“We are now the only city in all of Saskatchewan and most likely across Canada that does not differentiate between altered and unaltered pets.”

Mayor Jim Scarrow, who proposed the flat-rate fee in the first place, defended the idea licensing pets was the first and most important step in working to controlling animal population.

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“Pet’s aren’t for the rich, pets are for all people in Prince Albert,” said Scarrow. “When you have two license fees — $10 for those who can afford to have their dog or cat spayed or neutered and $120 for those who (cannot) — there are many who can’t afford $120.”

Lehner however rebutted that the Mayor’s argument didn’t hold water.

“I know you felt at the last city council meeting that the people would be banging down our doors, yahoo, buying those $20 licenses,” said Lehner. “To date we have sold 116… three owners of non-fixed pets have come in on their own accord to purchase a license.

“Nobody is banging down our doors.”

Lehner also said some people might not want to license an animal that never goes outside and also that breeders felt they shouldn’t have to pay higher fees if they also have a business license. She said these issues, along with the new licensing fees, were grounds to revisit the bylaw.

Councillor Cheryl Ring said she believed the problems with the bylaw were significant enough to call for change.

“We need to address that issue in a manner that supports responsible pet ownership and also to address concerns of citizens,” she said.

Ring gave official notice that at the Jan. 24 council meeting she would be call for a vote to reconsider the bylaw.

On that date, councillors will vote if they want to touch the bylaw at all, before debating on what it should look like.

adesouza@panow.com