Friday, May 21, 2021
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) will be proceeding with plans to expand dog control services for Electoral Area D without a requirement for dog licensing.
The Board approved a motion directing staff to bring bylaws forward to the June 17, 2021 Regular Meeting to extend full-service dog control for the entire Electoral Area D boundary. No dog licensing provisions will be included in the expansion of the service.
Currently full dog control services in Electoral Area D operate in a limited area of Ranchero only. Full dog control includes provisions for dealing with aggressive dogs, as well as complaints with excessive barking or roaming dogs.
If the Board votes to approve three readings of the bylaws in June, they would be sent to the Inspector of Municipalities for approval before the bylaws could come into effect for the target dog control start date of January 1, 2022.
The taxation cost to Electoral Area D residents for the expanded dog control service is estimated at $24.37 per year for the average residential property assessment of $354,905.
Electoral Area D Director Rene Talbot started the process for the CSRD to expand the service based on dog-related complaints he was receiving from residents.
A public survey was conducted in January and February to help determine what type of service would best suit residents of Electoral Area D. Survey results were mixed, with stronger support for the initiative in Falkland, but residents of Silver Creek more opposed to the service expansion.
"I know this isn't going to be popular with everyone," Talbot told the Board, "But for me public safety is the main thing… I can't ignore this. I would feel absolutely terrible if we did nothing and a child, or even an adult, was seriously injured by a dog."
Due to Directors' concerns regarding the need for agricultural property owners to use barking dogs to deter predators from livestock, CSRD staff will be considering possible exemptions for those circumstances when drafting the proposed bylaws.
