A well attended Mattawa council meeting last night gave town councillors some food for thought regarding its proposed animal control bylaw.
Chanelle Davidson, who is concerned the bylaw might restrict her raising of laying hens and meat rabbits, presented her petition to council.
See previous story: Mattawa resident fears exotic pet ban prompted by a man with a large snake
Mattawa Town CAO Raymond Belanger told BayToday that from his perspective council was very impressed by her presentation.
"She was very cordial and professional about it and she brought up some very good points. She made a very good presentation to them."
That caused council to give it more study. The council was prepared to give the bylaw three readings which would have made it law.
"For the time being, the bylaw is being withdrawn from the agenda and being referred back to committee for further discussion," said Belanger. "They (council) are going back to the drawing board."
Davidson is satisfied with council's action.
"I am very pleased that council agreed to take the by-law off the agenda last night and that they agreed to further discuss it and get public input before passing the by-law. Once I made my presentation and handed in my petition, council was very open to my point of view and it seems to me that they are going to allow hens with some regulations, which is exactly what I was asking for."
The bylaw was prompted by a man who brings his snake into downtown businesses, scaring some people.
Since there is no bylaw, the town had no way to control it.
