News Owners doggedly determined to run pets by Girard Hengen The Review The Town of Sidney has come up against some doggedly deter- mined opposition to its attempt at controlling canines running unleashed around Roberts Bay. Signs have been posted at beach accesses Stating the bay is a desig- nated bird sanctuary, and no dogs are allowed except on a leash. A complaint by a Roberts Bay resident about dogs chasing shore- birds prompted Town staff to put up signs last fall. Since then, dog owners who feel their pets should be allowed the freedom to run and enjoy the beach have been pitted against those who want dogs banned from Roberts Bay altogether. One householder says in a letter to town council that the signs are having no effect. “Residents and non-residents alike continue to walk their dogs without leashes,’ writes Bob Smith of Allbay Road. “As I write this, another person is walking his two dogs, not even bothering with the pretense of carrying a leash. Once again the birds have moved offshore.” The letter advocates a complete ban on dogs at the bay. It says bottom-feeding birds like ducks and swans are being harassed and , are having to move offshore. Dog owners have protested the new rules, saying that their pets, especially water dogs, need a place to roam and splash around, and that they pose no threat to water- birds or any other wildlife. Muriel Aylen, of Allbay Road, suggested council allow unleashed dogs to frolic in the stony section of the beach north of the Ardwell Avenue beach access. Town staff have been compiling the letters and gathering research for council. While sympathetic to those wanting more freedom for their dogs, engineering and develop- ment superintendent Dick Kami- kawaji writes, “our bylaw is very explicit about controlling animals in public places and unless the dog is on a leash, control is lost and his actions would be contravening the animal control bylaw.” Another report, from building and license inspector Al Cameron, says the “No dogs allowed, except on a leash” signs were erected because it was felt there was merit to the complaints about dogs run- New vaccine coming but no meningitis epidemic A new vaccine to prevent HIB meningitis in infants will be avail- able from the Capital Regional District’s health unit in Sidney by the end of February. _ The provincial Ministry of Health is bringing in the new vaccine for all B.C. infants. The new vaccine will be admin- istered at two, four and 12 months as part of the basic vaccination schedule. The present vaccine is not given until the child is 18 months old. The new vaccine is available from pharmacies at a cost of $18 to $34 per dose, although supplies are fluctuating. Dr. Shaun Peck, medical health officer for the region, said’ there have been many calls from the public following the deaths of three Ottawa teenagers after they contacted meningitis. Locally there have been two cases of meningitis occurring between late December and early January, however neither were the type C meningococcal meningitis which caused the deaths in Ottawa. In the south Island, one 18-year- old boy was afflicted with type B meningococcal meningitis and a 14-month-old child developed haemophilus influenzae (HIB) meningitis. Both victims are recovering in hospital and family members have been given a preventative antibio- tic, Peck said. He added there have been no other related cases and that iso- lated cases of meningitis occur each year in the region. “The occurrence of the two recent cases is not in excess of the usual occurrence,” Peck stated. “There is no epidemic of meningitis in the Capital Regional District at this time.” Wool, Needlework and Picture Framing HAVE RELOCATED TO SIDNEY Feel welcome to stop in and browse. 9711 Fifth Street, Sidney, B.C. 656-2499 ning at large disrupting wildlife. He wrote that the Town could have forbidden dogs from the beach. But “staff used its discre- tion, feeling that dogs on a leash could not disrupt the bird sanc- tuary in the area.” Council Monday debated the issue further, adopting a recom- mendation from a Jan. 6 commit- tee of the whole meeting that the SPCA pay particular attention to Roberts Bay in their patrols for one to two months. Council further agreed to adopt a policy whereby prosecutions will not be undertaken unless a com- plainant is willing to go to court. Council also voted to, at some point, have staff develop a “code of ethics” for pet ownership and conduct an “awareness campaign” educating owners on their respon- sibilities in an urban setting. Town staff reported at the Jan. 6 committee meeting that federal authorities told them Roberts Bay was not a bird sanctuary. However, Kerry Finley, chair- man of the newly-formed Citizens Coalition for Conservation, told aldermen the bay has been part of the Shoal Harbour bird sanctuary since 1931. However, he said there has been a “great over-reaction”’ on the Town’s part. He said he has “not seen any indication dogs are a problem to waterfowl in that bay.” Most seabirds which frequent the bay generally use the offshore area and are not disturbed by dogs, he said. * The posted signs “are not a nice way to advertise a bird sanctuary.” He added the coalition is hoping to place interpretive signs around the bay, and these could urge restraint on the part of dog owners. . Doug Mitchell, an Allbay Road resident and dog owner who is strenuously against the Town’s signs, said the issue “may be a situation blown out of propor- tion.” He said if the leash law is enforced, SPCA staff should be “reasonable” and first determine whether the dog is under the owner’s control even if it isn’t leashed. SELECTED BOOKS *Reg. book price. Matching fabric no! included. Store books only. TheReview Wednesday, January 15, 1992 — A3 Dorman’s Carpet Cleaners e CARPET CLEANING e UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Owner Wilf Dorman and son give personal attention to all orders JUST US _ 9570 Northiawn Terrace, Sidney, B.C. FREEESTIMATES Phone: 656-4754 - 30 Years Experience Color Your World’ Ke CEILING FLAT Vier "sole Price $33.92 CAMDNS BEST PANT OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK IN SIDNEY #1A-2353 BEVAN AVE. 655-4322 (BIEES sale effective January 8 to February 4, 1992. 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