Dog trainers feel bite of new city policy
Local kennel clubs say they’ll have nowhere to go if the city doesn’t allow them to continue renting the Takhini Arena for training and pooch-related events.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
WHERE TO GO? – Glenn Wadsworth is seen Thursday with Khylo (left) and Khalif. The Afghans, champion show dogs, belong to Wadsworth and his wife, Brigit.
Local kennel clubs say they’ll have nowhere to go if the city doesn’t allow them to continue renting the Takhini Arena for training and pooch-related events.
At least five groups will be making a presentation to city council next Monday evening. They will ask that they continue to be permitted to rent the mezzanine space indoors, where the clubs have been meeting for years.
The clubs have about 100 registered members, said Glenn Wadsworth, secretary of the Yukon Kennel Club, as well as the many non-members who take classes each year.
In the fall and winter, the groups put on events like obedience training, dog show prep groups and agility training at the arena.
In the summer, they are able to hold events outside.
For years, the arena was the only public city-managed facility that still permitted animals indoors.
Now the groups will no longer be able to rent the spot, as the city has officially made all city-managed facilities animal-free.
“With many people suffering from allergies and other health-related issues, should they come into contact with animals, the city is obligated to ensure that it has taken all steps to ensure public facilities are accessible to all members of the public,” Mayor Bev Buckway said in a statement.
“This April, after a full year’s notice, the city took steps to ensure that all its facilities remain open and accessible to persons with animal-related health issues.”
Wadsworth said the groups have been looking for a new indoor space since about last year, with the help of some city officials.
So far, they’ve not been able to find anything to meet their size or budget requirements. All the groups are non-profit organizations.
“Most of our classes only have up to eight dogs so that you have enough attention paid to each one,” said Wadsworth, who trains Afghan hounds. “It’s hard to make a lot of money doing that.”
The groups have looked at places with rents as high as $8,000 a month — far beyond the scope of their budget.
The indoor space also needs to be large enough and free of things like pillars or other dangers for dogs.
Linda Rapp, the city’s parks and recreation manager, said she is aware there are groups disappointed with the change.
“While some people have been impacted in these efforts, the city has been working and will continue to work with those impacted to help them find alternative arrangements,” she said.
“The city will continue to work hard to ensure that its recreation facilities remain a place that every member of the public can enjoy.”
Volunteers are currently considering applying for grants to help cover costs.
However, that will take time, and any money wouldn’t be in place in time to start classes in September, Wadsworth said.
“At this point, we’re kind of stuck. I’m not sure what we are going to do.”
By ASHLEY JOANNOU
Star Reporter
Max Mack
Aug 3, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Since CoW seems to think that its duty to accommodate means making all indoor City facilities “animal free zones”, may I also propose the City also ban the following:
* all perfumes and scents, including those resulting from natural products and plants, to accommodate individuals with scent-related health issues
* all chemicals and chemical compounds, including those occurring naturally, to accommodate individuals with chemical sensitivities
* all persons to accommodate those individuals who suffer anxiety when in proximity to other people
Shall I go on? Do you think our oh-so-brilliant city councilors will even hear the message?