City council decided not to reconsider the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law Amendment by a vote of 5-4.

 

Councillor Jeff Fountain requested the by-law amendment be brought back to council after it was defeated in its second reading last month.

 

Fountain cited that the decision to vote against the amendment was a mistake, saying that it leaves pet owners with three or more dogs wondering if their pet will be taken away.

 

He also said that the amendment would bring revenue to the city, and that despite council’s reasoning that the animal control officer would be overworked, he said there were stats available to the public that show that’s not the case.

 

Other councillors spoke up against the by-law, saying that the by-law gives irresponsible pet owners an opportunity to have up to five pets in most combinations with the Excess Animal Permit, with a cap of four dogs.

 

Additionally, they did not feel the permit would bring in a large amount of revenue into the city.