Editor:
The new animal control bylaw currently under consideration by the District of Sechelt (Coast Reporter, Dec. 25) certainly gives pause for thought.
Since arriving on the Coast five years ago, I have noticed a number of willful acts of damage perpetrated on our local community and environment. I list some of them here: the destruction of the foreshore on Snake Bay, Sechelt Inlet, for the creation of a new subdivision; the removal of numbers of protected trees on the foreshore; uncontrollable runoff of silt into the bay causing the destruction of clam beds; removal of topsoil; increase of the sand bar; illegal burning and mining equipment used within the District of Sechelt. These are just things that have happened in my local neighbourhood and that I have witnessed with my own eyes. I ask myself, therefore: are there not bylaws to govern these acts or does the District of Sechelt simply pick and choose which bylaws to enforce? In any case, it seems that the District certainly does not always act to protect the community and the environment within its own boundaries, especially, it seems, when it comes to developers.
In light of this, I do wonder why they are focusing on resident dog owners and not developers who blatantly flout the regulations of our community, and cause untold damage. Wouldn't it be better to work on creating bylaws which actually protect us, or on better enforcement? Furthermore, given their poor track record in enforcing bylaws, how exactly does the District plan to enforce one which prevents dogs from attacking seagulls without provocation?
Sue Leather, Sechelt
