Tiptoe Through the “Poo-Lips”

FROM THE NEWS DESK

Chris Colbourne is the editor at What’s Up Yukon and back in the territory after a 15-year hiatus. He has worked as both a photojournalist and print journalist for the past 20 years, had video work commissioned in Southeast Asia, worked for two National Geographic photographers, is an Eddie Adams Barnstorm alumni and was a staff photographer at the St. Albert Gazette for 10 years.

TRAVELLING LIGHT TIPTOE THROUGH THE “POO-LIPS”

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column with oR ib n nos

realistic tools for change and re-balancing. Read all about it, book readings, workshops, and gift certificates online at: www.bowandarrowtarotandastrology.com

STEPPING

OUT

column with Dan Davidson After three decades in classrooms in Beaver Creek, Faro and Dawson, Dan Davidson retired to continue writing, as he had been all those years. Please send comments about his stories to dawson@whatsupyukon.com. column with VINO Peter Turner

BOREALIS

Peter lives on a lake just north of Whitehorse, and says “I’m a ‘wine enthusiast’, not a ‘wine connoisseur’… I still have lots to learn!” his life-long love of wines to growing up in Montreal with wine-loving parents, who let him start tasting at about age two.

FROM THE ARTS

column with Heather LeDuc Heather has been writing for What’s Up Yukon since the early days of the pandemic. She enjoys sharing stories about Yukoners with a passion for what they do, whether it’s making artwork, producing a play, or running a business.

DELTA RAMBLER

Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Check. Leprechauns, The Great Pumpkin and Cupid. All check.

There is no Poop Fairy.

So, unfortunately for dog owners here in Whitehorse, it’s their responsibility to pick up after their pets.

According to current city bylaws, there is a fine for leaving dog feces on public trails, parks and sidewalks.

According to Sec 58 of the Office Consolidation of Animal Control Bylaw 2001–01:

“No owner of an animal shall allow the animal to defecate on public land within the City, or on private property other than the owner’s. It is not a violation of this section where the owner of an offending animal immediately cleans up and properly disposes of the defecation.”

For bylaw officers who patrol those areas, it’s almost impossible Some residents don’t just collect their own pet’s waste, but they pick up after other people’s pets too to catch perpetrators (being the human half of that equation) who leave dog feces in public spaces.

Bylaw officer Const. Francois Oullet, who is a meter attendant for the downtown, said where he patrols there don’t seem to be as many offenders.

“It doesn’t happen often. In the last five years, I maybe caught one One of the many signs, along city person doing it.” trails, letting people know they But out on the trails and in public green spaces it tends to be more common. column with Dennis Allen must pick up after their dogs

Oulette said typically if an officer sees an infraction where the pet owner simply walked away, an officer would fine the perpetrator. They [the officer] would promptly chase them [the offender] down and issue a ticket.” He added that the current fine is $100 if someone is caught breaking the law, but said someone who picks up after their pet is not considered in violation of the City’s bylaw on animal poop. Whitehorse Mayor Laura Cabott even posted a Facebook video message on the City’s page, recently, asking dog owners to ensure they pick up after their pets. In the past, dog owners who did collect their pet’s waste, while on a walk, could use a plastic grocery bag, which were, up until recently, readily available. However, since plastic bags were banned in January, it’s one less tool to mitigate Fido’s generous “offering” on the trail. However there are many alternatives available, from dogspecific compostable baggies, sold at numerous retailers in the city, to organics-composting bags (sold in grocery stores), to engineering marvels like the myriad of famed pooper scoopers. City trails are being swept clean, as we speak. However, it’s startling that, in less than 24 hours of city crews removing a winter’s worth of debris and dookie, a fresh new pile can be deposited and then left for someone else to deal with. ■ Photo: Kylie Campbell-Clarke Photo: Chris Colbourne

Dennis Allen is an award-winning filmmaker, forlorn songwriter and hopeless storyteller. He’s the only guy he knows who’s never seen the Stones.

FROM THE ARTS

column with Heather LeDuc

Heather has been writing for What’s Up Yukon since the early days of the pandemic. She enjoys sharing stories about Yukoners with a passion for what they do, whether it’s making artwork, producing a play, or running a business.