Newmarket pet store and Airbnb rules up for discussion at June 15 meeting

Requests for deputation must be made by June 10

Yorkregion.com
June 10, 2020
Lisa Queen

More than 92 per cent of Newmarket residents who responded to a survey want the town to license pet stores.

Meanwhile, community feedback shows residents are looking to the town to make weed out Airbnb party houses.

Councillors will discuss the municipality’s plans for pet store licensing and animal control as well as short-term rents at an online committee meeting June 15 at 1 p.m.

Requests to make deputations are due by end of day June 10.

More than 650 residents participated to the town’s survey on pet store licensing and animal control from Jan. 17 to Feb. 9.

Pet store licensing considerations include animal sourcing, cages and storage, access to food and water and hours of operation.

Many respondents don’t want to see animals sold in pet stores.

“I don’t think pet stores should sell pets, period. Pet ownership should be well considered and not a spontaneous purchase,” one resident said.

“I do not support animals, particularly dogs and cats, being sold in pet stores. They should have lists of where an interested buyer can go to find their pet (dog or cat),” another person said.

However, at least one resident feels any attempt by the town to regulate pet stores would be misguided.

“No restrictions. Our animal cruelty laws are sufficient to protect animals, e.g. animals are better protected than humans. We do not need additional regulatory burden which will result in costs. The negative impact from increasing costs and regulations will be more unwanted animals and reduced chance of pets to find loving home,” the respondent said.

Councillors will also look at issues related to animal control such as stoop and scoop rules, tethering of animals, muzzle orders, noise and barking dogs, feral cats, license tags and feeding wild animals.

Meanwhile, the town is considering rules for Airbnb rentals including regulations to mitigate the impact on neighbourhoods, holding short-term rental operators accountable for their guests and ensuring the owner is available to respond to complaints at all hours of the day.

For more information, visit newmarket.ca/meetings.

Council will make final decisions on all the proposed regulations proposals at the June 29 council meeting.