Off Leash Dog Owners May Face Higher Fines

A Councillor having her dog attacked by an off leash dog may end up costing those dog owners who do not follow the rules more money and hopefully put a bit of a bite in the dog poo problem at the same time.

At the recent Council meeting Councillor Dawn Luhning introduced a motion that will see Administration review the existing Dog Bylaw in an effort to increase the penalty for having an off leash dog as well as update the Bylaw’s language.

Councillor Luhning related her own personal experience in December while she was walking her dog and how an off leash dog attacked her dog and how it turned into three dogs (one unleashed and two leashed) in the end attacking her dog.

“As a responsible pet owner I don’t think that it is fair to me that are walking or running their dogs in the city have to deal with the issue of off leash dogs,” she said.

“Animals are animals and they are going to do what they are going to do and honestly I don’t care if your dog is well trained that you think it is not going to come up and attack my dog, it happens…for me and my dog it is a little bit stressful.”

Councillor Luhning said she had been emailed “periodically over the years and it seems like lately that I have been getting a little more requests to see that this Council can do anything about it.”

The issue of off leash dogs had Councillor Luhning, as a member of the Moose Jaw Police Board of Police Commissioners, bring the issue up in that forum.

“I did with my police commissioner hat, I took it to the meeting to kind of get a feel of how it is handled there.”

She said the fine of $40 is not a very big deterrent for dog owners to not allow their dogs to be off leash.

“It’s 40 bucks so honestly I dont even think it is worth it that you know if somebody goes out and gets a ticket they will go out again off leash.”

Councillor Luhning also pointed to “outdated language” in the Dog Bylaw which would allow the bylaw officer to destroy an off leash dog.

“We don’t want to be in charge of any of that. But honestly it just, I have had other citizens request that we need to do something further about dogs off leash.”

Councillor Luhning said that on City owned property that dogs should only be allowed off leash in the designated off leash areas only.

A friendly dog out for a run in the designated large dog off leash park - MJ Independent file photo

As part of the review Councillor Luhning mentioned how a review might help dog owners to pick up after their dogs. She mentioned being in the area of the recently re-opened 7th Avenue SW Bridge and the large amount of dog excrement owners have neglected to pick up in the area.

“Maybe it is something we can do if it does pass is that pet owners are not picking up after. Because I was so disturbed by the amount of you know what is laying around in the area.”

Councillor Crystal Froese said she supported the motion as she had personally encountered off leash dogs in the Wakamow Valley while either walking her dogs or cycling on the trails.

She mentioned off leash dogs that run up to her when she is cycling and how there is the potential of a dangerous collision.

“I am really afraid we are going to have a crash and they are kind of chasing you as you peddle along.”

Councillor Froese also mentioned how on more than one occasion off leash dogs have approached here while walking her two leashed dogs, often with the dog’s owner out of sight over the hill.

“It really wrecked my morning walk because I was very frazzled and worried they were going to eat my little dog and my big dog she was all scared even if they were friendly,” she said. “We need to be very courteous as dog owners and way more careful.”

Councillor Jamey Logan said public education might be necessary as some dog owners may be unaware of the bylaw.

Councillor Logan said he had recently encountered a dog owner whose dog was unleased in Crescent Park. He said the dog owner was thankful to know the rules as they were unaware of them.

The City in the past has reminded dog owners about the rules and proper etiquette while waking their dogs.

It should be noted that dogs - leashed or unleashed - are not allowed in Crescent Park except for service animals which must be leashed. An initiative to allow dogs into Crescent Park was defeated during the tenure of the last Council.

The matter was referred to Administration for a review and a report back to Council with potential changes and updates to the applicable bylaws.