The Summit for Community of the Year recognizes achievements to create a more pet friendly environment with the implementation of a best practice in licensing, identification, wellness, recreation, public spaces, housing, tourism or standards of care. Our winner this year is...
The Corporation for the District of North Vancouver
For taking steps to ensure a safe community for both pets and people by inserting Commercial Dog Walking Regulations into its Bylaws, the District of North Vancouver won the award with 35% of the votes.
These regulations ensure that a person acting as a commercial dog walker has some of the necessary requirements to protect pets and people, such as a written history of the pet and proper identification.
Some of the Regulations that Apply to Commercial Dog-Walkers:
- Every Commercial Dog Walker must keep a Client Dog that he or she has not walked before on a leash at all times
- Every Commercial Dog Walker must keep each Client Dog under control at all times, and must not permit Client Dogs to jump on other people or chase or accost another animal
- Every Commercial Dog Walker must carry a leash and have a collar for each Client Dog he or she is walking
- Every Commercial Dog Walker must immediately remove and carry, for later disposal, any dog excrement left by a Client Dog
- Every Dog Walking Business must ensure it obtains a written history of each Client Dog on the form provided by the District, before a Client Dog is walked by the Dog Walking Business or a Commercial Dog Walker
- Every Commercial Dog Walker must have read and be familiar with the history, as provided in subsection 8.7(g) of each Client Dog he or she walks, including any history of aggressive behaviour
- Every Commercial Dog Walker and Dog Walking Business must keep a Client Dog, which displays or has displayed aggressive behaviour, on a leash at all times while in a public place
- All dogs under the control of Commercial Dog Walkers must be on a leash for the first 50 metres from park and trail entrances
- All dogs under the control of Commercial Dog Walkers shall have an ID tag showing the name of the Client Dog, and the name and telephone number of the dog’s owner
- Commercial Dog Walkers shall not walk their Client Dogs in close proximity of another Commercial Dog Walker.
Urban Animal is grateful to Pets Plus Us for sponsoring the 2015 Summit Awards.
