The municipality is cracking down on local animal rescues, and that has some pet lovers concerned.
Lisa Toulouse, co-founder of Big Fix Grassroots Cat Rescue in Chatham, says the Responsible Animal Ownership By-law states no residence can have more than three dogs and five cats, but doesn’t take rescues into consideration.
“What we would like to see come before council would be something where rescue organizations who are non-profit or charity would have an exemption or something,” she explains, “even if the OSPCA cruelty investigators have to come in once a year to make sure our pets are well cared for.”
The current bylaw came into effect in July, 2015, but the groups say they’d like to see it amended to increase animal limits for rescue groups.
“We would have to get a motion in front of council first,” Toulouse says. “In order to do so, we need either council support or community support.”
Changes were made to the bylaw last spring to ban the sale of non-rescue animals in pet stores, but without a clear definition of what constitutes a rescue.
The Big Fix and CK Animal Rescue, both of which are registered not-for-profit groups, are circulating a petition to bring attention to this issue.
The petitions can be found at local Pet Valu stores, the Grand Ave Pet Hospital in Chatham, or by contacting the rescue groups directly.
You can also sign an online petition here.
