Council could amend dog choke ban to exclude guide dogs

By News Staff

When city council was debating a bylaw amendment last December that would essentially ban dog choke collars and choke chains, Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker called them “cruel, barbaric, and inhumane.”

The motion passed.

But council is poised to reconsider after admitting it didn’t properly consult with groups like the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), and Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, which say they use the collars humanely for training purposes.

A motion put forward by Councillor Jon Burnside and seconded by De Baeremaeker, is asking the city’s Licensing and Standards committee to consult with animal service groups and possibly change the rules to “ensure that service dogs are able to use any and all collars as appropriate.”

The ban has “raised concerns amongst organizations that use choke or prong collars for training purposes for service dogs,” Burnside’s motion reads.

“Some of the concerns point to lack of consultation with the organizations that rely on these types of training. I believe further review on the bylaw is required to ensure no undue burden is placed on those that rely on service dogs.”

The CNIB penned a letter to the city, claiming the bylaw unfairly impacts guide dog users and is riddled with ambiguity.

“It is standard practice for guide dog schools to use correction collars in the training of dogs used by people with sight loss so they can safely move around the community,” the organization wrote.

“The City has not made clear if any of the standard collars used for guide dogs fall under the new ban. As the bylaw stands today, the vague language could put guide dog owners, using standard harnesses issued by guide dog schools across North America, in violation of the law.”

Under the bylaw, anyone found guilty of an offence could face a fine of up to $100,000.

The CNIB is also asking for guide dog users to be exempt from possible fines while the city mulls over the potential changes.

The item is on this week’s council agenda.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today