By paNOW

Saskatoon cracking down on unsafe pet owners

Aug 18, 2014 | 11:40 AM

City hall is cracking down on pet owners allowing animals to freely roam on the back of pickup trucks while driving through Saskatoon.

“The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) recommends all pets be protected during transport by the use of crates or with tethering devices such as seatbelts,” Dr. Terri Chotowitz with the Cumberland Veterinary Clinic in Saskatoon said.

“The CVMA opposes the unsecured transportation of dogs in vehicles like flatbed trucks.”

On Monday the planning and development committee agreed to instruct the city solicitor to draft amendments to the animal control bylaw, making it a punishable offence to allow pets to ride unsecured.

Dr. Chotowitz said she’s pleased to see Saskatoon following British Columbia in enacting these bylaws.

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“A 50-pound pet, when travelling at speeds of 50 km/h has the weight of approximately one tonne,” she said. “To expect our dogs to have the judgment not to go running from the back to the front because there’s another dog in a vehicle – we have to be the ones to say they should be in a crate.”

She said a crate is the best option, adding tethering a pet by its collar is trickier.

“If they’re riding on the back with a really long tether, the owner goes in somewhere the dog in the back of the truck might want to follow, and if they jump out of the truck they could choke.”

A draft amendment is expected to come back to city council next month. Drivers could face a fine of $100 for a first offence and $200 for a second offence.

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On Twitter: @notthebeebs

by paNOW

Saskatoon cracking down on unsafe pet owners

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