‘Heftier fines for leaving dogs in hot cars’
NEWS/ CITY HALL — How often do you see somebody driving down the road in a pickup truck with a dog in the back, loose and dodging from side to side?
City council will discuss dogs Tuesday.
Probably often — it’s a common sight in Kamloops. Less common is a dog left in a car in a parking lot with the windows open or not open enough, but it does happen.
Both situations will bring much stronger penalties to the dog owners if Kamloops City council agrees with a 32-name petition that will be put before it Tuesday afternoon.
The petition, which includes signatures from veterinarians and dog-care facility owners, says temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels within minutes. It also says many dog owners ignore the current bylaw that makes it illegal to transport an unsecured dog in the back of a pickup truck.
The petition asks for “heftier monetary penalties” for both infractions but doesn’t suggest how much fines should be. Several letters supporting the petition are also on the agenda.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
As Claudine says, the law concerning dogs (or any other animal) riding unenclosed on a vehicle falls under Section 72 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act. The subject is also covered under Section 9.3 of the BC Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The “prohibition” against leaving a dog in a hot vehicle is covered by the BC Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.
By what mechanism would the city enforce provincial and federal laws or levy penalties for infractions against them?
The petition may be well-intentioned but it seems to me to be poorly informed.
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The petition proposes an amendment to the Dog Responsibility and Control bylaw #34-42. Surrey council recently approved recommendations to amend its dog bylaw in a similar manner, the petition says.
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Like the RCMP will enforce that one Claudine. They already ignore enforcing many traffic laws as it is. I guess they are just not sexy enough for them anymore.
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I don’t think that dogs should be riding in the back of a pick up anyway, it is really hard on their legs and hips! Being tethered could be dangerous for the dog if there was an accident. I also find it annoying to walk down a street and have some dog, in the back of a pick up, lunge at me and bark! Not all dogs are well behaved when they are out.
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It will be interesting to hear their suggestions for enforcement, particularly with regards to dogs riding unsecured in the back of pick-up trucks. This is already an offence under Section 72 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act and therefore falls to the RCMP to enforce.
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