Coffee with Cops: Animal Bylaw Edition
Discussing problematic pets on The Ave
Quotations are to be left anonymous to preserve the casual premise of the evening.
Pets can be tricky territory to navigate as neighbours. We love our animals and are often quick to see past their behavioural issues. Yet, when nearby barking continues for too long past sundown, we’re often just as quick to put the blame on others.
What can City of Edmonton officials do to balance the rights of pet owners with the concerns of community members? As an informal community discussion at The Carrot Community Arts’ Coffee House showed, peace officers working in animal bylaw departments are here to help us find the middle ground in any conflict.
This month’s discussion was on animal bylaws. Visit The Carrot on April 16 for the next session on Bike Safety.
Coffee with Cops is an informal meeting where community members are encouraged to attend a short informative panel with local beat officers, city specialists, and other officials who have served in teams relevant to the day’s discussion. The event is supported by REACH Edmonton, who generously provide free snacks and drinks to participants. The March event speakers included animal control peace officers with over seven years of experience in animal complaints — including stories such as chasing neighbourhood chickens, hosing down feral cats, and even more humane tales of chasing stray tails.
Community members asked questions about handling situations such as excessive defecation, noise complaints, and off-leash sightings. Each question came with a reasoned answer from the peace officers who felt best equipped to answer. Much like the tangents that questions lead to as others weigh in, the answers display depth in how our city assesses and mediates animal complaints.
“Any complaint starts with calling 311 and filling out a witness form,” the lead officer explained. “This builds evidence we can use. From that evidence-based perspective, our teams can liaise more effectively with Alberta Health Services or Fire Rescue Services to remedy the situation.”
The throughline of the evening was how dialing 311 is your best bet for resolving any animal-based concerns. Whether it’s researching permits for exotic pets, locating budget-friendly neutering services, or reporting a coyote, someone at 311 can determine your needs.
311 is also essential since evidence is stored over time. That means your report on a pet locked out in the cold may be the evidence needed to close an already-open file on a problematic property or owner.
“Many of the complaints we receive morph from simple animal control bylaws to court rulings on the Animal Protection Act,” said the lead officer. “For instance, excessive barking may be caused by a neglected animal. At that point, it may mean seizing the animal under the APA.”
Complaints on file ensure officers are equipped to make the right decision as they approach people and their pets with compassion, resulting in anything from warnings and fines, to support remedying the animal situation for the better.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the evening was the wealth of knowledge that frank discussions with peace officers offer. Rumours were dispelled, facts were checked, and community members collaborated on solutions such as pooling local company names to help each other find low-cost health care for pets. Some of the surprising takeaways of the evening included the following:
On-leash dogs are permitted only on paths and dog parks, not grass fields or school yards.
The city rents out traps for catching unauthorized pets on your private property.
The city cannot prevent people from owning pets, and courts can only place restrictions on the pets themselves.
Spraying your garden with diluted hot sauce can prevent unwanted feline visitors.
Permitting and education programs allow you to own a backyard chicken flock.
In short, call 311 and trust that animal bylaw peace officers are here to help — not punish. Visit The Carrot on April 16 for the next session on bike safety!