The City of North battleford is reminding residents to obtain licences for their pets and maintain responsible ownership. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

By Josh Ryan

Responsible Ownership

Pet owners reminded to maintain licenses in North Battleford

Feb 3, 2021 | 6:26 PM

While most North Battleford residents have a great relationship with their pets, others don’t enjoy that same co-existence when some owners are irresponsible.

The City released a statement Wednesday, following a number of calls from concerned residents, reminding pet owners to obtain licenses for cats and dogs and make sure their pets are either on their property or leashed while out in the neighbourhood. Communications Administrator for the city Dustin MacDonald said they want to remind pet owners to get licenses for their pets and keep their responsibilities, including leashing pets when they are taken off the property and cleaning up after them and disposing of the waste. Pet owners are also to ensure their pet doesn’t bite, injure, chase or threaten others.

“All pets should be well taken care of and have training, so they wouldn’t be a harm to people or other pets,” MacDonald said.

All dogs and cats within North Battleford must be licensed and wearing an issued tag, where Municipal Enforcement Officers will do everything they can to reunite any licensed pets when they stray. The release also comes with a number of tips for owners, including spaying or neutering pets.

“That way we don’t have a sudden population boom,” MacDonald said. “It’s also beneficial to you as a pet owner, because you have discounts available if you register your pet each year.”

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Some of the other tips include booking veterinarian check-ups and booster shots, discouraging loud whining and barking and making sure they are groomed when necessary.

Grooming your pet is just good because this is your best pal and you want to make sure they’re healthy and clean,” MacDonald said. “And you want to provide them with some socialization.”

There’s a particularly onus on not letting pet cats run around the neighbourhood. MacDonald said in addition to nuisances like digging and defecation on other property owner’s yards, as well as risks like traffic and poisons to the animal itself, cats are non-native predators.

“They’re pretty skilled at hunting,” MacDonald said. “They kill countless native songbirds each year.”

More resources from the City on pet ownership can be found online.

Providing animal shelter

Another responsibility pet owners will have is making sure their furry friends aren’t stranded during extreme cold days in the coming week. Meteorologist Terri Lang said it’s important that owners make sure there’s proper shelter for animals if they are outside the house.

“It’s just taking responsibility for your pets and thinking of them in the cold,” she said.

Some examples include appropriate housing for dogs in the backyard and sheltered areas for horses and cattle. Cats are another animal at risk, with many in danger of losing ears from frost bite, which will often attempt to hide within vehicles in extreme cold snaps.

“If you’re cold, they’re likely to be cold as well,” she explained. “Don’t assume they’re warm enough just because they have fur.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports