Essa cracks down on unlicenced pet operations
By Richard Blanchard

Essa council has passed a bylaw which allow township staff to crack down on illegal pet breeding operations in the township.

Council passed the bylaw which will regulate breeding of pets in the township last Wednesday and it will take effect immediately.

"We're dealing with several cases right now," said clerk Carol Trainor who added that during the past 14 months, the municipal law enforcement officer has responded to numerous complaints about noise, odours, filthy yards in residential areas where pets are breed for sale.

Existing kennels are already covered under the kennel by-law, while because breeding operations sell their offspring as pets and have a small number of female pets, there has been a gap in enforcement.

Some councillors hoped that there would not be any confusion for existing kennel owners.

Council was assured by staff that breeders would face the same conditions as existing kennels, which would require a separate housing area for animals, a minimum 3.97 acre property and minimum distance setbacks from neighbouring properties.

Trainor noted in her report that the bylaw was not designed to prevent a property owner from having the occasional litter of pups but it "will regulate the number of dogs or other animals per dwelling in high density/residential area and ensure that all animals are cared for and that necessities of life are provided."