Saskatoon’s limit on pets continues uncapped after city council meeting

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A Saskatoon woman’s year-long fight to have a limit placed on the number of pets allowed in a household has come out fruitless.

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Kelsey Stroeder has been calling for a cap, saying even limiting the number of pets in a Saskatoon household to 10 would help. In January 2024, Stroeder came forward to city council saying that not having a limit on the number of pets in a household was leading to animal neglect and hoarding.

Saskatoon has seen incidents of hoarding, notably in January 2023, resulting in 72 cats being seized from an apartment suite, many of which needed to be euthanized.

At the 2024 meeting, council unanimously agreed that it was worth investigating a possible cap on pets.

City administration set out to find how other municipalities have responded to this issue, saying in a report to council on Wednesday that a survey was sent to 22 municipalities, with 13 responding.

The results found that 12 of the 13 municipalities set a limit on pets, with Regina being the only municipality without one.

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Average limits per household were four dogs, six cats, or a combined total of eight animals, with limits ranging between three and 12.

Eight municipalities managed the bylaw enforcement internally, and five contracted the enforcement to third-party organizations.

However, administration did not recommend a pet limit. They said Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan enforced the animal protection act, and that animal-cruelty investigations fell to the province. In addition, they said additional funding would be needed to enforce a limit, that the concern assumes multiple pets results in animal cruelty, and that further research would be required to figure out how to address foster situations, legitimate breeder operations and boarders.

Council pushed through the other bylaw amendments that were recommended.

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Stroeder told council that Saskatchewan is facing a dog crisis.

She said in the case of Regina not having a limit on pets, the city has other bylaws in place, like not allowing breeders to set up shop in a residential home. Saskatoon doesn’t have those same bylaws.

“You also continue to blame the province and the budget. These excuses do not match the problem,” she said.

Stroeder used to foster animals, but said she can’t now because it’s too difficult to see some of the animals in such a bad state.

“I had a foster come to me who was in really bad shape, like afraid of human contact. Her collar was so tight there was an indentation when I took it off. It stunk,” Stroeder said.

“She was still kind of pretty happy to see me, and dogs, just … they’re loyal and they love you.”

Stroeder said this cap was supposed to be a stepping stone, adding she has heard of places claiming to be rescues that have 20 to 40 dogs in their home.

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“It’s all for the pets. They don’t have a voice.”

This cap wouldn’t affect most households, Stroeder said, adding that she has received some hate online for pushing this cap. She wondered why cost was a factor in the city’s decision-making, asking why that wouldn’t be covered through bylaw enforcement and ticketing.

Stroeder said she hasn’t approached the provincial government for change, thinking it was coming through the city, but noted that it would be more difficult and that she would need to be pointed in the right direction.

“I haven’t gotten any help with that yet, so I’m not really sure where to start. I was hoping this was going to go differently.”

Despite the loss, Stroeder emphasized that if people see households not properly taking care of their pets, they should report it.

“See something, say something, I guess. If you see your neighbours having 12 or 15 dogs and they’re not being taken care of, phone animal control. Be the squeaky wheel.”

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