Two dog maximum kept in South Huron

By John Miner

Three dogs are still one too many in a South Huron household.

After debating a staff report suggesting South Huron’s animal control bylaw be revised to allow three dogs per dwelling, council voted to stick with the current limit.

The existing South Huron bylaw sets the maximum number of cats and dogs per dwelling at four, with a limit of two dogs.

Under the bylaw, residents are allowed the options of four cats and no dogs, two dogs and two cats or one dog and three cats.

Staff were asked to review the bylaw after a resident requested an exemption because they had five cats.

The review looked at animal control bylaws in surrounding municipalities, focusing on the maximum number of animals per residence, kennel licensing, care and control of animals and fines.

A common overall limit of animals per dwelling was five, with a maximum of two or three dogs. Some bylaws allowed an additional dog in rural settings.

Other bylaws set limits on household pets such as hamsters, ferrets, rabbits, fowl, mice and rats.

The review of neighbouring municipal bylaws also found the fines in South Huron’s animal control bylaw were low by comparison.

It was proposed that the fine for allowing a dog or cat to run at large be increased from $100 to $150, while the fine for allowing a dog to bark, whine or yelp excessively would be increased the same amount.

Another proposed change would have exempted livestock and herding dogs from the number limit provided the owner kept livestock on the same property and was within a rural zone.

Deputy Mayor Jim Dietrich said he opposed increasing the limits.

“Three dogs to an apartment, or even a house, I’m sorry I don’t think that is right,” he said.

On the other side, Coun. Marissa Vaughn said she had no problem with three dogs in a residence.

Coun. Wendy McLeod-Haggitt said some rental agreements for apartments in South Huron specify whether tenants are allowed animals and if so, how many.

“They would never allow an obscene amount of animals in a one bedroom apartment. That would just cause way too much chaos with the other tenants in the building,” she said.

Mayor George Finch said under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act part of an agreement that states no pets allowed is void.