HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-335-90 TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT File # `
CI DN: KENNEL
Res. #
_ �� , By-Law #
hETING: General Purpose and Administration Committee
DATE: November 5, 1990
REPORT #: PD-335-90 FILE #:
SUB.ECT: KENNEL LICENSING BY-LAW
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the following:
1 . THAT Report PD-335 -90 be received;
2 . THAT the attached Kennel Licensing By-law be approved and a copy
be forwarded to all licensed kennel owners;
3 . THAT the attached amendment to By-law 87-156 be approved.
1. OBJECTIVE
1 . 1 The purpose of this by-law is to control an industry which exists
and has been allowed to grow and operate with very few regulations
within the municipality, with repercussions which have become
increasingly evident in the daily operations of the Animal Control
Staff.
2 . BACKGROUND
2 . 1 Across the province there has been an increase over the last
decade of "puppy mills",i.e. kennel operations that unscrupulously
breed dogs strictly for profit with little or no regard for the
health and well-being of the dogs involved. Locally, such
operations have resulted in situations where the dogs are
eventually abandoned or turned in to the Animal Control Shelter,,,,,,,,.,
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2 .2 In the past, the only control or regulation that has been exercised
over kennel licensing has been the location of the kennel pursuant
to the Zoning By-law.
2 . 3 The Municipal Act sets a legal perogative for a municipality to
charge a fee to license kennels . This, in turn, creates a duty for
a municipality to set standards for the operations of such
businesses .
2 .4 As part of the background research for this report Staff have
spoken to several kennel owners and members of the Canadian
Kennel Club and received favourable feedback on the proposals
which are set out in the attached by-law.
2 .5 In addition to the research and proposals made for a Kennel
Licensing By-law, staff have addressed certain problems which
exist with the current kennel legislation. This is embodied in The
Dog Licensing By-law #87-156 Section 6 . This Section deals with
both the licensing of kennels and the licensing of pure-bred dogs
within kennels . This Section has been found by staff to be
inadequate and confusing. In order to resolve this situation
staff have proposed to repeal Section 6 in its entirety and replace
it with a new Section which deals only with licensing of dogs and
is in keeping with the proposed new Kennel Licensing By-law.
SUMMARY
3 . 1 This By-law sets minimum standards for the operation of all
kennels . These standards are based, in part, on the Regulations
of the Animals for Research Act, R.S .O. 1980 Chapter 22 . These
regulations also apply to the operation of all Animal Control
Centres and staff are of the opinion that it is not unreasonable
that these same regulations and standards should also apply to a
business which makes its livelihood from the housing of dogs.
3 . 2 The By-law is intended to provide a safe and healthy environment
for all dogs and thus reduce their risk of sickness, injury or
abandonment.
3 . 3 The inspection and issuing process allows for Staff to ensure
that the standards are adhered to and not to prohibit any serious
kennel owners who are attempting to upgrade their facilities .
3 .4 The proposed By-law will affect both existing and new kennels .
It is not meant to imply that any of the 35 currently licensed
kennels are unprincipled operations, it simply recognizes and
addresses a need to regulate a system which is currently open
to abuse.
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Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation
to the Committee
Franklin Wu, M.C. I .P. Lawrenc E. Kotseff, M.C. I .P.
Director of Planning Chief inistrative
and Development Officer
LC*FW
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