Parksville city council wants to waive the licensing fee for guide dog puppies in training.
Nancy Klinger made a presentation to council on behalf of Delta-based B.C. Guide Dog Services, explaining they are a volunteer and donation driven organization. The city currently waives fees for working guide dogs but charges for dogs who are still in training. There are currently about 30 dogs in training across the province and Klinger has one of two on the North Island.
She gets the puppies at about eight weeks old and spends 14 to 18 months socializing them, taking them everywhere she goes, exposing them to different situations. The dogs then go back to Delta for another four or five months of training.
Council asked staff to prepare a bylaw amendment which will come back to council in the near future.
Visit www.bcguidedog.com for details.