EXSHAW – Elected officials in the MD of Bighorn are exploring the idea of amending its animal control bylaw to prohibit off-leash dogs in the hamlet of Exshaw.
The municipal district has four hamlets in the Bow Valley – Harvie Heights, Lac Des Arcs, Dead Man's Flats and Exshaw. All communities, except Exshaw, currently have regulations in place to require dog owners to keep their four-legged friends on a leash.
At its Tuesday (June 8) council meeting, council voted to direct administration to come back in July with first reading of a bylaw amendment and to schedule a non-statutory public hearing to revise the 2005 bylaw, including the issue of off-leash dogs in Exshaw. The vote came after the issue was discussed during the May council meeting.
"The subject of dogs and animals is a very passionate one in a lot of people's minds and there are some very strong opinions that are held on both sides of the equation," said Councillor Paul Ryan last month, adding he participated in a community forum on the issue previously.
"It is not clear to me how much community support there is for leaving it the way it is, in which case dogs must be under control, but not necessarily on a leash. And it is not clear to me how many people are opposed to it."
Ryan asked if there was a way to engage the community in this discussion to inform council when council considers changes to the bylaw.
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Ellis recommended council use a public hearing process, rather than a survey, to seek feedback on the issue from the community.
"I would recommend if council is willing or wanting to amend the animal control bylaw that we have a non-statutory public hearing as part of that process," he said.
Reeve Dene Cooper said he supports moving forward with a public hearing process.
"I am very interested in having a hearing in order to establish the approach that all members can have towards the question," Cooper said. "Before we change a community standards bylaw, I think we should do this."
Coun. Lisa Rosvold brought up the issue of off-leash dog parks. There are no designated spaces in the municipality for dog owners to use as an off-leash dog park and Rosvold said if the bylaw was amended, it could lead to the need for such amenities.
"There has been a number of people ask for off-leash dog areas or a dog park," she said. "I think if this public process were to move forward and if there is support to have a leash bylaw in Exshaw, which would mean every hamlet in the MD has a leash bylaw, I think there will be more demand to establish some sort of off-leash dog park."
Cooper said it is a related question to the bylaw amendment; however, the first step would be to go through the public hearing and should council approve a bylaw amendment, then a discussion on a park could move forward.
"To me it is a connected question, but not the same question," he said. "We are talking about a bylaw and enforcement, and you are talking about providing an amenity."
A report prepared by Community Peace Officer Rick Lyster provided council with background information on the number of off-leash dog occurrences that have been reported to Bylaw Services.
According to Lyster, since 2012 there have been 195 files related to off-leash or at-large dogs in Bighorn hamlets. He also made recommendations for amendments to the bylaw, including adding a definition for a "nuisance dog" and the conditions by which an animal could receive such a designation, as well as language around barking to help make it easier to resolve complaints.
During the same meeting, council voted to change the location of a dog-bag dispenser to be installed in Dead Man's Flats. It led to some debate, with Coun. Erik Butters "vehemently opposed."
"I think we spend way too much staff time ... and spending money for people who can afford a million dollar house that can afford the cost for keeping a dog or more than one dog ... but they cannot afford a 50 cent bag when they leave their house," Butters said.
The municipality's policy for dog bag dispensers requires council to approve any changes.
Cooper said dog ownership comes with responsibilities and it is frustrating to provide dog bags and then see owners not clean up after their dogs at all.
"I do see quite a few complaints about dog manure on trails," he said.
Rosvold added it is not just residents that walk their dogs in these communities. Dead Man's Flats and Harvie Heights have commercial operations that bring visitors to the Bow Valley, as well as recreational amenities in the surrounding areas.
"We have a tremendous amount of visitors into Exshaw," Ryan added. "It is becoming more and more. I don't know if we have to have the doggie police on the trail doing DNA sampling of who's poo belongs to who, but at least if we put the bags out there and places for them to go, we can make it a little bit more sanitary."
