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- Kona Sankey |
If the Pet-Friendly Penticton project has made one thing clear, it's that this community is passionate about their pets – Pets are family!
Do you share that passion? Tell us about the pets in your life!
If you don't have pets at home, let us know how animals have been important in your life.
I have 5 horses (mostly arabians with one standardbred) , 2 dogs (Plott Hound and a Catahoula) and 2 cats.
We trail ride the horses and I have done a lot of endurance racing. The dogs come with us on the trails. The cats are far too superior for such activities….
Penticton's pet-amenities are a regular point of contention due to issues around
maintenance, safety, and design/materials. Many Penticton residents regularly travel to surrounding communities across the Okanagan Valley for their dog parks and beaches rather than going to our local places due to these issues.
If elected, what solutions might you propose to address the concerns of residents local pet-amenities?
The dog parks can definitely do with a makeover and some obstacles to play around.
What are your thoughts on the economic impact of non-use on our local pet-amenities and residents regularly commuting for preferable options?
It’s very disappointing to hear that people are traveling to other centres to visit dog parks, even just from an environmental point of view.
Ontario's Residential Tenancy Act, Section 14, states that a Landlord cannot prevent a tenant from owning pets. Meanwhile, pets are being surrendered daily, all over BC, because their owners cannot find pet-friendly housing. Penticton faces additional pressure for housing as we have some of the highest rent rates in Canada, and a severe shortage on long-term and year-round rentals of any variety.
While a change to the Residential Tenancy Act is a provincial government matter, municipal government can still move to include/promote similar clauses on a local scale, and has the ability to push in support of such a change if a Bill were proposed.
What are your thoughts on revising the Residential Tenancy Act in BC, to be like that of Ontario, in regards to pets and rentals?
It would need lobbying at the provincial level to achieve those changes. We can promote pet friendly as a mental health issue but it will take provincial action to rewrite the rules.
Penticton doesn't have an emergency veterinary clinic!
If something happens and an animal needs to see a vet in the evenings, on weekends or on holidays, residents need to drive an hour out of Penticton in order to reach help. Many pets do not make it, and many more don't because their human doesn't have access to transportation.
Were you aware of this situation?
Yes, and the shortage of veterinarians is a provincial wide issue. We need to see if there is the ability for vet assistants handling emergency calls.
When vital and time sensitive services are missing from a community, what do you feel are a City Council's responsibilities in regards to communication and/or action?
As with any service that is missing, we need to explore why it is missing and are there any non-traditional solutions.
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