City could ban feeding pigeons, strays

[Animal 0]

City could ban feeding pigeons, strays

Bylaw to target 'nuisance' animals
Dave Battagello, Windsor Star

http://www.canada.com

Published: Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Windsor could soon have a bylaw that prohibits people from feeding strays and
pigeons.

The proposed rule, if approved, will target people creating a public nuisance or
generating neighbourhood complaints by "bulk feeding" a flock of birds or
strays, said Coun. Fulvio Valentinis.

"This is not a widespread problem, but a severe problem for those affected
looking for some relief," he said. "When pigeons roost on people's roofs they
pick away at shingles, the droppings on patios or decks are incredible.

"People get affected when you have a neighbour literally spreading bags full of
bird feed across their lawn. You get birds perching all around waiting for
feeding time. It upsets neighbours - this is the problem."

Though such feeding "is often well-intentioned, the impact is often more harmful
than beneficial," an administration report to councillors from the city's legal
department says.

The report explaining the proposed feeding restriction bylaw will be tabled at
Tuesday's council meeting. There will then be a 30-days window to hear public
feedback before the issue comes back to council for a final decision.

The bylaw was developed at the urging of several city councillors who have
received complaints from residents, said city solicitor George Wilkki.

"This is not intended for a person feeding a pigeon in a park, but for those
creating a nuisance," he said.
Penalties for violators would be determined by as justice of peace, but are not
to exceed $5,000 under the bylaw.

"If you have a repeat offender, the justice of peace would increase the (fine)
as those numbers come forward," Wilkki said.

Only two other municipalities in Ontario - Hamilton and Ajax - are known to have
similar restrictions, according to the council report.

The move is also being considered as a means to curtail troubles with rodents,
squirrels and feral cat populations across the city.

"If somebody wants to feed a stray cat, we are not wanting to stop that,"
Valentinis said. " It's where you have excessive feeding creating a nuisance. We
need some powers for people to stop doing this."
Coun. Alan Halberstadt has also been concerned about bulk feeding of pigeons.
He's fielded complaints from a downtown church whose roof has been destroyed by
pigeons roosting there because a neighbour has been feeding the birds. Also, a
tenant of a downtown seniors apartment building complained that excessive
feeding by other tenants has resulted in large congregations of pigeons that on
one occassion startled her and caused her to fall.

"From what I have seen of the bylaw it looks like something I would support,"
Halberstadt said. "I think it almost goes beyond public nuisance. It goes to
damage to property.

"This would be complaint driven, so I don't envision a bylaw looking for anybody
feeding pigeons. It's only when it becomes a menace to people."

But enforcement may be a problem, especially if a large number of complaints are
received, said the council report. The draft bylaw suggests both municipal bylaw
enforcement officers and Windsor police officers should be empowered to enforce
the provisions.

Windsor police receive very few local animal complaints, with the majority most
often related to dogs at large or barking dogs, said Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton.

"From time to time we do get animal complaints, but it's not common to my
knowledge. Some areas of the city it is more of a problem than other ones.

"We have had some around feeding of animals, but it's not common at all."

The Humane Society of Windsor-Essex County has not yet determined its position
on the bylaw, said executive director John Roushorne.

The issue will be discussed at the humane society's next board meeting at the
end of the month and the agency will then provide its position to the city
before the 30-day feedback period has ended, he said.
"In general terms, if this is about consideration for neighbours, that is very
much in keeping with our proposed pet owner responsibility bylaw," Roushorne
said, referring to the proposed bylaw pitched by the society that would require
pet owners to licence their cats and dogs, take adequate care of them, and
encourage owners to spay or neuter their pets. "Do things with animals to take
care of them and don't cause a nuisance to others, that's the thrust of that
bylaw," said Roushorne.

[animo-aequoanimo 0]

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