Residents of the MD of Foothills are trying to reduce the amount of dog complaints in the rural area.

Kim Hessel with Heaven Can wait say,"You have a lot of responsibilities being an rural dog owner.

"Make sure that your dog isn't roaming, or chasing your neighbour's livestock, I think if you do have one of those breeds that's really prone to travel or bother livestock, it's even more important for you to be aware and manage the situation, "says Hessel.

Dog owners have lots of options of setting up outdoor dog runs, electric fencing, and long leashes.

The M.D. of Foothills has a dog bylaw to help reduce complaints.

This bylaw is for dogs that are six months and older.

"There's a three dog limit, anything more than three dogs you are required to get a kennel license through the M.D. of Foothills. This is a complaint driven bylaw, if you happen to have six animals and they aren't bothering anybody, then you may be able to slip through the loop hole there, but technically your only supposed to have three, says Hessel.

If your dogs are bothering the community, you will get a call from Bylaw Enforcement.

Everybody should have identification on their dogs if they go a stray.

"A tattoo, a microchip, those take two seconds to trace, and if you don't want to do that put a tag on him, that says hi my name is Rex and this is my phone number, these things really really help, " says Hessel.  

If your dog ever goes a stray you can phone Heaven Can Wait at (403)601-2520 or go to their website at www.heavencanwait.ca.