MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Council has approved updates to Mountain View County's dog control bylaw which, among other things, allows right of access to private properties for community peace officers to seize a dog that has violated provisions of the legislation.
The move came by way of motion at a recent regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and online.
The bylaw was reviewed at a Sept. 25 special meeting and revisited at the Nov. 29 meeting when administration returned proposed amendments to allow the right of access provisions.
The updated bylaw now reads: “A peace officer may enter onto any property surrounding any building, whether or not such property is enclosed by a sense or other such enclosure, and seize any dog which has been observed running at large and is alleged to have been exhibiting behaviour as set out in section 3.03 and 6.04 of the bylaw.
The officer can “take such reasonable measures necessary to subdue any such dog, including use of tranquilizer equipment and other capture devises, and take such a dog to a pound.”
Another section now reads: “The owner of any seized dog, or vicious dog may reclaim the dog by paying the municipality the costs of any behavioural assessment, impoundment, any care, subsisted or veterinary charges incurred (and) complying with any and all provision which may be imposed in accordance with this bylaw.”
While the bylaw does allow for access to properties such as yards, it does not allow access to private residences.
“This gives our bylaw officers enough power to do their jobs better,” said Coun. Peggy Johnson.
Third and final reading to the updated bylaw, which is now in effect, was passed in mid-December
