Squamish officials are missing an opportunity to make money off dogs’ backs, says a new advocacy group in town.
Out of the estimated 5,000 four-legged friends in the community, only 2,200 of them are licensed through the municipality, equating to less than 50 per cent, said Joanna Schwarz, the founder of Responsible Dog Owners’ Group of Squamish (Rdogs).
While licensing dogs helps officials gauge the number of dogs in town and the services required to accommodate responsible ownership, it also generates income, the long-time Squamish resident said.
“We are losing out on a huge amount of revenue,” Schwarz said, noting at $25 per spayed or neutered animal, the municipality is losing approximately $70,000.
The district recently cut its animal control capacity to one bylaw officer working 35 hours a week, she said. The officer deals with all animal complaints, including cats and farm stock.
“It seems like an impossible task,” Schwarz said regarding the hefty workload.
To encourage people to license their dogs, the district could pull a page out of Calgary’s regulatory book, Shwarz noted. More than 90 per cent of dogs and 45 per cent of cats in the Alberta city are licensed, making it a leader in licensing compliance in North America. The city’s ‘I Heart My Pet’ program gives out cards to pet owners who have licensed their animals. The cards provide discounts on a variety of products and services at more than 60 partnering vendors.
As a result of the program, the city boasts the highest return-to-owner and lowest euthanization rates in North America. In 2010, bylaw officers reunited 479 cats and 3,745 dogs with their owners, according to the city website.
In a presentation to council earlier this month, Schwarz asked that the district dedicate a portion of its 2015 budget toward supporting the bylaw department and aiding initiatives that will reduce dog conflicts throughout the community.
Schwarz was inspired to form Rdogs after she was attacked by an off-leash doberman/shepherd at Garibaldi Highlands School last August. The incident left her with a gash along her wrist and 16 punctures in her leg — five of which needed stitches.
Schwarz teamed up with dog trainer Maren Bruun. What the Rdogs don’t want is for unruly dogs to lead to the banning of the creatures from many parts of town.
“If dog owners aren’t responsible, then they will be allowed at fewer and fewer places,” said Bruun, owner of Paw in Hand.
The group is pushing for the development of a dog park within Squamish over the next two years. Its members have suggested that the Squamish Valley Music Festival’s campground, off of Queens Way, be used as a dog park for the 11 months of the year when it isn’t full of tents.
Council has taken the group’s words to heart. Coun. Patricia Heintzman said she’d like to see pet licences sold at pet shops, the pound and other facilities around town. Officials asked municipal staff to work on initiatives with the new advocacy group. Mayor Rob Kirkham said it’s good timing as the budget is coming down the chute.
“The pressure is on and the challenge is in front of us,” said Kirkham.
