Animal rights advocates are cautiously awaiting the implementation of new dog-tethering laws in New Brunswick next month.
Rita Bihr was part of an advocacy group that was at the table when the regulations were drafted, but she says the finished product is incomplete and the new rules will be difficult to enforce.
“Some dogs will get help and that is the city dogs. The dogs out in the rural areas, it will be very difficult to enforce this law,” says Bihr of People For Stronger Animal Protection.
“New Brunswick SPCA has to show how they are going to enforce this and all eyes will be watching.”
The new law prohibits tethering dogs between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for a 30-minute period.
Bihr says that will put whistle-blowers in a difficult position because the enforcement is complaint-driven.
“People who want to report dogs in the rural areas, it will put them in danger because they have to be out there to prove to the New Brunswick SPCA that something needs to be done and that’s in the middle of the night.”
Bihr would prefer a system that only allows for tethering during daylight hours.
SPCA spokesman Hilary Howes says, regardless of the times, the new rules could compel owners who tether their dogs all the time to change their behaviour.
“Once you break that cycle, those people will likely cease to be dog owners and hopefully will turn their dog over to an SPCA shelter so that we can adopt it out to a home,” says Howes.
Nicole Thebeau, who runs an animal rescue operation in rural Kent County, says the changes are a positive sign.
“There are so many things, I mean, we have a never-ending list, but I have been doing this for nine years, I haven’t seen many changes, and to me, this is a step in the right direction,” says Thebeau.
The changes come into effect Dec. 1.
With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell
