Boundary Animal Control officers Richard Smith and John Jansezian always seemed to be in a no-win situation.
When they arrived on the scene late last year, people said they were hard to get a hold of, as their contact information was hard to find.
Then there was the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary’s (RDKB) Animal Control Bylaw No. 1511, which is currently being revised.
There was some archaic language in the proposed bylaw that stated that impounded dogs “may be destroyed at the expiration of five (5) days from the date of the notice if it is not reclaimed and prescribed impounding fees paid.”
Of course, dog owners were furious at the language in the bylaw and the two probably heard from angry people, even though the bylaw was a proposal and hadn’t passed yet.
In fact, RDKB director of corporate administration Elaine Kumar told the Grand Forks Gazette that Jansezian and Smith had been harassed by people from across the region, with some even going as far as spitting at them – an over-reaction to say the least.
It’s not fair that the two should be scapegoats for either doing their job or for the proposed bylaw – they don’t write the laws, they merely enforce them.
People love their pets, that’s understandable, but Kumar also said that the two had been threatened, which isn’t something anyone should have to worry about or deal with.
Again, they’re just doing a job.
Eventually, the RDKB will pass a new bylaw regarding animal control and hire some new animal control bylaw enforcement officers.
Hopefully, the bylaw language is concise and gives officials clear (and rational) guidelines that all will easily understand.
At the same time, hopefully people realize that the new animal control officer or officers are doing a job.
They don’t need to be spit at or threatened.
– Grand Forks Gazette