BATTLEFORD — The council of the Town of Battleford has passed a significant update to the town's Animal Control and Protection bylaw, according to Ross McAngus, the town's public safety officer.
"I mean the bylaw definitely needed some upgrading, there [are] some things in there that needed to be changed," McAngus told council on Monday night, noting that several pieces of the bylaw were tweaked or changed.
The bylaw notes no residents shall own more than three animals over the age of six months or keep them in a single dwelling, excluding places like a grooming parlour, a pound, or a pet store.
The bylaw also notes general provisions outlining the use of restraints, animal traps, off-leash parks, animal runs, and penalties for violations of the bylaw.
As far as changes to the bylaw, Councillor Judy Pruden asked him about the removal of a section of the bylaw allowing chickens in the four rural areas around town.
"It clarifies it that we don't want chickens in the Town of Battleford but they're living on acreage that's still in the town, that's up to council to decide."
The wording of the bylaw states clearly that a person shall not keep livestock, or poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese) unless in a stockyard. However, the bylaw provides provisions for the keeping of bees between Sept. 15 and April 30 of each year.
Councillor Pruden also asked about a section on microchips that was also removed.
"I'll tell you how microchips work ... but that information is stored, I'm not even sure where that is."
But he noted that they will not give out information about who owns that animal, or where it's from, because of the privacy act.
When Councillor Pruden noted that he's a peace officer, McAngus said,
"I can sweet talk them in but they're not even supposed to give it to me ... But, the thing is that it doesn't do any good for the town, it's made for the general public."
