WEYBURN – Weyburn city council amended the dog and cat bylaw to bring in some changes, including limiting each household to a total of three dogs and/or cats.
At Monday night’s meeting, changes included giving enforcement officials the power to deem a dog or cat as a dangerous animal if it bites a human, or other domestic animals, and a police officer may euthanize the dog or cat in question.
In addition, if the owner of an offending animal is not at home when an attack occurs, the animal can be seized and taken to the pound, and the owner has up to 72 hours to claim the animal back.
Coun. Laura Morrissette commented that she cannot agree with the limit of dogs or cats in a household. The bylaw was changed to say “household”, as prior to this, the limit was three animals per person.
“The number seems a little low, but there were some other reasons given as to why we’re doing it,” she said.
“I think it’s important when we’re looking at bylaws, words like ‘may’ or ‘could’ gives a little bit of latitude,” said Coun. Jeff Richards. “Three might not be the right number for a lot of families, but we do have to pick a number.”
Coun. Ryan Janke said he agrees with Coun. Morrissette’s concern, but said they should trust enforcement officers to use their discretion.
The amendments were passed 6-1, with Coun. Morrissette giving the dissenting vote.
• In other council business, the city’s refuse bylaw was amended with an increase in rates in the coming three years.
The bylaw was also changed to update the language and definitions, updating the bylaw to reflect the recycling services offered by the city, and to now provide the option of additional carts for refuse or recycling, which was previously not offered by the city.
Some of the fee increases will see the environmental fee and landfill decommissioning fee each increase by 25 cents on Jan. 1 in the next three years. For the environmental fee, it will go from $5 now to $5.25 in 2024, $5.50 in 2025 and $5.75 in 2026.
The decommissioning fee will from $1 now to $1.25, $1.50 and $1.75 in the next three years. The recycling fee will not increase, as the city is locked into a contract and the amount will not be increasing over the next three years.
For those who ask for an additional cart for refuse or recycling, the monthly cart fee will go up by $10 per cart in 2024, $10.50 in 2025 and $11 in 2026.
Other fees for the landfill will also see increases over the next three years, set out by type of refuse and size of vehicle.
