NO HOME MAIL DELIVERY FOR GUELPH NEIGHBOURHOOD TERRORIZED BY LOOSE DOGS

In one Guelph neighborhood, residents are struggling to receive their mail due to about six loose dogs in the area, prompting Canada Post to declare the location unsafe for delivery workers.

Previously, door-to-door mail delivery was available on Algoma Drive and nearby streets. However, after a safety assessment, Canada Post temporarily suspended home delivery. As a result, residents have had to collect their mail from the Canada Post depot on Woodlawn Road until a community mailbox is installed.

Neighbors report that the dogs, which have been escaping from their home on Algoma Drive, roam the streets while barking, growling, and displaying aggressive behavior.

A man at the residence declined to comment to a GuelphToday reporter.

The Guelph Humane Society is currently investigating the situation on behalf of the city.

Three neighbors in the area spoke with GuelphToday, all requesting anonymity due to concerns about potential escalation.

One neighbor mentioned that the issue of the dogs getting loose has been ongoing for nearly two years.

According to this neighbor, there is an owner living at the house in question, along with a tenant in the basement unit, but she isn’t sure which dogs belong to whom. She only knows that the dogs originate from the home on Algoma Drive.

She has tried to address the problem by reaching out to the Guelph Humane Society, Guelph Police Service, the City of Guelph, and her ward councillors. “It feels like we’re stuck in a revolving door, with no way out,” she said.

She was informed about the temporary mail pickup at the depot on July 2, and later received notification on July 25 about the installation of a temporary community mailbox. Her household now drives to the community mailbox to collect their mail.

“We just don’t feel safe in our neighborhood, and others feel the same way because you never know when the dogs will be running loose in everyone else’s area,” she said.

Another neighbor recounted witnessing a postal worker being “chased” by the dogs.

“One day, my friend and I were gardening when we heard screaming. We looked out to see the postal worker cornered on someone’s front porch across the street, with about three or four dogs running loose that day. It was the first time I had seen something like that,” she said. A couple of days later, she received a letter from Canada Post announcing that the area would no longer receive mail delivery.

“The health and safety of our employees and customers is our top priority. We can confirm there have been several incidents that put our delivery agent at risk due to multiple loose dogs,” said Lisa Liu, media relations for Canada Post, in an email to GuelphToday.

“This is a serious concern for our delivery agent, leading to the temporary suspension of door-to-door delivery for customers on Algoma Drive. Customers are now required to pick up their mail and parcels at Canada Post’s Guelph depot located at 250 Woodlawn Road West. We notified affected customers in a letter sent on July 25, 2024, about the temporary shift to a community mailbox.”

“There are 53 addresses temporarily affected,” said Phil Legault, media relations for Canada Post, in a follow-up email.

One neighbor, whose household drives to pick up their mail, believes there should be a city bylaw limiting the number of dogs a person can have.

Instead of enforcing a specific limit on the number of pets, the city focuses on “the owner’s ability to care for the dogs,” explained Dustin Gronc, manager of corporate and community safety division operations for the City of Guelph, in an email.

Approximately eight years ago, the city formed a working group to examine other municipalities with dog ownership limits. After public input and review, the group decided against setting a specific number. Instead, they determined that the maximum number of animals should depend on an individual’s ability to provide adequate care, which can vary from one situation to another, Gronc added in his email.

Regarding enforcement, staff at the Guelph Humane Society rely on their expertise in animal care and may reference the Provincial Animal Welfare Act and its officers when making decisions, said Gronc.

“If it’s determined that an individual is unable to provide adequate care for an animal, this could lead to a summons to bring the matter before the court,” he explained.

“Due to an ongoing investigation, I can’t share specific details about the situation on Algoma. However, I can outline our current process for handling cases involving dogs running at large:

• Dogs running at large should be reported to the Guelph Humane Society at 519-824-3091 or via email at animalservices@guelphhumane.ca.
• When a violation is reported, staff will be dispatched to investigate any potential infractions or incidents. This process typically involves collecting evidence, such as witness statements, photographs, videos, or firsthand observations from the attending officer.
• Based on the severity of the violation and the evidence gathered, responses may include education, warnings, or charges to deter future incidents. This approach follows an escalation process to align the response with the seriousness of the offense: minor, one-time occurrences may receive educational measures or warnings, while more serious, repeat issues could lead to charges or court proceedings.
• In addressing community-related issues, the impact on the community is considered when determining the appropriate enforcement action, and all observed violations are taken into account.

The city’s animal control bylaw includes a section titled “Control of Dogs,” which states, “No keeper shall allow their dog, except for a police work animal, to be off-leash, approach within one meter of any other person or their animal, or be on the property of anyone other than the keeper without that person’s permission,” along with various other conditions and exceptions.

A third neighbor in the area reported witnessing a woman surrounded by five of the dogs. She ran over to help and managed to chase the dogs back to their home.

She has also seen the dogs encircle a man and responded similarly, trying to get the dogs away from him. When the dogs turned on her, she faced away, but one of them lunged and attempted to bite her three times before backing off.

She is concerned that someone could get bitten or that encounters with these dogs might instill a lifelong fear of dogs in others.

She believes the dogs keep escaping because they might be jumping over the fence on the property.

“We just need help,” she said.