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A new bylaw is in effect in La Ronge as of Tuesday. (ID 2598484 © Mary Katherine Wynn | Dreamstime.com)
municipality

New La Ronge Animal Control Bylaw now in effect

Apr 27, 2023 | 5:00 PM

The New Animal Control Bylaw received third reading at a regular La Ronge council meeting this week and is now in effect.

The first reading of the new bylaw occurred in March. It is meant to be a consolidation of the Dog Bylaw (2011), Cat Bylaw, (1996), and Livestock and Poultry Bylaw (1981), which all had not been updated in many years.

Before proceeding to a third reading on Tuesday, council decided to allow wildlife and exotic animals in the municipality by being silent to the issue. Those who own or want to own wildlife or exotic animals within the municipality would still need to be in line with provincial legislation.

The new bylaw covers cats, dogs and urban hens.

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.

A review of the bylaw was done 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 changes are aligned with Woodsworth’s recently completed Healthy Dogs Healthy Communities Research Project.

The only negative impact of the changes reported by administration is a small loss in licence revenue.

Anyone who violates the provisions in the bylaw could be subjected to a $120 fine as a first offense and $240 for a second offense.

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno