After public consultations dating back to Nov. 2015, the city of Guelph has proposed merging four existing animal control bylaws into one. Among the changes: the new regulations would require tagging of cats and permit sheep and goats to be kept "under certain conditions."

"To better serve the community, we have taken the four bylaws and amendments that address animal control issues in Guelph and developed a single bylaw," said Doug Godfrey, Operations general manager in a release Friday.

Under the proposed bylaw, up to 12 properties in the city would be allowed to host a maximum of two animals each –sheep or goats – in a pilot program to test whether the arrangement could become a permanent feature of the law.

Dogs, cats, chickens

References to tagging of dogs would be replaced in the new bylaw with "licensing of animals," opening the door for potential tagging of other species, including cats.

"Cats that are micro chipped will not need a collar or identification tag, but owners will be required to pay an annual licence fee of $25," the release stated. Five dollars of that fee would go to cat welfare programs.

Although statistics from 2015 showed stray cats picked up by the Humane Society were reclaimed 15 per cent of the time, quite a bit above the national average of nine per cent, over 500 captured cats had to be dealt with by the Society.

City staff are also recommending that the existing poultry regulations be amended so that people with more than one duck, goose or chicken would need to register with the city or run afoul of the law. Also, staff suggest that roosters should be banned.

Under the proposed bylaw, snake breeders would also be required to register.

The new animal control bylaw proposal will be presented to Guelph council on Dec. 5.