Cheryl Robinson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 06/03) - The city is searching for another place to put dog kennels.

During last week's priorities, polices and budget committee meeting, city councillors discussed whether or not animal services should be a permitted use in the Kam Lake industrial zone.

"I think back when this zoning was adopted there was really no other place to put the animals and I don't think the council of the day envisioned the number of animals that would be put out there," said Coun. Alan Woytuik.

"We need to look at finding another area," he said.

Suggestions were made to change animal services from a permitted use within the zoning bylaw to a conditionally permitted use, but several councillors said until the city finds a different area for new kennel owners to go, they didn't want to make changes.

"I think that really is the problem, we just haven't created a place for these people to go as an alternative," said Coun. Robert Hawkins.

Council has directed administration to find alternative areas for future dog kennels and report back to committee, but they made it clear that should another area be found, the current dog kennels would not be required to move.

The review of the permitted uses in the industrial zone stemmed from a petition signed by 120 citizens, who said they didn't want any more dog kennels in Kam Lake.

Kam Lake resident Lisa Empson presented the petition at a June 25 development appeal board meeting regarding the approval of another dog kennel in the industrial zone. But the development appeal board had to allow the kennel development because it fit the zoning requirements, which the city now wants to change.

Empson said the noise and overall appeal of the dog kennels in Kam Lake are detrimental to businesses and residents surrounding the industrial area. Empson said the run-off of animal feces into ditches and neighbouring yards also poses health hazards. "Kam Lake has become the city's dumping ground," said Empson during last week's council meeting.

Empson and Kam Lake business owners, Lauren McKiel and Brian Piro, made presentations during the council meeting asking council to find a new area for future dog kennels.

"Our firm strongly supports amendment to the animal services bylaw because of the adverse effect the howling dog compounds have on our tenant's business," said McKiel, president of CK Holdings Ltd. a property leasing and development firm in Kam Lake. However, council told the presenters that they already directed administration to find alternative areas for kennels during the committee meeting earlier that day and were waiting for that information.

In the meantime, Empson and the business owners were urged to call the bylaw if the dogs are being noisy during the 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. mandatory quiet period.