Council deferred second and third reading for both a cat and dog bylaw after two petitions, with more than 400 signatures for each, were presented to council Monday night. Deputy mayor Heather Klein has since said the recommendation to defeat the bylaw will come before council at the next meeting.
Twenty-two people crowded into council chambers Monday evening to voice concerns, or support those who spoke before council.
“If I had four dogs and was looking to move, I couldn’t come to Penhold. I’d have to choose somewhere else,” said Ron Brown after the council meeting where a handful of people gathered to debrief at the front doors of town office. He didn’t understand the need to cap the number of dogs or cats a person owns.
“I didn’t like what I heard,” explained Anna Huraj of hearing about the changes to the bylaws. “Initially I was infuriated. Most people in Penhold have pets, and more than two. This is a concern for most people in town.”
Huraj spoke before council reading from a letter she wrote that day. She went around town with friend Shirley Strader earlier this month and collected signatures from people who didn’t want to see the updated bylaws approved, that would increase licensing fees for cats from a one-time $10 identification fee to $50 a year or $25 if neutered. The price for licensing a dog will be the same as the cats.
The bylaw for both the dogs and cats would only allow two dogs and two cats. A third cat or dog is allowed but requires a kennelling licence of $125. Anyone currently with more than three cats or three dogs, would be grandfathered in.
“Residents do not like being told how many animals they can own,” wrote Huraj. “…Most people of Penhold are intelligent enough to decide if they want pets, are able to care for them both financially and emotionally, have space and time and love to devote to them whether it be one, two, three, four, five, whatever is reasonable for their situation, and therefore should not be barred from doing so.”
Huraj also said when out talking to people in town, most people hadn’t realized about the proposed changes. The first reading of the bylaw was approved in September and bylaw officer Jim deBoon spoke to the community Oct. 22 during the community breakfast. Notice was made in the town’s paper, the Reporter, and on the town of Penhold website.
“The easiest and best way I feel would be to slip a note or letter in our utility/water/sewer/garbage bill, that way all would receive it. You cannot rely on everyone reading about it in a newspaper … you can however, rely on receiving a bill.”
Council received two letters and four emails Monday night and two comments made on Facebook were presented to council as well. The letters raised concern about the proposed changes, the emails requested more information about the changes, and the two Facebook comments were upset with the petition.
“There’s a lot more public input coming in,” agreed Coun. Danielle Klooster. “People who have verbalized their (concerns) would like a chance to write them down.”
She asked for anyone in Penhold with concerns to email [email protected], drop off a letter at the town office or deliver one to council, or send it to PO Box 10.
“She (Huraj) made an excellent presentation,” said Klein, deputy mayor, Friday afternoon. “She had two petitions with approximately 400 names for each. Her concerns were quite valid.” She said after hearing feedback from Huraj, as well as other members of the community, she supports defeating the bylaw during the Dec. 12 council meeting.
Mayor Dennis Cooper was absent from council.
