Quispamsis takes bite out of zero-tolerance animal control bylaw

The Town of Quispamsishas reformed its controversial zero-tolerance animal control bylaw.

The revised bylaw, which passed third and final reading on Tuesday night, includes a provision that gives a veterinarian oranimal behaviour expert a say in determining whether a pet is dangerous.

Robert Hunt, a former dog handler with the U.S. Air Force, now living inQuispamsis, said the former bylaw paved the way for some heart-wrenching outcomes,including the putting down of a miniature schnauzer and a duck tolling retriever.

"That's when I realized the bylaw was incredibly one-sided," said Hunt, who became involved in the reforms. "There were no protections for pet owners."

The bylaw became a hot topic during the last municipal election. Many pet owners felt municipal enforcement officers were making assessments of their animals without any provisions in place to do that properly.

Some said they were living in fear, too afraid to even taketheir dogsoutside to play in case a neighbour complained about barking.

Hunt said the new bylaw makes room for the opinion of a veterinarian or animal behaviour expert.

"So they can go back to the town and say, 'Yes, there was an injury, but no, the dog isn't dangerous. These are the circumstances.These are the mitigating factors and here's our recommendation."

Still, impounded dogs will continue to be sent to Moncton instead of being sheltered in Saint John.

And some could still be euthanized there. That's an administrative decision, said Hunt.