Calgary committee endorses free dog-walker permit
Global News
The proposed permit would allow professional dog walkers to have more than six dogs at an off-leash park at one time.
Calgary’s community development committee took more than two hours to debate whether to issue permits to mind multiple dogs at once to professional dog walkers at no charge.
Those permits would allow the professionals to have more than six dogs at an off-leash park at one time, more than what the updated Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw will allow when it comes into effect in the new year.
There are no changes to the number of dogs allowed to be walked while on leash.
The idea came to the committee after city officials met with members of the public and professionals. Dog walkers helped the city develop the proposed permit.
Hailey Seidel is a dog walker of 15 years and a representative of the newly-formed dog walkers industry group with around 80 members. She said there are between 150 to 200 professional dog walkers operating in the city.
Seidel contended the permit was unnecessary as the concerns about having a large number of unleashed dogs in parks was already captured in the bylaw.
Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra tried to get some clarification from Seidel.
“You’re here representing an industry group, suggesting that you do not want to be differentiated from amateurs and everyone else,” Carra said.