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OUR VIEW MARCH 27: Let dogs be dogs

The section of the RDKB Animal Control Bylaw No. 1511 classifying pit bulls as dangerous isn't the only part that needs re-wording.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) Animal Control Bylaw No. 1511 has been under scrutiny ever since it was announced at an Area D town hall meeting in Grand Forks a few weeks back.

The bylaw, which the RDKB says replaces bylaws 1081, 1151 and 1142, has a number of controversial language, some of which has been there for years and was discussed at another, more recent town hall meeting, which took place on March 19.

The Gazette spoke about the dangers of part of the bylaw which adds breeds of pit bulls to the definition of a dangerous dog but there is another part of the vicious dog definition that needs to be re-worded before passage.

Another part of the “vicious dog” definition states that included in the definition is “any dog that has attacked, bitten, attempted to attack or bite, or chase any person or animal or wildlife; …”

There is no debate about dogs that have attacked or bitten or attempted to attack or bite but doesn’t the part about chasing any wildlife or animals seem a bit extreme?

It’s safe to assume that a dog will get riled up if deer, squirrels or even other dogs come within the vicinity, and if such wildlife comes near their owners property, wouldn’t it be instinct for the dog to chase it?

Boundary Animal Control stated at the most recent town hall that if a dog chased a deer within an owner’s fenced property, it wouldn’t “cross that fence and tell you your dog is vicious” but if it’s off the property than it would consider it vicious.

So a fence makes the difference between whether a dog is vicious?

Dogs will chase things whether a car, a ball or yes, wildlife, and that shouldn’t be a factor in determining how vicious it is.

Many have expressed concern about various sections of the bylaw as it stands and in fact, residents have expressed those concerns in letters to the editor.

The RDKB is said to be coming up with another draft and hopefully it drastically re-writes the bylaw and takes into account that dogs will be dogs.

– Grand Forks Gazette