Jonathon Liedtke – ourWindsor.ca – Feb. 20, 2013
Lovers of dogs can howl in delight as city council approved an increase in the number of canines allowed per residence from two three.
“This is definitely something that we’re very supportive of and we’ve heard a lot of requests from people who’d like to be able to care for a third dog,” stated Melanie Coulter, Executive Director for the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society.
The Humane Society has faced situations where they’ve had to turn down adoptive homes because the family already had two dogs.
“That’s a tough situation because we really like to get dogs into homes, especially when we know that there’s a good home waiting … it’s hard to turn them down,” Coulter said.
While Coulter doesn’t expect a major rush of people seeking to adopt a third dog, she explained that taking on a new dog is a commitment which includes an roughly 10 to 13 years of veterinary care, food and exercise needs. “You do need to have the ability to care for however many animals you have or are taking on,” she explained.
“If I have to deal with more barking dogs, I’m going to have a fit,” complained Windsorite David H. “I have to already deal with neighbours that have dogs that bark. This is ridiculous. Thankfully the city banned chickens, but now extending dogs … ludicrous.”
Coulter however indicated that the vast majority of situations where a dog barks excessively is when a single dog is left alone in a backyard rather than in a group.
“You’re more likely to have the real nuisance barking situations when you’ve got one dog,” Coulter said. “If you’ve got three and they’re in a backyard … they will settle [quickly] … they’re not going to bark excessively. A dog that’s lonely will bark out of boredom or loneliness.”
“I’ll believe that when I see it … or hear it,” joked David H., adding, “but I just don’t understand how more dogs will make things quieter.”
The increase in the number of dogs allowed puts Windsor on par with other municipalities such as London, Kitchener, Waterloo and Ottawa.
“Three [dogs] is a good number for a dog’s social life [and] this is not something that is out of line with other municipalities,” Coulter stated.
“I don’t think and I certainly hope it’s not a decision people are taking lightly,” Coulter noted. “If people are deciding to add a third dog to their family, now that it’s permitted, (I hope) they’re doing it with careful thought first.”
Council approves three-dog rule (ourwindsor.ca)
Jonathon Liedtke is the Features & Opinion Editor for the University of Windsor Lance Campus/Community Newspaper and a reporter for ourWindsor.ca. As a founding member and current Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee, he is committed to representing, connecting, engaging with and advocating for local youth. He is also a member of Windsor’s “Punk with Horns” band The Nefidovs, and as such, is committed to enhancing and sustaining the arts community.
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