Regulations on Errant Dogs. |
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With numerous active subjects being bounced around, only to be carried over from
meeting to meeting by our municipal council, we'll open this web-site with the pending
municipal regulations on errant dogs, since it directly relates to the security of our
village.
Over the last few years, several large dogs have been wandering loose along the Leggatt road, not because they got loose, but because they were never given the necessary security. The biggest, a hulking mature husky peaking 100 pounds, choose the middle of the road to lie down, not for a few moments, but a good part of each day. The council, while quite aware of the situation, did nothing since no written complaints had been lodged. Anyone walking their dog, many pedestrians, any cyclist and most vehicles that passed along slowly were fair game to our errant husky. However, numerous colourful comments enticed the owner to 'attempt' to keep the dog off the road. Pedestrians were relieved last summer to see the husky contained, at least some of the time. When he wasn't... While the council suggests I was the first to make a formal, documented complaint with the Metis council against loose dogs wondering along our roads, you know as well I do, that this is far from the first incident with errant dogs since Metis Beach was incorporated over a hundred years ago. If the mayor and councillors occasionally consulted the municipal archives, they would have been familiar with the petition, among many others, presented at the special meeting of May 15, 1996, signed by 34 residents against anyone owning or keeping pit-bulls in the municipality of Metis Beach, which I quote in French from the minutes: Procès-verbal de la séance extraordinare tenue le 15 mai 1996. Soon after I registered my complaint, I received a copy of the proposed by-law on animals, prepared by the MRC de la Mitis. It's main thrust was to assure that dogs would not run loose on the highway, that dangerous dogs, i.e., those who bit people or other animals, and those left outdoors be secured by a leach, dog-run, fence or other means. In mid-July, 1998, the owners of the husky received a certified letter from the Metis Beach municipal council advising them that a complaint had been registered with the Mayor concerning their errant dog. You may acquire a copy of that letter at any time by contacting the secretary at (418) 936-3420 or fax your request to (418) 936-3838. I particularly appreciate their response to that certified letter from the municipal council. The third paragraph begins with "Our animal is a large Malemute. He is a neutered male and gentle with strangers and children." Unfortunately, they failed to mention their large, neutered and gentle Malemute killed at least one cat, several chickens and bit the neighbouring dog to the tune of $100.00 into the coffers of the veterinarian. During the summer, another errant dog incident occurred, in which my neighbour's dog was seriously injured. Not only did the incident cost her well over $150 in veterinary bill, her dog was obliged to remain immobile for two months to recuperate from bone damage. The council received a letter soon after from my neighbour, dated August 23rd, 1998 in which she requested action be taken by the Council for the security, not only for the safety of errant dogs, but anyone passing along Leggatt Road. To my knowledge, she never received an acknowledgement of that letter. I won't bother you with the following correspondence pertaining to this incident, but can be obtained from the municipal council at (418) 936-3420. At the regular meeting of September 8th, 1998, motion #192-98 was given, which I quote as is: "AVIS DE MOTION Madame la Conseillère Rachel Dion Thibault donne avis de motion que lors d'une prochaine séance, un règlement portant le numéro 192-98 sera présenté aux membres du conseil afin de réglementer la possession et la garde des animaux de manière à assurer la paix, l'ordre, le bon gouvernement et le bien-être sur le territoire de la municipalité. ________________________ "Rachel Dion Thibault, Conseillère" which was approved at the regular meeting held Monday, October 5, 1998.At every regular meeting after October 5th, with the exception one when I was unable to attend, I asked what was the intention of the council relating to the above motion. While the answers were quite polite, they always had another reason why the council hadn't and wasn't currently intending to pass regulations regarding domestic animals for the peace, order, good government and well-being of the Municipality. At the regular meeting held May third, 1999, it was proposed that dog regulations be added in the June agenda, mentioning the possibility of passing the above regulation, possibly cancelling the same. The "Soleil" of March 9th, 1999, on pages A1 & A2, gives a dismal picture of dogs in our Province. "117,000 victims bit by dogs each year". Coroner Pierre Brochu establishes 65% of these 117,00 victims of dog bites are children less than ten years of age. He recommends standardizing municipal regulations on domestic animals, that children should be taught the dangers of dogs from kindergarten and establish programs to teach dog owners, breeders and the public. When I called the municipal secretary this morning, (May 7th, 1999), the proposed by-law was still where it was last June. (The four page proposed by-law is available by calling the secretary at 418-936-3420.) However, he mentioned the MRC was working on it. Inquiring how many of the 23 municipalities in the MRC de la Mitis had adopted the by-way, he promised to get back as soon as he had the information. In the meantime, I called a few newby municipalities. The results are somewhat interesting:
Since I posted this page, I was alarmed by the sad and fatal story in the Gazette of June 1st, 1999, of so young a child killed by yet another large husky. Last, but not least, is the respect of the rights of animals. Dogs rarely get into trouble intentionally, but are the cause of owners not acting responsibly towards the safety and protection of their animals. You ask if our municipal council is unwilling, unable or inept to pass regulations controlling errant dogs for the safety and security of our municipality? I don't know, but time will tell. However, it is not difficult to visualize why the Provincial Government is pushing small municipalities towards amalgamation. Imagine the cost and bureaucracy of provincial governments decreeing specific laws controlling dogs to each of the 1500 or so municipalities, when each municipality is fully mandated for the task. Multiply this by the dozens of more complex resolutions, regulations and by-laws that each municipality should pass each year, you can easily imagine the onerous expense these municipalities create by their inactivity. But wait, don't jump to conclusions. While I don't believe strongly in modern-day miracles, the follow-up list (see Introduction) is perhaps as close as a miracle can get. Perhaps we'll see another soon? July 28th, I faxed a letter to the Municipal Council relating to peace, quietness, security and dogs taking control of our ward. At present, an insistently barking, German Sheppard is compromising our free movement along Leggatt Road. Do we expect to have this problem resolved at the regular Council Meeting of August 2nd, 1999? We'll wait and see, perhaps another miracle? You've browsed this far, perhaps you are frustrated, fed up with dogs running loose on the roads and paths of Metis, its sidewalks, your grounds; depositing its soft brown smelly signature on the oddest places, with a few of the larger dogs threatening to bite if you don't agree with their philosophy. Advise the municipal council, preferably by fax at: (418) 936-3838 of your disappointment in their total lack of control on errant dogs. I suggest sending a fax, as the confirmation message establishes they received it, confirmed by the accompanying date-time stamp. However, it is imperative you sign the letter or notice, as they would undoubtedly and willingly ignore all unsigned incoming faxes.October 5, 1999. After listening to our elected municipal officials haggle over whether there are sufficient dogs to warrant buying dog-medals and other overly thought-provoking preponderant, I've given up. After 15 months of debate, they are no closer to a decision, only wrangling from different premises against applying municipal regulations on dogs. November 1st, the next regular meeting of the Metis Beach Council, should culminate all these many months of deliberations. What will be the conclusion, or will they decide not to decide until some later undecided date? At the November 1st, 1999 regular meeting, our enlightened municipal council seemed quite undecided to pass any regulations on dogs. On asking the Mayor what seemed to be the problem with the regulation, he replied "Manque de volonté", translated loosely as "unwillingness to act." If this was the only case, so be it. However, seven other regulations relating to municipal security, peace, order, well-being and good government are experiencing the same problem with our municipal council, namely, Control on Door-to-door salesmen and such, Is it possible that our elected members can sit at council without purpose, reason or logic? Several of the surrounding municipalities have identified these regulation as a significant step forward towards better security in their cities and municipalities. Must Metis remain that quaint 'little-auld-Metis", where improvement and change are strongly frowned upon? What happened to the perspicacity of former councils ? When the Provincial government pressured Metis to identify their streets and issue civic numbers so ambulances, delivery services and such could locate addresses quickly, Metis objected for years, creating more reasons and excuses than a wash-tub could hold. Oh, Metis! One of the last frontier of the wilds of Eastern Canada! At the regular meeting of December 6th, Councillor Rachel D. Thibault proposed putting by-law 192-98 into force, to regulate the possession and handling of dogs in a manner to assure peace, order and good government. After several minutes of nit-picking, seats 1, 3, and 5 voted for the by-law, while seats 2, 4, and 6 voted against. Might you find it strange how orderly the votes were distributed? The Mayor, in his noble tradition, abstained, resulting in a negative vote. So much for control on dogs and Metis security! However, regulations on dogs might have lost this round, but, like previous similar resolutions and by-laws; identifying our street, civic number, moving the municipal council office and dozens of similar stonewalling tactics, the time is ripe. Has safety inproved as of August 29, 2003? Even though Metis Beach was merged with Les Boules in 2002, now called Métis-sur-Mer, the new council continued to stonewall against dog regulations. Until the Provincial Government issues a decree instructing our municipal administrators to act responsibly in controlling dogs, or someone dies from a vicious and mortal dog attack, our pedestrians will continue to walk in fear of being attacked on our sidewalks and roads. The following is a few of the hundreds of sites on animal regulations floating around on the internet. Un enfant de quartre ans se fait mordre en plein cour de récréation Ville de Saint-Laurent : Chiens et gardiens. Chiens à Dorval Nouveau réglement sur les animaux à St. Honoré Une ville qui a du chien Les chiens à Montréal Dog Regulations in Hingham Dog Regulations in North Bay Services held for victim in fatal dog attack ... Dog Attack! It has been ... man's best friend". and several hundred thousand other articles available on Google or other search engines. You can reach me at: gbosse@globetrotter.qc.ca for further information. Your contribution and suggestions towards solving this prickly problem will be greatly appreciated. By Gilbert R. Bossé |
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| G.R. Bossé©1999-03. | Posted: May 6th, 1999. |
Updated: August 29, 2003. |
