Monday night, Rossland city council officially passed the amended dog bylaw, which permits walking leashed dogs through downtown.
Prior to this bylaw, dogs were prohibited from being brought downtown.
The bylaw went through with Coun. Tim Thatcher opposed. Coun. Jill Spearn was absent.
The new bylaw came into effect on Monday, but Corporate Officer Tracey Butler said that the city won’t be enforcing it yet.
“First we do need to get some signage up, before we can start kicking dogs off main street,” Butler said.
“We will start with warnings and let the people know.”
The bylaw permits leashed dogs to be brought downtown, something previously not allowed, but prohibits owners from tying their dogs up, something that is prevalent downtown.
The city will now be putting up dog bag dispensers and signage that will outline the new measures.
Coun. Kathy Moore wondered about how expensive the dispensers really were, since they were in as a line item at $2,500.
“I saw that and said ‘Wow, that’s a lot,’” Moore said.
Mayor Greg Granstrom said that the heavy-duty dispensers required by the city add up, since they have to be vandal-proof and weather-proof.
Butler further clarified that the $2,500 was for signage, as well as the dispensers.
The downtown is no longer being classified as a dog exclusion zone, but there are places in Rossland that are.
Those are: Nickleplate Park, Jubilee Park, Maclean Elementary School, Rossland Secondary School, Wading Pool Park, Centennial Park, Cook Avenue Park, Museum Park and Pioneer Park.