Council orders review of policies concerning dogs following calls for stronger enforcement

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

With unanimous support from Council, the City is undertaking a review of the Animal Control By-Law and related policies and procedures concerning dogs after recent incidents involving dogs have raised community concerns.

Just last month in Portsmouth District, Kingston resident Lia Depauw’s one-year-old dachshund was killed by an off-leash dog in a traumatic attack. She spoke before Council at their August meeting detailing the attack, and what she described as a lack of urgency and communication in bylaw’s response to the incident.

In response to this devastating incident as well as ongoing concerns from residents related to off-leash activity and dangerous dogs, Councillor Wendy Stephen brought forward the motion to investigate whether more can be done to toughen existing policies. 

Staff will report back to Council with any recommended amendments in the coming months.

Listen to the full story here.