Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 14/00) - Leona Callahan has launched a petition to change a city bylaw she claims discriminates against dog owners.

On March 30 Callahan was contacted by the city's municipal enforcement division after a neighbour complained that her dog caused too much of a disturbance due to its barking.

Callahan has written a letter to Mayor Dave Lovell and plans to get signatures on a petition from other dog owners.

"If the people that live around you complain then your dog is never allowed to bark," she said.

"So I can make as much noise as I want between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. but my dog is never allowed to bark. And, if there are enough complaints dog owners can be (charged) for up to $10,000."

But municipal enforcement division manager Doug Gillard said under the bylaw's section 37-10, the barking would have to be excessive if anyone were to be charged.

"Her interpretation is that the dog can never bark but that's not the case," he said. "It would have to be excessive and constitute a nuisance."

Gillard said from about 95 complaints about dogs in a year but only three or four people have been charged.

He said everyone has different tolerance levels and the law is open to interpretation.

The first thing his division tries to do is encourage discussion between the parties. If there is no resolution the complaints must be documented and then it's up to the court.

Otherwise, "if a dog barks continuously we can't do anything about it," he said. "I've seen situations where it has been excessive but that has to be proven to us."

Callahan wants the bylaw changed so that it follows the same guidelines of the general noise bylaw, which applies between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

"I'd just like to let all the dog owners know out there," she said. "I want to change that section."