CONTACT

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our Enforcement Officer at 461-0549. It is important that you leave certain information if requested to leave a message. This information includes a contact name, phone number and a brief outline of your concerns. If you wish to file a lost pet report, please leave certain distinguishing characteristics about your pet. Letters may be mailed to: The Rockwood-Woodlands By-Law Enforcement & Animal Control Board Box 4240 Stonewall, MB R0C 2Z0.


HISTORY

The Rockwood-Woodlands By-Law Enforcement & Animal Control Board was conceived early in 2002. The concept was to operate a cost shared program between the two municipalities of Rockwood and Woodlands. There were many benefits to adopting such a program. These would include lower overhead costs, the ability to have a full time employee and increased community health & safety. Some of the main objectives of the program are to improve community health & safety, resolve by-law related offences and to educate the public of by-laws in place in our municipalities. The benefits of this program justified having one full time Enforcement Officer instead of a contracted individual for each municipality.

In June of 2002, the Rockwood-Woodlands By-Law Enforcement & Animal Control Board hired their first full time employee and the program was launched into action. Routine patrols of the two municipalities, animal control and public education/improved awareness of municipal by-laws were some of the focal points.

Today the program is strong and effective. Other municipalities have expressed interest in this program for their areas. The Rockwood-Woodlands By-Law Enforcement & Animal Control Board continues to be an innovative concept, allowing communities to benefit at a fraction of the cost. The future may hold more opportunities for this type of program, as community safety is a major concern for local residents.


ENFORCEMENT

Animal Control
The Rockwood-Woodlands By-Law Enforcement & Animal Control Board works with pet owners in the municipalities to achieve the goals set out in the Animal Control By-Law. Most often this involves informing pet owners of their responsibilities as outlined in the By-Law. Occasionally, the Enforcement Officer impounds animals. On average, these animals are strays or abandoned. They are placed in adoption programs if no owners are found.

It is important that pet owners understand their responsibilities under the By-Law and to the community that they live in. The provisions of the Animal Control By-Law are set forth to ensure that our communities remain safe and aesthetically attractive. Many of these responsibilities are logical and require no extra effort upon the responsible pet owner. Some of these responsibilities include:

• Pets are not allowed to defecate on public or private property, if a pet does defecate on public or private property, the excrement will be removed immediately.
• No pet is allowed to leave the owner’s property unleashed, and must be under effective control. This provision applies to both cats, dogs and any other animal classed as a pet.
• No pet is allowed to damage public or private property; where a pet does damage property, the pet owner is responsible for the repair of that property.
• No pet is allowed to disturb the quiet of any Municipal resident.
• All dogs residing within the town-sites must be licensed.

Note: Dog licenses are available at the RM of Rockwood Office, Mountain View General Store in Stony Mountain, Brindley’s General Store in Argyle and Gunton Post Office.

If you have lost your pet, it is advisable to contact the Enforcement Officer immediately to ensure that your pet has not been impounded. You can also file a lost report with the Enforcement Officer concerning your pet. If the Enforcement Officer receives any calls concerning an animal that may fit the description that the pet owner has provided, he will contact the owner immediately and make arrangements for a viewing of the pet. It is also advisable to contact the Winnipeg Humane Society and file a lost report with them; the number to call is 1-204-982-2025. Posters of impounded animals are placed in the community to notify possible pet owners that their pet may have been impounded.

Occasionally we have people request to adopt pets from the Rockwood-Woodlands By-Law Enforcement & Animal Control Board. All dogs are placed in the Winnipeg Humane Societies adoption program. If you are interested in adopting a dog, please feel free to contact to the Winnipeg Humane Society to discuss the adoption process at 1-204-982-2021. We sometimes have cats available for adoption; if you are interested in adopting a cat, please contact our Enforcement Officer and he will place you upon a waiting list and contact you when a cat is available for viewing.

By-Law Enforcement

The Rockwood-Woodlands By-Law Enforcement & Animal Control Board enforces a number of by-laws dealing with, but not limited to Fire Prevention, Nuisance Noise, Restricted Truck Routes, and Parking By-Laws. Some of the provisions of these by-laws include:

• Only camp/cooking fires are allowed in the town-sites, these are fires that burn clean burning materials such as wood or camp fuel.
• All burning should be done in a manner that is not detrimental to the health/safety of surrounding residents.
• Many residential noises are either prohibited or restricted from creating a nuisance noise to surrounding residents.
• Pets are not allowed to create a nuisance noise.
• Winfield Rd (between Hwy 7 & 236) is a restricted truck route.
• John St. in Gunton is a restricted truck route.
• Road 8E between 93N & 94N near Teulon is a restricted truck route.

Note: These are only outlines of some of the provisions of the by-laws. Further regulations are stipulated in each of the by-laws and must be adhered to by the public. You are always welcome to contact our Enforcement Officer for further information or interpretation of a particular by-law. All by-laws are available for viewing at the Municipal offices in Stonewall or Woodlands.

Other enforcement issues may involve unsightly properties, derelict vehicles, and the illegal dumping of garbage. The Rockwood-Woodlands By-Law Enforcement & Animal Control Board also works closely with the RCMP, the Interlake Regional Health Authority and Manitoba Conservation. These ties have allowed us improve the services the municipality is able to provide for its residents.