Saskatoon woman hopes for limit on the number of pets residents can possess

A Saskatoon woman is hoping city council can change local bylaws to restrict the number of pets a resident can have in their home.

Speaking to the planning, development and community services committee on Jan. 10, Kelsey Stroeder said Saskatoon is one of only two municipalities in the province that does not regulate the number of animals a person can possess.

“North Battleford (and) P.A. have this number set to five … We allow unlimited, because the bylaw is unregulated,” she told councillors at the meeting.

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Citing her experience fostering dogs that have been neglected and abused, Stroeder pleaded for council to consider the change, adding that those who consider themselves local “animal rescues” also need to be held accountable for their actions.

“I’m begging you to reconsider the bylaw. Normal citizens will not suffer from even making the number 10. Very few residents will be affected if we implement a number of only 10,” she said.

Stroeder said in her opinion, having no regulation on the matter is “irresponsible.” Speaking after the meeting, she said she was surprised there weren’t any regulations already in place.

“There’s no bylaw on breeding (or) on a multitude of things surrounding animal neglect, and it’s all kind of vague,” she said.

She said her intention is not to cause an uproar among pet owners, but added she’s already getting some backlash.

“The majority of the support has been positive though … I just feel like the more publicity something has, then the more pressure the city’s going to have to do something,” she said.

Kelsey Stroeder said Saskatoon is one of only two municipalities in Saskatchewan that doesn’t regulate the number of animals a resident can possess. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

Lynne Lacroix, the City of Saskatoon’s general manager of community services, said the typical process is to do some research on the animal bylaws in the first half of the year and report back on the kinds of changes that could be implemented.

“We also take forward any kind of recommendations or requests for considerations for change,” she said.

Typically in the third or fourth quarter of the year, those who did the research will report back to the committee with recommendations.

“This is one area we are absolutely willing to add to the list of items we will review and could be added to the list,” Lacroix added.

Coun. Hilary Gough moved that correspondence be sent to administration for inclusion in the annual review of the animal control bylaw with respect to limiting the number of animals in a household. The motion was unanimously approved.

“I think this makes a lot of sense to review,” she said.

It’s a change Stroeder is hopeful to see in the future and that she’ll closely follow. If and when city council votes on the matter, she may present to councillors again.

“The fact that a motion was created on the spot and everyone was kind of like (on board) … I was almost in tears at the end of it,” said Stroeder.