Flexi Leashes and Councilor Dog Experts

So it appears that Gloria McClusky likes the Toronto dog bylaw. That's a real shame if she wants to imitate that bylaw here. It is a super shitty bylaw. We'd be taking a real step back if almost any part of that bylaw comes to the HRM. You can go read it - here -


She is quoted as saying that in a CBC news article, amongst other places.

The Toronto bylaw includes -
- There is a 3 dog limit.
- There is a provision if you want to tie your dogs outside - meaning that it's perfectly legal and okay to keep your dogs chained outside 24 hours a day, 365 days a year;
- All decisions are made by the "Executive director" - not by a judge - so it's no better than our bylaw where all decisions are made by an animal controll officer;
- They have a spay and neuter clinic and it's specifically for animals owned by the city - no one else;
- They have that "leash law" where you can't walk a dog on anything longer than a 2 metre leash.

So let's get into that a little bit. I own short leashes for the dogs, and I own flexi leashes for the dogs - I walk the dogs under all kinds of conditions.

I walk them downtown, I walk them in quiet neighbourhoods, I walk them at public events, I walk them in the woods, I walk them on trails, I walk them from the cart to the house - and in all those circumstances - they have different leashes.

When I walk them downtown, at public events - they wear shorter leashes so that they don't get wrapped around people and poles - and they each have their own leash.

In the woods they are off-leash having a great time.

On trails, and in quiet neighbourhoods they wear individual flexi-leads so that they can still get good exercise - they run from tree to tree sniffing and I can walk a steady pace - there's no one around - it works out perfectly.

From the car to the house and back, and to the vet - where we aren't covering any distance -they were a 2 dog leash - for convenience sake.

I know when and where to wear which leash - because I am a savvy dog owner - and I think it's ridiculous for Councillor McClusky to make a statement like "She also wants leashes limited to 2 metres in length and retractable leads prohibited because, she said, they don't people enough control over their pets".

I'd like to know when Ms. McClusky became an expert on the proper conveyanc of dogs from one place to the next. Or maybe it was just a couple people saying to her "and ban those damn flexi leads - they're nothing but a hassle!"

If that's all it takes to get something banned in this city - we are doomed.

What scientific papers did she read to have her come to this conclusion that flexi leads don't give people control over their pets? And what if I use my flexi lead and keep it locked at 6 feet - will I still be fined?

I actually own a flexi lead that only extends to 6 feet - will this lead also give me a fine? That is the ridiculousness of that statement.

So long story short - we should just be lookng a lot closer for our good bylaws - NOT places like Toronto. We don't need 3 dogs limits and instructions on how to chain out your dogs.

Once again I put Parrsboro, and Windsor out as good bylaws and places to start if you're looking at refocusing your bylaw - staff of the HRM. And simply tightening up the bylaw you currently have - take the power away from your animal control officers and put it in the hands of judges - stiffen your finnes, keep your dangerous dog legislation - and enforce it - and we will all be happy.

what's so horrible about that?