Staff Report: Amendment to Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005
Report proposing amendments to regulate wildlife feeding and the containment of backyard chickens.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL
Protective and Community Services Report
TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: March 3, 2014 FROM: E. Calla, Bylaw Enf. Officer MEETING DATE: March 11, 2014
AMENDMENT TO ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW NO. 614, 2005
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report dated March 3, 2014 from the Bylaw Enforcement Officer titled "Amendment to Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005" be received for information.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER'S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To propose amendments to the Town's Animal Control Bylaw with respect to the feeding of wildlife and retention of chickens within yards.
BACKGROUND:
The Town's Animal Control Bylaw has no provisions in place to discourage the intentional feeding of wild animals (for example, deer, raccoons, squirrels or wild or feral rabbits). Accordingly, the Town's Bylaw Enforcement Officer and CRD Animal Control Officers have no authority other than to ask people to not intentionally feed wildlife.
Also, this Bylaw does not describe a restriction that would confine chickens to the owner's property and so, in some instances, backyard chickens have roamed onto neighbouring properties.
DISCUSSION:
With an increasing population in the Town, opportunities for human/wildlife encounters grow. These situations can be dangerous and are exacerbated through the feeding of wild animals that then become habituated yet retain their wild instincts.
The proposed bylaw amendments address the feeding of wildlife and also the containment of chickens to the owner's rear yard. With respect to the feeding of wildlife, other municipalities in the Capital Regional District have incorporated this type of restriction and staff has worked with CRD's Animal Control division on this initiative. Regarding the containment of chickens to the rear yard, the proposed amendment reflects essentially what the new Zoning Bylaw will state.
Should the bylaw be approved, a subsequent bylaw amendment to the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw will be provided to Council for consideration. At that time, escalating fines will be presented for some of the Animal Control Bylaw provisions to discourage repeat offences.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report dated March 3, 2014 from the Bylaw Enforcement Officer titled "Amendment to Animal Control Bylaw No. 614, 2005" be received for information.
SUBMITTED BY: E. Calla, Bylaw Enforcement Officer
REVIEWED BY: P. Hurst, Director of Protective Services
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