Therapy pony released near train, owner receives warning letter

Amy Lalonde says she was terrified when she realized someone had let her therapy pony out of its enclosure in the backyard of her Guelph home.

Sometime overnight from Dec. 17 to 18, someone opened the gate for thepony, named Odin.

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"He ran down the train tracks and could have been killed," Lalonde told CBC News, saying she doesn't know who released Odin, but the pony has been a point of controversy in her neighbourhood.

"And as if that wasn't bad enough, the OSPCA just dropped off a letter threatening to fine me if it ever happens again."

The letter says the Guelph Humane Society received information that Odin was "running at large" around 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 18.

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"Please be advised that by allowing Odin to run at large, you are creating a situation where an animal is likely to be in distress" and contravenes a city bylaw, the letter from an animal protection officer said.

"Allowing your animal to run at large can cause your animal to be in distress, which could result in injury or death," the letter continued. "Failure to comply with the above bylaw may result in you being issued a provincial offences notice."

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Adrienne McBride, executive director of the Guelph Humane Society, said the letter is standard procedure and is given to pet owners no matter what animal gets loose.

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"If a dog owner or in Guelph we have backyard chickens, so if a chicken is escaping or any pet really that's not to be free roaming in the city does that then our animal protection officers attend to that property and make sure that the owner's aware that it happened and provide them with some advice around keeping their pets safe," McBride said.

She noted there are times when a dog may escape when a meter reader goes on a property or indoor cats get out a door or window in both cases, the homeowners would receive a similar letter and advice.

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"It's the homeowner's or the pet owner's responsibility to keep the pet safe," she said.

If someone lets animals out on purpose, McBride said pet owners should consider upgrading their locking systems or gates to ensure people can't release their animals.

Pony controversy

Odin's existence on Lalonde's property has been a contentious issue since he arrived on her property in April. Some neighbours have complained about Lalonde keeping the pony there and she said she has received numerous visits from the humane society.

McBride saidLalondewas "absolutely not" targeted because her animal is a pony.

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Lalonde said some have argued the space is too small, but she said there is plenty of room for Odin as her property is beside a park and backs onto train tracks east of the downtown core.

Odin helps her cope with post traumatic stress disorder she suffers after years of childhood abuse.

"It's unbelievable. I've gone from having two or three panic attacks a day, not being able to get up off the couch, being so weak and so tired all the time, to I have maybe one panic attack a week now," Lalonde told CBC News in May as she stood beside a ring she and her husband built for the small animal, a cross between a miniature horse and a Shetland pony.

Variance delayed

The city has said it will work with Lalonde to see if the bylaw regarding animals can be amended to allow her to keep Odin. Currently, there are no provisions for therapy ponies.

The city will also require her to get a variance for her property to allow her to keep a pony there.

Lalonde said her first meeting about the variance was initially postponed to a later date and has also been postponed.

Chris DeVriendt, manager of development planning, planning, urban design and building services said staff have advised Lalonde to hold off on submitting an application to the committee of adjustment "at this time while the city is exploring other alternatives to this issue."