September 2024

“This could have been more informative rather than punishing,” Dimitar Beshkov says. “It could have been like: ‘Hey, don’t leave your dog unattended, that’s it.’” Published Sep 13, 2024  •  Last updated 6 days ago  •  4 minute read Dimitar Beshkov shows his dog, Indi, the $664 ticket he received, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette A routine trip to a Plateau-Mont-Royal bakery early one morning last week ended up costing Dimitar Beshkov several hundreds dollars more than usual. On his way out — just a few minutes after he’d gone inside — Beshkov was handed a $664 ticket for breaking a law he didn’t know existed by leaving his dog tethered outside the shop. “(It’s) quite … a sum of money for something that was seemingly so minor,” he said in an interview. Behskov was told by an animal inspector and police officer that he was in violation of Article 20 of Quebec’s Act to promote the protection of persons by establishing a framework with regard to dogs. It states that “in a public place, a dog must at all times be under the control of a person capable of controlling it.” “When I spoke with all my friends that have dogs, people that I know with dogs, they hadn’t heard of this law,” Beshkov said. “We obviously knew about not letting our dogs off-leash. That’s a different matter, but this was not the case here. The dog was securely attached, and it wasn’t in the way of anyone.” Dimitar Beshkov has someone hold Indi’s leash as he heads into a bakery on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette According to a city of Montreal media relations adviser, Quebec imposed the regulations surrounding dogs — and the associated fines — on all municipalities in 2020. A city website outlining the rules of pet ownership includes the following: “Do not tie your animal to a tree or street furniture.” “This preventive measure is in place to ensure public safety since each year, the city of Montreal receives hundreds of reports of bite incidents and also numerous complaints for dogs not being kept on a leash or left unsupervised,” the city said. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Article content Article content Owners typically resort to tying their dogs outside of businesses because provincial law also prohibits the dogs from briefly going inside, even if it’s just so the owner can grab a coffee to go. The SPCA agrees that from a public safety standpoint, dogs need supervision at all times, said Sophie Gaillard, the shelter’s director of animal advocacy and legal and government affairs. “You never know what could scare a dog or stress a dog in an urban environment,” she said. “In order to reduce the risk of dog bite incidents, we are in favour of this type of measure.” But for Beshkov and his wife, Sunny, a warning would have sufficed since they had no idea the law existed — and because no actual incident took place. “I don’t think we would have said anything if it felt like the police intervened in … a dangerous situation,” Sunny said. “But it felt like … an active campaign just to get money.” Emphasizing the brevity of the visit, Beshkov said there was just one other client at the bakery at the time: A man who also had a dog tied outside and who also received a $664 fine. “This could have been more informative rather than punishing, especially with this high of sum,” Beshkov said. “It could have been like: ‘Hey, don’t leave your dog unattended.’ That’s it. But $664? Way too much. … This could be groceries for an entire month.” Article content The SPCA doesn’t take issue with the amount of the fine itself — they have to be high to be dissuasive — but Gaillard acknowledged “the whole issue of the discretion of the person who’s actually charged with enforcing (a bylaw) and whether they choose, on a particular occasion, to give a warning to educate the person versus to proceed with a fine.” “Conceivably, there could have been a warning given if it’s a first-time offence and someone whose dog was actually not causing a problem in that particular case,” she said. The city said the majority of its interventions in 2023 “aimed to inform and raise awareness among dog owners.” Specifically, out of 4,763 animal-control interventions, 371 reports were handed out, it said. Boulangerie de Froment et de Sève has since put up a notice to dog owners. Photo by Dave Sidaway /Montreal Gazette Beshkov said when he received the fine, he asked the officer what the alternative would have been since he couldn’t bring his dog inside. “He said: ‘Leave your dog at home. That’s it, you don’t have any other options at the moment,’” Beshkov said. Making sure dogs are “genuinely members of the community” by being allowed in public spaces like businesses is part of the SPCA’s broader goal, Gaillard said. The shelter is currently focusing its efforts on public transit. “This benefits not only the dogs, but it actually makes dogs less likely to develop aggressive behaviours if they’re well socialized, properly exercised and get to accompany their guardians to various places and get exposed to all kinds of situations,” she said, using Europe as an example. Montreal, meanwhile, suggested dog owners “plan their trips with their dog when they wish to access businesses by asking, among other things, a person to accompany them to ensure supervision of the animal outside.” kthomas@postmedia.com Read More

An Oxfordshire leisure centre recently held its first dog swim at the end of the pool season. Riverside Parks and Pools in Wallingford held the swim on Sunday, September 8th from 6pm until 7pm to mark the end of the 15-week pool season. Dogs and their owners had the chance to swim together at the outdoor pool.  Resident and Wallingford’s deputy mayor, Steve Holder, attended the swim with his dog, Rocket, and his friend and their dog, Luna.  “I think I enjoyed it more than the dogs,” he said. READ MORE: Police see increase of car thefts in west Oxfordshire “It was mayhem but an amazing first for Wallingford riverside pool as the final event of the season. “All the dogs were friendly and seemed to love the experience. “Well done Better for organising.” Read More