Dogs a problem in Ellesmere

Press, 24 February 1977, Page 3

Dogs a problem in Ellesmere

All the townships in Ellesmere county were plagued by dogs which were not kept un-1 der proper control and ’ roamed the streets, said the; county clerk (Mr G. R. Sin-' gleton). While the council s by-law j was more than adequate to control dogs in public places,! it was not effective on private j property, and a major prob-1 lem arose in policing it, Mr; Singleton said. “Unfortunately, at this j stage, the cost of appointing! full-time dog rangers; throughout the county’ would i be prohibitive, and would not j be warranted,” he said. “There has been a marked increase lately in the number! if complaints about the con-’ trol of dogs, or the lack of it. i

I hese have mostly’ been com-] plaints about dogs roaming; on private property. “These are primarilv dis-1 putes between neighbours,' and usually the neighbours ! have managed to sort out! their differences. The congre-I gation of dogs when bitches ! are on heat does cause con-! cent, but again, these are mostly inter-neighbour dis- j outes.” Mr Singleton said that! apart from dogs which remained close to their own-;, ers’ properties, an increasing! number seemed to be roam-’: mg the streets and private ■ properties, fouling them, and,: making a general nuisance. h However, he said action ; i could only be taken against! offending owners whose animals were caught by council j staff in a public place. Mr Singleton said he had beard recently of a person who had kept more than the

allowed number of dogs on a I property at Selwyn Street,; (Leeston. The by-law prohibi-; ; ted the keeping of more than (two dogs over the age of I 1 three months on a resident!-1 (ally zoned property, unless a( (permit was obtained from the! council. No licence had been issued; iin this case, and though it! (was known that the dogs, (concerned had worried small i (children, and a neighbour had |■ | been savaged, no complaint! I had been made to the council. j, ( Mr Singleton had asked the i (owner to observe the by-law,; ! and after a visit by an in- ( spector there were now only, (two dogs on the property,) ; both of which were kept un-1 ■der proper control. !;