Leashing a dangerous dog is no longer going to be good enough in the Regional District of Nanaimo.
At last week's regular RDN board meeting, directors agreed to toughen up the animal control bylaw, changing the definition from vicious dog to dangerous dog and mandating that any dog deemed dangerous be not only leashed but also muzzled when in public.
The amended bylaw now calls for owners of a dog deemed dangerous to not allow it to be at large and it must not be allowed in a public place unless it is firmly held on a leash by someone competent to restrain it and muzzled by a properly-fitting muzzling device.
In addition, the bylaw says the dog must not be allowed on private land or in private buildings unless with the specific consent of the owner or person occupying the building. If it is given permission to enter, it must still be leashed and muzzled.
Other items from the board meeting Tuesday, April 23:
• Reg Nosworthy has resigned his position as Area F Recreation Commissioner.
The move comes after Nosworthy accepted the position of chairperson for the Arrowsmith Community Enhancement Society (ACES), which he felt put him in a position of a conflict of interest.
At Tuesday's meeting directors agreed to appoint Errington resident David Edgeley as Nosworthy's replacement.
• The RDN is looking at throwing up its hands in defeat after repeated vandalism of its porta-potty facility at Dunsmuir Community Park near Spider Lake. Vandalism at the facility has been a longstanding problem, with the RDN noting the problem was an issue in 2011. Now, the district is considering the removal of the porta-potty altogether. If it is removed, it might be returned once the community consultation regarding the park re-design is completed in 2014.
• How far is it to Bowser? Where does Deep Bay begin? These and other, similar questions may soon become a thing of the past, thanks to an initiative from the RDN.
Directors voted to go ahead with a plan to have staff prepare a report on rural signage concerns.
Over the past year, some rural area residents and business owners have expressed concern that highway signs are insufficient to properly identify their communities.