A canine and kennel control bylaw for New Tecumseth has been put on the back burner until a public meeting can be held.

A group of residents unleashed their concerns to council at a committee of the whole meeting Monday night. The main concerns are for limiting the number of dogs people can own, and the acreage needed to operate a kennel. Five people spoke at the meeting, four against the bylaw and one in favour.

It was Ward 3 Coun. Barbara Huson's suggestion to hold the public meeting and hear how the bylaw can be reworked.

A date and place has not been set for the meeting. Town clerk Gayla McDonald is trying to schedule it for the end of June.

A new canine bylaw would limit ownership to three dogs in urban areas and five dogs in rural areas. To own more than the limit, owners would have to apply to the town and, if approved, face a $500 license fee for each dog over the limit.

"The instituting of pet limits is irrational," said Lori Gray.

Gray lives in Alliston, has three dogs and sits on the Dog Legislation Council of Canada (DLCC).

She said the criteria for good ownership is licensing, spaying and neutering, tending to physical needs and making sure it's not a nuisance to people - not the number of dogs someone owns.

"I feel my rights are being threatened by this bylaw," said Gray.

When work began a year ago to update the canine control bylaw Gray attended one meeting, but was asked not to attend any more.

McDonald said this is because town policy has staff revise bylaws, then bring the item to councillors and the public. McDonald said she was unable to attend one of the first meetings and the person in charge mis-communicated the process to the group.

"I really did feel I had quite a lot of expert advice and capability at the table," said McDonald.

New Tecumseth pound keeper Eric Van Loo sat on the town committee and spoke at Monday's meeting. Van Loo said the bylaw is probably the best the committee can come up with and that it has vision.

"We are trying with this bylaw to eliminate small puppy mills that exist in the township," said Van Loo. "Bad stuff is going on in this town that we want to stamp out."

Ward 5 Coun. Jess Prothero also supports the bylaw as it stands. Recently in his ward, Prothero said he has had three dangerous dog complaints.

If the number of dogs isn't limited, Prothero said the town should be prepared to spend more money on enforcement.

The new bylaw would also require kennels to have at least five acres of land. The extra land is to minimize noise for neighbours.

New Tecumseth has noise bylaws, and Beeton resident Kim Peters questions why acreage matters if existing noise bylaws are properly enforced.

To educate the public and enforce bylaws, New Tecumseth has one canine control officer working 15 hours a week. McDonald said the town has to work within those restrictions.

In the meantime, the town is working to promote responsible dog ownership.

In April, 16 dogs successfully completed a Canine Good Neighbour Program

A second session is currently underway with 12 dogs enrolled.

Owners of the dogs passing the course can buy a town dog license for half price. Currently, a license for the year is $20 a dog before March 31 and $25 after. For seniors over 65 years the cost is $10 per dog before March 31 and $25 after.