The Editor,
Re: “Surrey reviewing dog bylaw after recent attacks,” the Now, June 23.
Dogs have been biting people for a long time. Bylaws and penalties are not going to change that. Irresponsible owners need to face charges when people or property is injured.
Despite the city’s best intentions, it cannot legislate good behaviour. Unfortunately for Surrey, bylaw enforcement coupled with convenient public policy at the planning level has resulted in a climate where anything goes.
Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner’s comments would appear to attest to this. Leadership should be about creating a level playing field and then enforcing those expectations.
If Hepner did this at any level, perhaps tree bylaws, sign bylaws, secondary suite bylaws, parking bylaws, construction bylaws and tax bylaws would all be more effective.
As a result, our youngest constituents are growing up in a city having inadequate schools, overcrowded hospitals and declining opportunity.
Mike Proskow, Surrey
What do you think? Email a letter to the editor at edit@thenownewspaper.com.