Countless letters, emails, Tweets, protest signs and barking mad advocates meant that the amendments to Burnaby’s animal control bylaw caused quite the spectacle in council chambers this past fall.
City staff had been working on amendments to the bylaw for about two years, after several animal advocates from far and wide made delegations to council asking for the removal of breed-specific legislation and to ban the sale of animals in pet stores.
Staff divided the animal control bylaw report in two: the first half dealing with pit bulls, dangerous dogs, exotic animals and raising the limit of two dogs per household to three; the second half concerning pet stores.
Animal advocates were shocked when staff came back not only keeping breed-specific legislation, which would keep pit bulls muzzled in city limits, but strengthening it, as well. City staff used what some considered dodgy evidence to back up their recommendation, including data that grouped several dog breeds under the large umbrella of “pit bulls” and compared it to single dog breeds, which skewed the numbers. The city’s own shelter and animal contractor, the Burnaby B.C. SPCA, expressed its opposition to breed-specific legislation.
Wave after wave of presentations were made to council, and the majority of letters piled in also opposed the staff report, but in the end each councillor and the mayor chose to keep pit bulls muzzled.
The reaction led to a quieter start to the debate over the second half of the animal control bylaw. Animal advocates were less surprised that staff decided to ban the sale of turtles but keep the sale of puppies, kittens and sterilized rabbits in pet stores – but it didn’t ease their disappointment.
When it came down to council making its final decision, pet store owners and animal advocates alike showed up in force, armed with signs to protest each other the night council made its decision.
In the end, pet store advocates won when council decided to allow the continued sales of puppies and kittens in pet stores.
