'It's absolutely terrifying': Sask. small town struggling with fear of stray dogs
The mayor of Allan is voicing frustrations over a group of aggressive dogs, saying they've become a threat to community safety.
Mayor Bonnie Lewis says instead of enjoying the last few days of summer, a string of dog attacks is causing residents to stay inside and stay alert.
“They're living in fear, they don't want to do this for fear that they're going to run into these dogs again,” Lewis said.
She says there have been multiple dog attacks on adults, children, and other animals for months. The dogs travel in a group and all belong to the same owner, Lewis says.
One resident CTV News spoke with said her dogs have been attacked twice.
“I walk my dogs every day, and it's absolutely terrifying to take them out. You’re always on watch. I’ve carried sticks with me before,” Holly Hanson said.
The RCMP says it’s received six reports concerning a group of dogs in the town since April, but says no bites have been reported. RCMP says in consultation with Crown prosecutors, it has determined the incidents are bylaw-related, not criminal.
However, the town’s bylaw committee chairperson says bylaws can be difficult to enforce.
“In this case, what we've discovered is that it doesn't matter how good your bylaws are in a community, we do not, as a small community, have representation in a bylaw court,” Gloria Stefanson said.
The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) says it’s been pushing for a new bylaw model to help municipalities come together and address bylaw infractions.
“Unfortunately, in recent years, the provincial courthouses have been overly busy, and bylaw infraction and adjudication of those have kind of dropped off the priority list,” SUMA CEO Jean-Marc Nadeau said.
“As a result of that, municipalities are in a position where even though they might be able to enforce their bylaws, if somebody disputes it, there's no way to adjudicate it.”
SUMA says Kindersley implemented a similar system a few years ago.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre says there are ongoing discussions about a new bylaw model.
“It is a priority and those discussions are happening really as we speak. I mean, this was something that we talked about just this past week, and it's very much a priority for me,” Eyre said.
Meanwhile Mayor Lewis is hoping communities facing similar issues will reach out to the Town of Allan to collaborate and help push for change.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Affordability crisis could be reaching its peak in Canada, economist says
With Canada's annual inflation rate reaching the central bank's two per cent target, the country's affordability crisis could be peaking, according to an economist.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, goes back to work days after cancer treatment update
Catherine, Princess of Wales has held her first engagement since revealing that she has completed her chemotherapy treatment.
Ukrainian drones strike a large military depot in a Russian town northwest of Moscow
Ukrainian drones struck a large military depot in a town deep inside Russia overnight, causing a huge blaze and prompting the evacuation of some local residents, a Ukrainian official and Russian news reports said Wednesday.
How to prevent lung cancer, regardless of whether you smoke, according to a doctor
More people who have never touched a cigarette are getting lung cancer, but there are ways to prevent it, according to a doctor.
Bride's family speaks as West Vancouver woman sentenced for driving SUV into wedding party
Sixty-five-year-old Hong Xu, who drove her SUV into a crowd of people celebrating a wedding at her next-door neighbour's house in West Vancouver on Aug. 20, 2022, has been sentenced under the Motor Vehicle Act for driving without due care and attention.
This airport landing is so challenging only 50 pilots are qualified to do it
Bhutan's Paro International Airport (PBH) is widely considered one of the most technically difficult plane landings in the world. Maneuvering onto a short runway between two 18,000-foot peaks requires both technical knowledge and nerves of steel.
Exploding Hezbollah pagers in apparent Israeli attack made by Hungarian company, Taiwanese firm says
A company based in Hungary was responsible for manufacturing the pagers that exploded in Lebanon and Syria in an apparent Israeli operation targeting Hezbollah’s communications network, another firm whose brand was used on the devices said Wednesday.
'It's ridiculous': Ontario man told to pay $1,000 to end water heater contract
An Ontario man was surprised to learn he would have to pay a $1,000 penalty to cancel his water heater rental. 'I was shocked that the penalty I had to pay was almost the cost of a brand new water heater,' James Alves, of Etobicoke, told CTV News Toronto.
Taylor Swift previously said she was uninspired to include politics in her music. Now, she's singing a different tune
In 2011, a young Taylor Swift said she was not inspired to sing about topics related to politics. Over a decade later, she's singing a different tune.