Item - 2017.LS18.6

The Licensing and Standards Committee:

1. Requested the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report to the Licensing and Standards Committee, in conjunction with the review of Chapter 349 (Animals By-law), on a package of proposed updated regulations and by-laws for racing pigeons held in residential neighbourhoods that would bring the total number of domestic pigeons being raised and housed and pigeon flying time restrictions and flock numbers in line with some other municipalities in Ontario that have taken steps to regulate this matter.

2. Requested the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health,  to report to the Licensing and Standards Committee on the implications of any new or revised regulations on health and safety standards within residential neighbourhoods.

The sport of pigeon racing involves releasing trained racing pigeons and then timing the time it takes for them to return. In Canada, there are an estimated 5,000 pigeon racers that compete in racing clubs across the country. Participants in the sport often raise and train their pigeons in pigeon lofts kept in their backyards. The intention of the City's regulations was to allow this sport to be practiced as a hobby and the pigeons maintained by pigeon enthusiasts would be kept to a reasonable number so as not to be an inconvenience to a residential neighborhood. If the number of pigeons kept by each hobbyist is not limited, this results in a nuisance to neighbors due to the excessive flying times of a potentially large number of birds, as well as other noises and effects that go along with a major animal operation.