MINTO – Larger kennels will pay larger fees to the municipality under an updated bylaw approved by town council on April 16.
A review of the town’s kennel bylaw was instigated by councillor Mark MacKenzie, who introduced a motion on Feb. 5 calling for a moratorium on all dog kennel licenses or expansions to existing operations pending a review. The motion to review the bylaw was approved, but amended to remove reference to a moratorium.
Kennels are a restricted use under a town zoning bylaw so anyone wishing to run a kennel must apply for an amendment. When that happens owners of properties within 120 metres are notified and given a chance to speak for or against the proposed kennel at a public meeting.
The town previously charged $150 ($200 if paid after March 31) for a kennel license.
Under the new bylaw, fees will range from $150 for a kennel with four to 15 dogs, to $1,000 for a kennel containing more than 50 animals.
At the April 16 meeting, bylaw officer Cam Forbes explained any new kennels will be restricted to a maximum of 25 dogs, but some previously-licenced kennels have been “grandfathered” to allow larger numbers.
Minto residents are allowed to keep up to three dogs with municipal tags before needing a kennel license.
Forbes pointed out the updated bylaw changes some definitions and wording to make it easier to understand and adds set fines to help achieve compliance when a dog is deemed “potentially dangerous” or “dangerous.”
Changes include:
– removing the definitions boarding kennel and breeding kennel and referring only to kennels.
– potentially dangerous and a dangerous dog have been combined in the same section as they have the same requirements; and
– set fines have been added for failing to muzzle a dog, failing to confine a dog, failing to insure a dog and failing to install signage warning of a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog.
Under the previous bylaw, “there really wasn’t’ much enforcement there, so we wanted to put in some fines,” Forbes explained.
