Colchester County’s proposed kennel development bylaw is raising concerns for a number of people.
The Cobequid Dog Club has asked permission to make a formal presentation to Colchester County Council at the Aug. 30 meeting, and recently hosted a meeting of those opposed to the bylaw, which has had first reading.
“We consider this a short-sighted document,” said Emily Gratton, a member of the club, and a fox terrier breeder with a kennel in Upper Brookside.
“We want to express our reasons for the opposition. Some are economic. Banning kennels would drastically reduce the bottom line for some businesses, and it would affect spinoff business.
“This could also affect a service that’s very useful, because people might have to leave the county to find a place to board their dog when they go away.”
Gratton said the group is willing to offer suggestions on creating a more suitable bylaw
The bylaw states “2.1 This Bylaw is intended to prohibit any kinds of Kennels for the boarding of dogs in the Municipality of Colchester.”
Colchester Mayor Christine Blair, through email, said, “I think the main point here is this is a temporary bylaw until we have had a chance to complete an assessment on the current bylaw and bring back a revised bylaw… as was agreed to a couple of months ago.”
The county planning department sent out a media release Monday.
“Council directed municipal staff to consider options for kennel development regulation that would extend to areas not covered by the Central Colchester Land Use Bylaw,” it stated. “The staff review aims to ensure kennel development is compatible with existing land use. As an interim measure during the policy review, a temporary bylaw prohibiting new kennel development was presented to Council.”
Gratton said one of the concerns is that ‘temporary’ laws sometimes remain in place for years.
The bylaw went through First Reading on Aug. 9. During second reading, on Aug. 30, council will take a close look at the proposed bylaw, and at that time it can be adopted, changed, or rejected.
Council will consider comments received from members of the public, and Gratton encouraged those at the public meeting to contact the mayor and councillors and politely express their opposition.
The draft bylaw can be seen at the county building (1 Church Street) or online at www.colchester.ca (under Latest Documents).
Protests planned
On Tuesday, Aug. 28, a group is holding a rally to express concerns about the proposed kennel bylaw.
Participants will meet at the parking lot of Central Nova Animal Hospital, 29 Main St., at noon, and walk to the Colchester municipal offices at 1 Church Street.
Another rally has been planned for Aug. 30, at 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the county office building.