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MEMORANDUM 'v) Us Uy
14

JUN $4 1979

Mayor and Council June lith, 1979

Alderman J.J. Keryluk

Dog Control

In recent weeks, Alderman Mabbett and I have been faced with
a sufficient number of complaints to indicate that dog control continues
to be a serious problem in our community.

To cope with the situation, we have had an additional truck
placed on patrol in our City. The annual cost for animal control in
Port Coquitlam in 1979 is $28,500.00, $3,000.00 more than in the previous
year.

In spite of additional tax dollars being spent on control, it
is my opinion that the situation is becoming annually worse instead of
better. One possible explanation for this is that as land values have
increased, residential lots have tended to decrease in size. This has
not only placed the pet into closer proximity with the neighbour, but
the actual numbers have risen in direct proportion to the population density.
What should be done about keeping two and even three dogs on a 33' lot?
Aside from the obvious health problem is the noise acceptable to a
neighbour working on shift?

The answer to our problems, it would seem, is not added control.
We can never buy sufficient manpower to cope with the pet population
problem without the co-operation of pet owners. We must start by creating
an awareness of the problem in the community and by educating the dog owner
of his responsibilities. As an example, our leash by-law allows our citizens
to walk their dogs but it does not allow these same dogs, on a leash, to
defecate on a neighbour's yard. If this should happen, would it be unfair
to expect the dog owner to clean up? Do we need to legislate this
responsibility upon our citizens or is it reasonable to assume that common
sense will prevail?

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