Susan Lundgren, political spokesperson and activist with the Northwestern Ontario Animal Habitat (NOAH), is hoping to make what she feels are necessary changes to the current laws surrounding animal rights.
The Thunder Bay native already has passed gotten a number of bylaws passed in her home town–and now she has her sights set on Fort Frances.
“In 1997, I held a bylaw enforcement workshop in Thunder Bay,” Lundgren said yesterday. “During this workshop, I took a look at the provincial laws that state that a person must provide an animal with food, water, and shelter.”
Lundgren then decided it was time to change the municipal bylaws and implement new ones that would protect the welfare of animals.
“Basically, what was passed was a bylaw that makes sure every person who keeps an animal will give it food, water, attention, exercise, and veterinarian care,” she explained. “
When this was passed, it was a big thing because many people did not think they had to exercise their pets,” she noted. “Some people really had to make some changes in the way they cared for their animals.”
With new bylaws passed in Thunder Bay, Lundgren now is hoping to make those same changes here and in the surrounding district.
“When I first introduced these changes in Thunder Bay, many people were against it,” Lundgren admitted. “Three years later, these laws are now accepted and it is unacceptable to not look after your animals.
“Those are the kind of changes I want to make in Fort Frances.”
Among them are bylaws that will require individuals to pick up their animal’s excrement, provide adequate shelter, and properly tether pets. Those who don’t could face fines upwards of $105.
“The way animals are treated reflects on the town or city,” Lundgren said. “It is important to preserve wildlife and the environment. Many changes need to take place and I am just getting started.”
In addition to her work in Fort Frances and Atikokan, Lundgren’s services also have been requested by area reserves, where animal welfare has been an ongoing concern.
“Right now in Timmins, there is a rabies outbreak,” she noted. “That is a very big concern for us because if it spreads, the reserves will be the worst hit.
“There is no type of quarantining for their animals, they are simply left to run around wild all over the reserve,” she added. “If it moves out this way, it could really get out of hand and this should be a big concern for people.”
With a meeting planned at the end of the month here, Lundgren is hoping to put her ideas on the table and begin working on making changes.
“Most people have been very receptive and I am hoping to get the same response from people in Fort Frances,” she said. “I have a number of experts that I can contact to help get these bylaws changed, and I am very optimistic that we will be successful.”
Fort Frances Times
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