The Mayor of Ritchot says due to a recent increase in dog attacks, Council has decided to appoint an animal control officer (ACO).
"The RM of Ritchot has been dealing with a significant influx of domestic animal concerns; dog attacks or dog bites throughout the whole municipality," says Chris Ewen. "And we as Council just decided that it's time to take serious action on this and hire a designated ACO to start not only penalizing but educating people on how severe this can be."
Ritchot is hiring Rural Animal Management Services (RAMS) on a two-year contract. Ewen explains RAMS will work case-by-case and is essentially on retainer with Ritchot.
"So, they will be getting information that we receive from residents, people throughout Ritchot when there is a concern or an animal dispute or attack and they will be handling it first thing," explains Ewen.
He clarifies that RAMS will not be a fulltime service employee of Ritchot and will not be driving around the municipality looking for infractions.
Ewen says they are hearing more and more cases of dogs running off leash and then attacking either another animal or human being. He notes in some cases these attacks are happening at night because a homeowner is not properly containing their pet.
"I'll be quite frank that it's a disgusting matter that I've been dealing with where people aren't taking care of their animals and unfortunately at the end of the day, the animal is the one that pays the consequences by either removing them or having to put them down, quarantining them," explains Ewen. "So that animal suffers the most because people are just absolutely ignorant when they have an animal."
Ewen says unfortunately the municipality is being forced to take serious action, hence why they are hiring RAMS.
According to the municipality, the Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Act needs to be followed when it comes to issuing penalties or fines to pet owners. RAMS will need to refer to that bylaw if it chooses to fine a resident.
Ewen says penalties could range from a minor fine for a light infraction involving a dispute between two animals, to the removal of that animal from the municipality if the infraction is severe enough and the neighbourhood needs to be protected.
Ewen says though most of the infractions lately involve dogs, RAMS will be dealing with all types of pets.
"To all pet owners, take care of your animals because this is absolutely a disgusting mess that we're having to get involved in," he adds.