Minden Hills council is expected to make a decision on whether or not to provide dog pound service to its residents at a Feb. 4 budget meeting.
Following discussion Jan. 16, it’s on the “maybe” list, according to mayor Bob Carter.
Councillors asked staff to look into the idea and bring back a report to budget deliberations.
Chief building official, Eric Guay, said the township’s bylaw department responded to 17 dog-related bylaw complaints in 2024, with 58 per cent of calls being for dogs running at large.
“We currently do not have a pound keeper agreement in place and staff are not trained at this time to capture and relocate animals to a pound,” he said.
He added the closest locations of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) are in Bracebridge, Bancroft and Bobcaygeon, so not feasible for bylaw staff to capture dogs and take them out-of-town.
Guay said there were two interested parties, but Paws at Killara Station was the best fit. He estimated the cost of providing the new service at $10,000-a-year.
He said if council proceeded, Paws would receive, impound and hold dogs for claiming by the owners. Township staff would have after-hours access to the shelter along with shelter staff; the two would charge and collect pound, and other, fees; and there would be an annual report of the daily operations and numbers of impounded dogs received at the shelter.
The chief building official added dog owners or adopters would have to pay a pickup fee for lost dogs collected by the owner within 24 hours; and $15 per day for food.
He noted bylaw staff would have to undergo canine apprehension and catchpole training, at $310-plus HST per officer.
To outfit one vehicle with a dog barrier is $219.90-plus HST; while a four-to-six-foot catchpole is $216 plus HST.
Deputy mayor Lisa Schell said Paws at Killara Station owner Sue Macdonald came to council several years ago offering the service and, “it’s nice to see we’re following through with something.” She noted Algonquin Highlands is also using the local business as its pound.
She added council stopped dog licensing when it didn’t have a pound, and wondered if it was time to reinstate tags. Guay said it would make a lot of sense, with possible lifetime licensing. Schell said if trained staff pick-up a dog with a tag, “it might be something as simple as making a phone call rather than having to transport out to Paws, but it’s still beneficial to have them (a pound).”
Mayor Bob Carter asked what happens if dogs are not claimed. Guay said that would then become the responsibility of Paws. Coun. Ivan Ingram said the agreement indicated Paws would take on a dog after four days. Coun. Pam Sayne wondered if Paws also had a microchip reader.
Coun. Bob Sisson asked if the bottom line was $10,000-a-year in new charges and Guay said yes. Sisson said with just 17 dogs, and nine-at-large, it is a lot of money.
Coun. Tammy McKelvey said people can advertise lost dogs on Facebook, so she is not in favour of the township having pound services.
But Sayne said the community is changing and growing and pound services are needed. However, she would like the municipality to recoup more money from dog owners. “I think we need to progress with something like this, and I am in support of it.”
Ingram wanted to put it on the “maybe” list. So, too, did Carter. Council deferred the item until next Tuesday.
