The City of Quesnel council is looking at requiring everyone who takes their dogs to the Dog Park or city parks and trails to ensure their canine friends have a valid dog licence.
The Policy and Bylaw Review Committee reviewed a report from staff outlining the dog licensing issue, and following discussion, they decided dogs in the parks and on the trails should have a valid dog licence.
Moreover, the committee stated it wasn’t unreasonable for people visiting from outside the municipal boundaries and using the facilities should also have a valid licence on their dogs.
It was noted the City’s bylaw enforcement worker often has to respond to complaints involving Cariboo Regional District (CRD) dogs, and having licence tags would make dog identification easier.
At the Nov. 21 council meeting, Councillor Ed Coleman expressed concerns about the licensing requirement, which called for out-of-town users to have valid licences for their dogs.
“What about rural visitors who have dogs, which are likely better trained; are their dogs not allowed at the parks and trails?”
Coun. Laurey-Anne Roodenburg said she didn’t think visitors would be interested or happy about having to purchase a $10 licence for each dog when the owners have them in the park or walking the trails.
Mayor Simpson suggested it might suffice if the dogs had valid licences from the communities where they reside.
Coleman said there will have to be an education program for the rural communities.
The committee asked to have the new requirement referred to the next North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee meeting as an information item.
The City’s Bylaw Enforcement supervisor was asked to contact the CRD’s bylaw enforcement department to inform it about the pending policy change.
City staff was then asked to prepare policy amendments to require all users of the City’s Dog Park and parks and trails, who their dogs with them, to have a valid City of Quesnel dog licence for each dog.