Being a pet owner is a big responsibility and once you’ve made the decision to get that pup or kitten there’s a few things you need to know about living in Prince George with your pet.
Besides shots, spaying and neutering a pet, abiding by the bylaws around pet ownership is next on the list of things to do.
Getting a dog license is important and at $36 it’s a bargain compared to the $250 fine if a dog is not licensed.
When things go wrong within the animal kingdom of Prince George, bylaw services hears about it.
“All bylaw investigations are initiated by a complaint,” Charlotte Peters, manager of bylaw services for the City of Prince George, said.
When animal control staff go to investigate a complaint that is when it is determined if the bylaw contravention is founded or not, Peters added.
The rundown for offences in 2023 is as follows:
Cats at large - 137
Dogs at large - 653
Dog bites - 56 (This includes all bites, not just to humans but also to other animals.)
Barking dog complaints - 366
Areas of the city that are monitored proactively by animal control are leash and off-leash parks.
“We have all these rules in place to keep all the dogs and dog owners safe,” Peters said.
Respecting the rules of a park is important. When people are at a park that requires dogs to be on leash and they encounter an off-leash dog, trouble could be brewing.
“If you have a dog leashed in a park and it’s approached by an unleashed dog, the leashed dog could immediately feel like its at a disadvantage,” Peters said. “They can’t get away and they might be fearful so that could make them instantly aggressive when another dog approaches. Some people don’t understand that.”
That’s when a fight could break out and pets and owners could get hurt and nobody wants that.
If there is an altercation with a dog, be respectful and exchange information just like you would if you were in a motor vehicle accident, Peters suggested.
If information is requested by an animal control officer, be a respectful and cooperative pet owner. The officers are working to make sure everyone is treated fairly and all pets are safe and cared for properly.
“So abide by the rules while using parks in the city,” Peters added. “And please pick up the poop.”
Prince George has done a good job of providing some off leash areas and people need to respect the rules for leashed areas, Peters said.
Those leashed areas are for those without dogs, too, who are out to enjoy nature.
“We want people who might be afraid of dogs to feel safe in those areas, too,” Peters added.
Other ways to be a responsible pet owner include not letting animals roam freely off your property and into the neighbour’s yards – that goes for dogs and cats. Identify pets with a microchip or tag. Make sure there is a secure place for your animal in the backyard. Talk to neighbours about potential issues like barking to avoid any conflict that may arise.
“If you’re going to be a dog or cat owner in the City of Prince George I would love it if you would call if you have questions and familiarize yourself with pet ownership bylaws and abide by those rules to keep everything harmonious in the pet and pet owner world in 2024,” Peters said.
To see bylaws pertaining to pet ownership visit Responsible Animal Ownership Bylaw No. 8898, 2017 (In Effect: January 1, 2018) | City of Prince George
