Mayor Doug Munn said Tuesday that council had a long discussion this week about the definition of a dangerous dog, what an owner's responsibilities are, and whether the Animal Control officer should have more authority when a dog is found on property where it doesn't belong.
"The main question is how do we protect our youth or anyone for that matter," Munn said.
He said the wording would be key to updating the bylaw.
"We can't make a decision on a whim," he said. "You're looking at two to three months to amend the bylaw."
Munn said the council is intent on making the changes and has been placed on next month's agenda.
The attack
In October, eight-year-old Emma Warren of Carrolls Crossing was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull that got off its leash.
Her parents, Hollie and Jamie Warren, wanted council to take a closer look at bylaw protections against dangerous dogs.
At the time, the Pit Bull owner, Mark Munn, said he wasn't home when the pit bull [allegedly] slipped out past a friend [and ran to attack little Emma].
After the attack, animal control officer Mack Carson asked Munn to keep the dog quarantined in the house for 10 days. Only a judge could make Carson destroy the animal, Carson said at the time.
OWNER SAYS SORRY (NOT SORRY). CLAIMS IT'S A 'RESCUE DOG'
Munn said he was remorseful after the attack by the pit bull, a dog he claims was a "rescue dog" that he inherited from his son.
"I wish I could turn back time, change everything because it's awful," Munn said earlier.
He said he hopes it never happens again but was reluctant to give up his dog.
"So I'm kind of torn between what to do, because my dogs have become my family," he said. "I love my dog."
The mayor said this is what he and the council hope to clarify in coming months.
Provincial regulations governing animal control fall under the Municipalities Act and only apply to unincorporated areas and to rural communities that haven't adopted a dog bylaw.
(CBC CA - Nov 28, 2017)
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