City requests public input for review of Kingston’s Animal Control Bylaw
Attention all pet owners! The City of Kingston is currently seeking input on a number of proposed new provisions of the Animal Control Bylaw.
The purpose of the Animal Control Bylaw is to ensure the safety of people and animals. The City is required to regularly review the Animal Control By-law to ensure that it is effectively meeting the needs of all residents, according to the City of Kingston website. Additionally, the City intends to add or change provisions in the bylaw to encourage responsible pet ownership, and to provide Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officers with the tools needed to enforce those rules.
“We really want to focus on encouraging responsible pet ownership and this is also an opportunity to clarify rules and regulations to make them easier to follow and enforce,” said Dan Hazell, Supervisor of Licensing and Enforcement for the City of Kingston.
Existing animal control regulations are different for the rural and urban parts of Kingston. According to the City, new provisions are being considered to regulate:
- Exotic pets
- Per household pet limits
- Standard of care requirements
- Leash-length requirements
The City clarified for current pet owners that existing pet arrangements are likely to be grandfathered in to any updates to the bylaw.
City survey
Residents can offer their input by completing a survey at GetInvolved.CityofKingston.ca by 4 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2020. The survey consists of 22 questions, and shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete, the City said. Residents who complete the survey can be entered in a draw for one of two $25 gift cards.
Virtual open house
Residents can also register for an upcoming virtual open house scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 at 6 p.m. That open house will offer an overview of the process to review the Animal Control Bylaw, as well as the findings of the aforementioned survey. For more information on the City of Kingston’s Animal Control Bylaw, click here.
