HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-05-30, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2013.Writer takes issue with animal control bylaw
THE EDITOR,
Re: Controversial Animal Control
Bylaw for Morris-Turnberry
Constituents
A gross misuse of authority, power
and position is being used by the
council members of Morris-
Turnberry in the effort to push
through a revised animal control by-
law to be upheld by dog
catcher/animal bylaw officer Bob
Trick. This bylaw had been through
three readings before a concerned
citizen who just happened to be at
the meeting for another reason and
heard about it and did what he could
to let others know. Council did not
inform constituents of this by adding
a notice to tax mail-outs, with dog
tags or in any manner that would
reach them in a proper manner of
communication. At the last meeting
those who had heard and could
attend tried to address the situation
and were shot down. They were told
beforehand only two people could
speak at the meeting to this issue,
which in itself is wrong. When the
council said they would stay the
fourth and final reading until the
June 4 meeting they also stated that
regardless of what residents thought
of it, they would do the fourth and
final reading and pass it. This is not
only undemocratic, it is bullying on
a very public scale with the misuse
of authority. Among many vague,
ludicrous and unreasonable
proposed changes to this bylaw here
are just a few of the issues with
which I, and many residents,
strongly disagree:
• The animal control officer, Bob
Trick, will be given authority to
enter your property/premises
uninvited, unannounced and without
notice or warrant to investigate
alleged allegations concerning
bylaw infractions.
• Restricted pets will be listed as
an example to be polar bears,
pandas, crocodiles, giraffes, hippos
and for the many reptile lovers who
already enjoy such things as most
snakes, iguanas and the ever-vicious
hedgehogs – these too will not be
allowed (many more listed as well).
• Failure to remove excrement
from your dog in public areas
(which most will agree if an owner
and pet is caught in the act so to
speak in a public area is
understandable) can receive a $125
fine, but the part that I don't get is the
same bylaw also states on private
property (your own property) that he
may also charge you if your dog
excrement is not cleaned up.
• The limit of five cats and dogs in
areas which states no more than two
dogs urban areas or three 3 dogs in
rural areas (I am assuming the rest
can be cats which probably
outnumber dogs for running at large
and are not tagged or kept track of
and not sure how this would pertain
to the many barn cats on farms).
• Mr. Trick is also given authority
to inspect such things as reptile
enclosures for proper heat settings
and care, remove any pet he feels is
not cared for properly, is deemed
dangerous and to pick up pets
running at large. Upon
pickup/removal, etc. he is also given
the authority to dispose of the pet as
he deems necessary such as taking to
Wingham vet clinic for holding,
euthanization or he can also shoot
the pet or it even states selling your
pet.
These are only a few examples of
proposed bylaw changes being
challenged and here, in order of the
above statements, are a few but not
all reasons why myself and many
others are concerned:
• a by-law officer (of any kind)
being allowed to enter your
property/premises without a warrant
or legal right is a gross invasion of
privacy whereas a police officer has
to have a warrant to do so, the
OSPCA has to give notification and
written reasoning for inspection and
even CAS who protect our children
have to have more legal standing to
do so than they are giving this man.
This is, and should be, a major
concern for all citizens, not just in
our area but in all municipalities, as
other councils could follow suit with
any or all bylaw officers. If Mr.
Trick were to enter your premises or
property when you weren’t home
and your normally friendly pet takes
him as a threat and growls or bites, is
he going to dispose of it? Also is
council ready to pay the legal fees of
Mr. Trick, or any other bylaw
officers in such a position, when
wronged citizens start pressing
trespassing charges, forcible entry
charges or if he causes distress (eg.
he could scare a senior causing a
heart attack and so on) which then
escalates the charges as a result of
such misuse of authority and
power?!
• the restricted pet section is
almost a joke as, unless in most
cases, you are trying to open a zoo,
which would be a totally different
issue. It also dictates without
research, understanding or
veterinary input which animals can
be harboured safely and enjoyed
without issue (such as all turtles
which they said carry salmonella
which many pets carry potential
disease including the common dog
and cat) and not only did none of
them know the full disclosure of
these issues they had not researched
it or asked for veterinarian input
from local vets.
• removing excrement in public
places is by and far reasonable but
there are horses on our roads that
leave much larger “piles” so to
speak, cats roaming that leave
excrement in public areas and in
flowerbeds, sandboxes and so on
which is never dealt with.
Personally in my own yard my dogs
go on a rope outside to do their
business and although I do not clean
it up each time I do clean my yard as
needed and it is my personal
property I thought. I also have to
clean up messes left by other
people’s pets who run loose or are
walked by and go on my lawn
without pooper scooping being done
by the owner. Can Mr. Trick
honestly say he can tell what kind of
animal and whose animal left what
if he isn’t there to see the infraction?
• I do agree with reasonable limits
of pets for people to maintain proper
and reasonable care for them and
In honour of National Access
Awareness Week, the Huron County
Accessibility Advisory Committee
has brought motivational speaker
Alvin Law back to the area.
Law was born without arms after
his mother used Thalidomide while
she was pregnant with him. Shortly
after being born, Law was put up for
adoption, where he was adopted by
Hilda and Jack Law.
Over the years Law learned to
perform everyday tasks with just his
feet, eventually graduating from
college and embarking on a
successful radio broadcast career.
Law will speak on Thursday,
May 30 at the Regional Equine and
Agricultural Centre of Huron
(REACH) in Clinton. The evening
begins at 7 p.m.
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The Municipality of Central Huron is pleased to announce their annual Central
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Letter to the Editor
Well deserved
Blyth Festival General Manager Deb Sholdice, left, presented Vicki McKague with the 2012
Huron Arts and Heritage Award for best cultural organization of the year, which was won
earlier this year by the Blyth Festival Art Gallery. The presentation took place on Saturday night
as the Blyth Festival Art Gallery officially opened its annual community art show. (Jim Brown
photo)
Alvin Law to speak
Continued on page 15