A recent encounter involving a dangerous dog is leading District of Clearwater to once again investigate having a bylaw specifically to deal with the issue.
“There was an incident on the weekend and there have been other incidents before,” chief administrative officer Leslie Groulx told council during its Sept. 15 meeting. “It’s now more of an issue and so we recommend that council ask staff to move ahead with a bylaw to deal with dangerous dogs.”
“This is something that is long overdue and something that the community has wanted for a long time,” said councillor Merlin Blackwell. “The only downside could be the cost. Most people don’t realize how expensive it could be.”
Mayor John Harwood said that, in the meantime, the municipality would have the Thompson-Nicola Regional District’s bylaw enforcement officer visit the family that owns the dog in question.
The RCMP also have opened a file on the situation, he said.
Harwood said often the owners of the dogs involved don’t realize how serious the situation is.
At one time his own family had a dog that bit a child, he said. The animal had to be given to a rehabilitation kennel, which seems to have been a bit traumatic for the rest of the family.
In an another incident, which apparently occurred some time ago, a St. Bernard mauled a child but the owner did nothing about it.
Shelley Sim said most pet owners are responsible but it is necessary to keep our neighbourhoods safe.