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Second and third readings are scheduled for March 28. (Submitted photo/Northern Animal Rescue)
town council

Proposed La Ronge Animal Control Bylaw includes free lifetime licences

Mar 15, 2023 | 4:57 PM

The first reading of the Animal Control Bylaw for La Ronge occurred at a regular meeting on Tuesday.

According to a document prepared for council by administration, the current Dog Bylaw (2011), Cat Bylaw, (1996), and Livestock and Poultry Bylaw (1981) have not undergone a significant update for many years.

A review of those bylaws was recently conducted in consultation with Northern Animal Rescue and Dr. Jordan Woodsworth, a clinical associate in wellness at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon.

Some of the updates in the Animal Control Bylaw include the elimination of licence fees, introduction of lifetime licences, and other incentives for residents to properly register their dogs and cats with the municipality. This information will be useful for identification of owners when returning pets, as well as the attraction and expansion of related pet servicing businesses.

Chief Administrative Officer Lyle Hannan explained explained some of the changes are aligned with Woodsworth’s recently completed Healthy Dogs Healthy Communities Research Project.

“For example, some of the socioeconomic issues,” Hannan said. “We are going to a free lifetime licence because we wanted to encourage that and return animals to the proper owner [and] not be an impediment to licensing with a financial implication.”

The only negative impact of the changes reported by administration is a small loss in licence revenue. All members of council, with the exception of Jordan McPhail who was not present, voted in favour of moving ahead with the first reading.

Any further feedback will be incorporated in the bylaw prior to proceeding with the second and third readings at the March 28 regular town council meeting.

Read the proposed new Animal Control Bylaw online here.

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno