Chris Clegg
South Peace News
McLennan town council is getting tough on barking dogs.
At its April 14 meeting, council added some more teeth to its animal control bylaw by amending it to include penalties for dogs.
CAO Lorraine Willier said other towns use the bylaw sparingly. For example, Slave Lake has used their bylaw only once.
Currently, McLen- nan’s bylaw allows for three total animals, including two dogs maximum and one cat. After begin questioned, council discovered their bylaw does not include rabbits.
But barking dogs was the issue today. Council clearly was in favor of including an amendment to deal with barking dogs but Councillor Margaret Jacob asked the obvious question.
“How do we measure excessive barking?” she asked.
Willier replied it would be preferred if the complainant recorded the barking mutt on video or recorder.
“How do you prove excessive?” asked Mayor Jason Doris.
“I like the idea of this (bylaw). How will it hold up?”
“It’s a step in the right direction,” added Councillor Sue Delaurier.
Specifically, the bylaw amendment says, “No person shall permit his or her dog to bark or howl excessively or in any other manner disturb the peace, quiet or repose of a person; and when a dog barks, howls or in any other manner disturbs the quiet of a person, the owner shall be deemed to have failed or refused to comply with this section. After the third offence if the animal is still barking, howling or creating a disturbance the animal may be ordered removed from the town of McLennan upon written order from the peace officer, RCMP, or animal control officer or a person appointed by town council.”