New Animal Control Bylaw approved by Ponoka town council

Town officials say the new bylaw takes effect immediately, but the enforcement of cats and the five-animals-per-residence limit won’t begin until July 1, 2021 to allow citizens time to purchase cat licenses and grandfathering licenses.

“The regulation and licensing of cats were added to the new bylaw in response to concerns expressed by many citizens over the years asking the Town to help alleviate cat issues in Ponoka,” said Ponoka Mayor Rick Bonnett, in a press release. “Those concerns were echoed widely during an extensive public consultation process held by the Town just over a year ago that invited public review and feedback on the new Bylaw. The majority of citizens who provided input during the public consultation were in favour of licensing and regulating cats.”

After carefully considering the public feedback that was received in late 2019, Town officials note the following additional changes made to the new bylaw before it received second and third reading from town council at its Feb. 23 regular meeting.

Those changes to the bylaw included:

A new definition for Exotic Pets which are regulated by federal and provincial legislation; and
Cat trapping requirements that must be followed under the new bylaw.

An Early Bird licensing rate of $15 is included in the new bylaw for pet owners who license their spayed or neutered cats or dogs between October 1 to December 31 prior to each renewal year. The Early Bird rate is significantly lower than the Town’s previous Animal Control Bylaw in order to help make pet licenses more affordable for Ponoka citizens.

Town officials say licensing your pets helps ensure they can be more easily returned home by the Town’s Animal Control Contractor who would have a current record of how to contact the pet’s owners. Licensing also saves pet owners added cost if your animal accidentally escapes your property, which can result in a fine for failing to license your cat or dog.

In addition, the pet owner would be required to purchase a license at that time, and would not qualify for the Early Bird rate.

Cat owners will have until June 30 to license their cats before enforcement of the new bylaw begins. Cat tags will be available for purchase by mid-March of this year. The new tags will not expire until December 31, 2022, giving cat owners an extra six months of licensing coverage.

After December 2022, cat licenses will need to be renewed annually, similar to dog licenses. Grandfathering licenses purchased by June 30, 2021 will also expire on December 31, 2022 and must be renewed annually after that.

Cat and dog license fees are used to help offset the cost of Animal Control Services provided by the Town.

More information about the new Animal Control Bylaw is available on the Town’s website at www.ponoka.ca where an online Public Open House is being held. The online Open House walks citizens through the new bylaw and includes links to the bylaw for pet owners to review.

Copies of the new bylaw and printed copies of the Online Open House material are also available for pick up at the Town Office by phoning 403-783-4431. Copies of the new Bylaw will also be available for pick up at local pet stores, veterinary offices and kennels in the Ponoka area.

Enforcement of the Town’s Animal Control Bylaw is carried out primarily on a complaint-driven basis by Old MacDonald Kennels, which operates under contract for the Town. Enforcement of the bylaw is also provided by the Town’s Bylaw Enforcement Officer and Ponoka RCMP detachment, as appropriate.

To report a concern under the Town’s Animal Control Bylaw, please contact Old MacDonald Kennels at 403-783-7447.

by rdnewsNOW staff

New Animal Control Bylaw approved by Ponoka town council

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