Pearl Lorentzen

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Peerless Trout First Nation (PTFN) is working to keep the community safe from stray dogs and make sure these dogs can find a good home.

PTFN’s animal control bylaw and the money for the position is funded by the PTFN trust fund, says PTFN Chief Gilbert Okemow. It was an initiative led by the community.

“People are starting to realize dogs should be caged up or tied up,” he says, “or be sent somewhere where someone needs a dog.”

Whenever possible, dogs taken by bylaw officer will be adopted to good homes, says Okemow.

At the moment, dogs are wandering around the communities of Peerless Lake and Trout Lake.

“They can be dangerous,” says Okemow. “They come in groups, and people walk in the small communities.”

A big concern is for children walking along long driveways to the school bus stop at the end or standing and waiting for the school bus.

The bylaw went into effect on February 11, 2025. It includes a dog tag system, which is a $20 fee for the dog tag, which is good for the animal’s life. An animal control officer has been hired.

The bylaw also includes livestock.

Neighbouring governments are also concerned about stray dogs. PTFN and the M.D. of Opportunity met recently to talk about various issues. One that came up was stray animals. PTFN asked if their stray dogs could be housed at the M.D.’s pound in Red Earth Creek, says Okemow, but unfortunately this was full with M.D. dogs.

The M.D. of Opportunity is looking at revising its animal control bylaw, as it has been housing dogs for two or three months and its pounds are often full. M.D. sends dogs to an animal shelter in Edmonton that adopts them out. However, the shelter is finding it difficult to find homes for all of the animals so often can’t take any more.