Animal Control Bylaw back in council chambers

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

It was a case of déjà vu for some council members as the Animal Control Bylaw once again landed on the town’s agenda with a request to prompt a new, more inclusive regulation that demonstrates modern standards and practices.
The bylaw raised some concerns in 2014, when a local family asked to allow their Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, Chuckles, within town limits to ease their daughter’s night terrors.
Following much debate about a solution best suited for the Town of Strathmore, the bylaw was amended with special conditions attached to allow for Chuckles – who by then was a registered emotional support animal with the National Service Animal Registry (NSAR) – to return home. However, the Animal Control Bylaw still prohibits the use of fowl, bovine, equine, poultry and porcine as pets.
These restrictions resulted in Strathmore resident Paul Sonsteby appealing to council on March 7 for the sanction of owning miniature pigs as pets within the town.
“I grew up on a farm in a household with lots of pets, dogs and cats, and I married a woman who has severe allergies to most of those,” said Sonsteby. “We’re not looking at getting some piece of livestock, we’re looking to get a pet that my wife is not allergic to and that my children will love.”
Miniature pigs measure 15 to 20 inches at the top of the shoulders when reaching maturity at five years old, may weigh around 40 to 70 lbs, are considered to have an even temperament, high intelligence, a friendly disposition and are easily trained. Most importantly for the Sonsteby family, the animals are hypoallergenic. Contrary to some belief, the miniature pigs are also deemed to be very clean, quiet, can walk on a harness much like dogs and can live anywhere from 12 to 20 years.
According to the American Miniature Pig Association (AMPA) owners are required to provide adequate housing and veterinary care – with a regular daytime veterinarian acquired before adoption – and agree to zone the home for a pig and licence the pig with the municipality when appropriate.
For the past seven months, the Sonsteby family has researched miniature pigs and AMPA, and attended the council meeting with their findings in tow.
“In doing the research we’ve discovered that the American Miniature Pig Association, which has breeders all across the United States and three in Canada, has very strict regulations on miniature pigs,” Sonsteby said. “The AMPA actually has a long list of regulations they need potential owners to meet. It’s not just a case of you pay your deposit and you’re getting these animals. They’re fairly strict.”
He added that under AMPA, the animals are spayed or neutered, dewormed, vet approved and micro-chipped.
So far, he has not been able to secure a veterinarian in Strathmore who will treat a miniature pig. But he has educated himself on the animal’s rooting behaviour, and said he’s aware if the pigs are taken to the dog park they may become subject to bullying by dogs. Council was also told that most of the regulations that dog owners are required to adhere to in Strathmore can be followed as a pig owner.
While the information provided answers to council’s concern regarding treatment and pet regulations, owner responsibility and details surrounding the animals as a whole, Councillor Jason Montgomery’s inquiry about the types of changes expected to come before council to update the bylaw raised the consideration of also taking a look at other urban pets, such as chickens and bees.
“If we’re going to do the research and we’re going to pull this information together, we’re going to do the research on some of the other things as well for you,” Trent West, fire chief for the Town of Strathmore, said to council during the regular council meeting.
“And then provide you with a recommendation on each one of those things so you can choose which direction you want to go and not just piecemeal one at a time. Let’s try and reflect current attitudes and feelings, and give council the opportunity to make those decisions and incorporate them into the bylaw.”
The current bylaw was passed in 2002. When asked how soon regulation could be brought back before council to possibly be passed in order for the family to pick out their pet, with litters arriving in June and September, West stated a minimum of three months was necessary to do the appropriate research into professional associations, policing and governance guidelines, updating the bylaw with conditions identified and consideration of neighbours.
On March 7, council voted unanimously to instruct administration to bring forward a new Animal Control Bylaw that is inclusive and reflects modern standards and practices.