Hens, snakes, pigs on council agenda

The city would increase its funding for the Peterborough Humane Society if a new bylaw allowing backyard hens is approved.

Councillors will consider a staff report Tuesday night when they meet as committee of the whole.

The proposed new bylaw would permit the keeping of hens in backyard enclosures, and increase the amount the city gives the humane society each year to $409,994 from $355,194.

The city funds are used by the humane society to cover animal control services, with the increase being used for services and enforcement relating to the hens. There’s also an additional $35,000 in 2018 for startup costs, the staff report states.

Council asked staff for the report in June after a public outcry over a proposed ban on backyard hens. Many city residents keep small henhouses in their backyards for the fresh egg supply, educational activities or as pets.

A public survey process earlier this year saw 81 per cent of respondents in favour of backyard hens, but only 45 per cent planning to have their own. The survey attracted 1,601 responses, or about two per cent of the city population.

Opposition comments included concerns about noise, odour, unsanitary conditions and the effect on property values.

Staff consulted with health professionals, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, veterinarians and other experts before drafting the report. No issues were raised, staff states, with Peterborough Public Health reporting no concerns about the effect of backyard henhouses on people’s health.

The bylaw would establish rules, such as the maximum number of hens per yard (minimum two, maximum four) and that owners register their birds with the humane society and Peterborough Public Health. The numbers were selected because hens are social and shouldn’t be alone, the report states, and four is the acceptable number for an urban backyard.

Roosters would be specifically prohibited.

A set fine for violating the bylaw would be set and reported to the courts.

The bylaw also exempts fowl kept on agricultural zones within the city limits.

The bylaw would see staff reporting back in five years on how things worked out.

Council will also hear staff’s recommendations on a modified bylaw for exotic animals such as reptiles on Wednesday.

The report, commissioned by council after a delegation of exotic pet owners spoke to councillors in June 2016, calls for an updated section of the bylaw focused on some of the more unusual pets in the city. It would take into account animals prohibited under existing federal and provincial rewgulations and

A public survey was carried out in April 2017, and city staff turned to consultants, including PIJAC Canada CEO Louis McCann. He recommended sticking to a snake ban based on length, saying two to three metres is as long as city snakes should be allowed.

Based on that, the report calls for several types of pythons and anacondas, some of which can grow to be 5-10 metres in length, to be banned, and would remove limits on how many exotic pets are permitted in a home. Exceptions will also be permitted for the Indian River Reptile Zoo and the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (called by its old name, the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre, in the report) to bring animals into the city limits for care.

Restrictions would be lifted on some previously banned animals, including ferrets and sugar gliders (a type of possum) from self-sustained captive populations – not wild animals.

Pot-bellied pigs, Vietnamese potbellied pigs and Kune Kune pigs would be the only pigs permitted within city limits, the report states.

Council will hear the report at its next meeting, held Tuesday because of the Labour Day holiday. For live coverage, including video streaming of the meeting from City Hall, visit www.peterboroughexaminer.com starting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

NOTE: See more city council meeting coverage on Pages A2 and A3.