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Rossland dog owner fined after cat attack

Lately, there has been a lot of talk around town about a pair of dogs that have been scaring some local cats.

Lately, there have been rumours around town and on Bhubble forums about a pair of dogs that have been something of a free-to-roam terror squad on some local cats. The dogs were were responsible for at least one cat attack.

The owner was issued a $1,000 fine by city staff, which has also sent the owner, Roland Proctor, a letter outlining the steps that he needs to take to reign in the dogs.

Coun. Kathy Moore thought it should have been a bigger fine.

Moore said she would have wanted a letter that council sent out about dangerous dogs to state that the city would be doing inspections and imposing fines in these situations.

“I think that we have to take these situations really, really seriously, especially since we’re losing other aspects of our dog policy,” Moore said, adding that she thought that they shouldn’t have went dog at large charge, as well as the dog attack charge in the incident.

“When you have such incidents you have to throw the book at the people who are having (dangerous) dogs in the community,” Moore said.

Mayor Greg Granstrom disagreed.

“I think you have to note that there is a process that we have to follow,” Granstrom said.

“I don’t think we can just, all of a sudden, throw the book at somebody. I think there are steps that have to be taken in a procedure and I think that’s what staff have done.”

Granstrom said the issue has been around for awhile, and  said staff has a very detailed file and is aware of what it can and cannot do in terms of liability.

Granstrom said the city can’t just go and shoot the dogs after they attack another pet.

“But I think we have to take steps and I think that’s what staff is doing,” he said.

Moore noted a dog attack can be fined for $1,000, even before it is determined to be a dangerous dog, while a dog ‘at large’ can be fined for $100 for each dog.

“That’s another $200 in tickets that could have been issued to those dogs at that time,” Moore said. “That’s what was already in the existing bylaw. I think we need to be really serious about these kinds of things.”