Why wonB次元官网网址檛 the City of Victoria stop pussy-footing around and admit theyB次元官网网址檙e dog-hating cat people?

There are no rules regarding cat ownership. TheyB次元官网网址檙e allowed to wander unsupervised all over the city. EveryoneB次元官网网址檚 yard is a litter box and nobody seems to care that these critters can bolt into traffic.

But heaven forbid you own a dog.

The city hired a private team of over-zealous browbeats to maintain B次元官网网址渃ontrolB次元官网网址� over dog owners and their pets.

YouB次元官网网址檙e not allowed to bike with your dog and apparently walking with your dog is discouraged too.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 a bylaw stating youB次元官网网址檙e not allowed to B次元官网网址減arkB次元官网网址� (tie up) your dog so you can go grab a coffee or do an errand. This means dog owners must drive everywhere with their dogs.

IB次元官网网址檓 a bike-riding dog owner who does not drive.

IB次元官网网址檝e been in touch with the mayor and city council regarding the restrictive bylaws surrounding dog ownership. I am all for dogs being controlled by their owners, but mandatory leash laws do not guarantee control.

A leash only gives the illusion of control while allowing the owner to forgo actually training their dog to listen/obey.

Just last week in Nanaimo, a dog was attacked and killed by a dog on a leash. As IB次元官网网址檝e explained to the mayor, the issue is control. Clearly that leashed dog was not under control.

My dog was trained on a B次元官网网址渕entalB次元官网网址� leash and for 11-plus years weB次元官网网址檝e used words to get him to slow down, move over, stay, etc.

Dogs enhance their ownerB次元官网网址檚 lives and itB次元官网网址檚 a shame the city supports bylaws that make dog ownership so unpleasant and restrictive.

Nancy Raycroft

Victoria