The following letter was sent to the SCRD and copied to Coast Reporter.
What is the incentive for a dog owner to purchase an annual dog licence?
I have lived here over three years, I have paid for two dogs every year, and I have never been checked once. In Vancouver, even when visiting, we are continually checked. Van-couver also has a fair regulation that dogs are not allowed to use city off-leash parks without being licensed.
On our Sunshine Coast parks and beaches, it is common to pass dogs without leashes and collars that are therefore without a licence. My dogs would love to run free, too, but the leash law is there to protect the birds, wildlife and children we share the park environment with.
Something is wrong with this picture. It is a good rule, and a licence bylaw is good, but neither has value if not checked and enforced.
Immediately after putting your ad in the newspaper for final notice of reduced licence fees in December, your office closed over Christmas for longer than the deadline, and no dog catcher was there to purchase from. This is not fair and considerate final payment notice under the Provincial Debt Act of Fair and Final Payment Notice and the deadline should be extended each year.
Patricia Bowman
Halfmoon Bay
