The end of chained dogs in Surrey?

An animal advocate group wants to make it illegal for dogs to be permanently chained or tethered in Surrey.
Photo: Jennifer Fong

Chaining dogs in your backyard may soon be a crime in Surrey, if Janet Olson has anything to say about it.

Olson’s request to speak to the city was approved at last week’s council meeting. Olson, the founder of A Better Life Dog Rescue, will be presenting her case on April 23. She is calling for a legislation to ban the chaining, tethering, and cruel confining of dogs.

“We want to see an end to permanent chaining,” said Olson. “We’re not concerned if they put a time limit on that, say two or three hours, or they put an amendment on it saying that they cannot be chained unattended.”

Anti-chaining legislations elsewhere

This kind of legislation isn’t new. Lion’s Bay, a community in Vancouver, and several states in the U.S. have anti-chaining legislations.

Olson said that communities who have implemented this change have seen a reduction in workload for animal welfare and animal control organizations, as well as a reduction in dog bites.

The danger of chained dogs

“Chained dogs who are unsocialized and don’t have the ability to run if they’re afraid respond with a fight or flight response,” said Olson. “The flight response is taken away from them, so their only other response is fight.”

“They are responsible for most of the dog bites, especially to children.”

Is the city liable?

One of Olson’s arguments will be about the city’s liability. “One of our comments to the city is going to be that . . . if a child or adult is bitten by a chained dog, could the city be held responsible?”

“Think about how at risk you are with liability, if people choose to decide that you should have been responsible for preventing it,” said Olson.

“There’s a whole bunch of issues that come along with it. If you’re not just concerned about how cruel it is, then think about how dangerous it is,” she added.

Animal cruelty

Olson will also be discussing the animal cruelty aspect before council.

“There’s probably nothing you can do to a dog that’s crueller than isolating it, it’s a highly social animal that you are now keeping alone.”

“A dog would prefer, probably, to be beaten every day for 5 minutes than to be alone on a chain 24 hours a day.”

Public misconception

Some critics believe that anti-chaining laws will lead to more out-of-control dogs, creating more harm than good. Olson calls these people “uninformed.”

“Nobody’s talking about letting your dogs run around on your property,” said Olson. “The city wouldn’t allow it, there are bylaws and everything to prevent that, so obviously that’s not going to be a consequence of an anti-chaining legislation.”

“If you want to have a dog then you build a fence around your yard, or you keep the dog in the house.”

“In fact, dogs running free, most commonly are dogs that slipped off their chain.”

Surrey just the first

This is the first time Olson has tried to get this legislated. If it is passed in Surrey, Olson will then go to other communities with the same request. Chilliwack and Abbotsford are next on her list.

“I can’t see it not going through because there’s nothing to lose, and everything to gain for a community,” said Olson.

“We wouldn’t have to investigate as many dog reports, wouldn’t have as many dog bites, and they’d actually save community money as well.”

A councillor's reaction

Coun. Linda Hepner agrees with Olson in principle, but is waiting to see the presentation before taking a definitive stance.

“It’s more of a question of what they ask and the examples they bring,” said Hepner. “But do I agree with a legislation that would not confine animals? Yeah, I do.”

“It’s hard to be unsympathetic to that.”

For alternative curriculum, move tantamount to closure

The colourful walls of Discovery Elementary School. The Surrey School Board is considering moving the program due to dwindling enrolment numbers.
Photo: Discovery Elementary School

The Surrey School Board is considering moving a nearly 40-year-old curriculum program, amidst fears that the move would decimate the already floundering program.

Discovery School on 109 Avenue is home to the Discovery Program, a system based on the Adlerian philosophy of learning. This philosophy promotes mutual respect, encouragement, positive discipline and cooperation. Since 1995, enrollment numbers have declined from 225 to 57, with further decline estimated in the future.

"It's a combination of the fact that it hasn't been proving successful in attracting new students and parents over the last 10 years in that location," said Doug Strachan, district communications manager for the Surrey School Board.

Building underutilized

"We're dealing with taxpayer dollars," said Strachan. "It isn't really fair to underuse or underutilize a building of that size in that way."

Due to the shortage of students, the building, which has a 200-student capacity, has been slated for what the board deems a more appropriate use. There is a shortage of Grade 10 to 12 classrooms in that area which may cause the building to be repurposed for that reason.

"The board has made it clear that it wants to see the program continue and is trying to find a way to help its success," said Strachan. The board says that its intent is not to close the program, but to relocate it to a more suitable place.

Possible solutions

One proposed solution the board has offered is to move the program to another elementary school and create a "dual-track" school.

"It's a school that has a couple of programs running in it," said Strachan. "It could be that it is a French immersion school with a traditional program, but more often it's a neighbourhood school that has also a district choice program such as the Discovery program."

Strachan also said that dual-track schools offer parents more choice and may increase enrollment by enticing students already in the existing school's community.

Parent feedback

But supporters of the Discovery program believe that moving it would mean the end of the program itself.

"Many of our parents feel that a move of the program into another larger school . . . will mean we will lose another significant percentage of our student body as people are unable or unwilling to make the commute," said Tricia Keith, in a letter to the Leader. "This would likely spell the end of the Discovery program no matter what."

Keith acknowledged that "drawing more attention and increasing enrollment" was needed to save the school, but believed that staying on location was a necessary part of the equation. Other parents echoed these sentiments on the school's official Facebook page and in letters to the Leader.

School board's stance

Strachan has heard these opinions but believes the results speak for itself.

"Well, the status quo clearly isn't going to save the program, so something needs to change in order for the program to survive," said Strachan.

The two locations proposed are Prince Charles Elementary on 100 Avenue or Royal Heights Elementary on 97 Avenue. "It would be the same program, just in a new location," said Strachan. "The same teachers, same staff ­­-- at least those who choose to move with it."

Outcome

The decision has not yet been finalized and there is a chance that the program may remain at its present location.

"It's the recommendation of staff that it be moved, but the board ultimately makes the decision, said Strachan. "It's possible the board may choose to move it, may choose not to, or based on the input, make some other decision or ask staff for more information."