Nackawic - Canada: Possible revision of unfair dog bylaw

Nackawic reconsidering controversial dog bylaw

Published Wednesday August 12th, 2009

By KYLE MULLIN
mullin.kyle@dailygleaner.com

A doctor in Nackawic hopes a town meeting Tuesday aimed at addressing concerns about a controversial dog bylaw will help settle the issue once and for all.

"It's a stupid law, it really is," said Maryann Bramstrup, who feels her dog has been singled out.

She said she's confident a new rule under council consideration restricting all vicious dogs will be fairer than the old one, which required owners of pit bulls, Rottweilers and mixes of
either to pay a $250 registration fee.

"If you're going to put sanctions on dogs, put it on the ones that bite," she said. "Any dog can be vicious."

Mayor Rowena Simpson said all town residents are subject to the bylaw. Four letters were sent out to owners of Rottweilers and pit bulls in Nackawic, and a fifth owner came forward to pay the registration fee voluntarily.

Simpson admitted that having the law target specific breeds might not have been fair to those owners. A new draft of the bylaw has been drawn up, which says all vicious dogs should be restricted.

She said next week's meeting will be a chance for the public to compare both versions and voice their opinions before the new draft's third and final reading Sept. 8.

"We'll have the meeting next week and from there we'll go back to the bylaw review committee and work with all the notes and suggestions from the public, and a decision will have to made," Simpson said. "It's the fairest way to do it."

But Coun. Jamie Young said next week's public forum will be one meeting too many and public opinion should have been gathered before a revised bylaw was drafted.

"Now it's going to be another month before this gets passed. This has to come to a head
and we have to get it behind us," he said.

Young said he's in favour of the new draft and would like to see it passed sooner.

"I don't like how the old law mentions specifics, how it pigeonholes breeds," he said.

Bramstrup said the bylaw isn't fair to her Rottweiler-mix Jessie or any other pet. Aside from the higher fee, the current bylaw forces Bramstrup to keep Jessie on a leash at all times, even on her property.

Bramstrup would also have to muzzle Jessie if she sets one paw off the property, which would keep her from properly cooling herself.

"I don't have a problem at all with the new bylaw, because the sanctions will be based on behaviour," she said.

"But it could have, it should have been passed much sooner, if they're interested in passing it all."

Simpson said the law is necessary to keep residents safe and she hopes the new draft's
broader terms will be fairer to all dog owners.

But she said that won't clear up the matter completely. The town's dog constable will have to work on a case by case basis to determine which dogs are considered vicious and should be restricted.

Bramstrup said her dog doesn't fall under that category. Jessie has never bitten or attacked anyone, and she feels the pet is necessary for protection against thieves breaking into her practice to feed their habits with her pharmaceuticals.

The meeting will be held in the Nackawic town hall Tuesday at 7 p.m. In the meantime, anyone can view both versions of the bylaw at the town office.