Ferret shelter fears city’s proposed pet limit

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This article was published 24/08/2021 (1122 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An animal shelter fears its network of foster homes could be at risk, should a proposed change to Winnipeg’s responsible pet ownership bylaw be approved.

Deb Kelley, a shelter co-ordinator with the Manitoba Ferret Association No Kill Shelter, said a newly proposed limit that each Winnipeg household be allowed a maximum of five ferrets would not support the shelter’s model of care. The shelter relies on multiple foster homes, ensuring all of them already own ferrets and are qualified to properly care for them.

As a result, many of those homes already contain up to six ferrets, before they take others in temporarily, she said.

“We’re here for every ferret in need, whether it’s old, young, sick, healthy. If the bylaw goes through where each household can have only five ferrets, that would devastate our foster home space,” said Kelley.

The city confirmed Tuesday that it will exempt main animal shelters from all pet number caps and will consider the call to extend that to related foster homes.

But Kelley said she’ll remain concerned about her organization’s capacity until there’s a guarantee all foster care sites are also exempt.

“It’s still, to me, a grave concern, that they’re putting a limit on (pet numbers). Saying you will consider (a change) doesn’t say you are endorsing it,” she said.

Since any change to the responsible pet ownership bylaw is of great importance to pet owners and animal service providers, the city is seeking as much public feedback as possible before a final proposal is considered for city council approval, said Leland Gordon, general manager of Winnipeg’s Animal Services Agency.

“We need to hear that (feedback) because this will be further refined and changed… We will definitely look… to see if there is a way that we can encompass (animal fostering) sites,” he said.

The proposed five-per-household pet limit would also apply to birds and several types of “exotic animals.”

And the potential changes could create a reduced number of species that can be kept as pets within city limits.

The Manitoba Canary and Finch Club has launched an online petition against several of the changes, which it says would also ban the ownership of almost all parrot species and greatly limit the types of finch and canary species that can be kept as pets.

By late Tuesday afternoon, the petition had collected nearly 2,000 signatures.

A club member said the proposed bird limits would cut off access to pets that many Winnipeggers cherish as family members.

“Lots of people can’t have dogs or cats because of allergies and lots of people have amazing relationships with their birds. The majority are not kept in little cages, they’re out with the family and interacting,” said Melanie Fraser.

Fraser said nine love birds and two Senegal parrots live in her home, which new owners wouldn’t be allowed if the changes are approved.

If a currently allowed species is banned, those who already own such pets would be allowed to keep them, the city confirmed.

And Gordon said all of the ideas being considered, including set limits for the number of pets that live in each home, should better protect pets and prevent animal hoarding.

“It’s about having a reasonable amount of animals for somebody to provide proactive veterinary care for all of those animals,” said Gordon.

He said the proposed changes followed consultations with Winnipeg Humane Society and other animal protection authorities.

Proposals on whether specific animal species should be allowed as pets are based on how each animal lives in the wild and how being kept as a pet would affect it, he added.

“It essentially comes down to the quality of life for the animal in captivity,” said Gordon.

He also described the list of allowable animals as a “starting point” for discussion, which the city will revise after considering all public feedback.

To weigh in on the proposed changes to the responsible pet ownership bylaw, Winnipeggers can email RPObylaw@winnipeg.ca

The city expects final changes to the bylaw will be implemented early next year.

— with files from Gabrielle Piché

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