Quebec dog owners howl over COVID-19 curfew, Departmental regression

Health Department officials in Quebec, Canada, got tails between their legs on Saturday after facing backlash for new coronavirus-related curfew rules that don’t allow dog owners to walk their pets between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. to go

An earlier version of the curfew allowed residents to help their pets run their business during the night hours, provided they stayed within 1 kilometer (3,280 feet) of their home, CTV News reported. Why the exception was not included in the latest rules is not clear, the outlet reported.

“What if you can’t walk your dog? [before curfew] because of work or other restrictions? â€asked Louise Makovsky, a dog owner and animal activist, according to CTV News.

Other previously existing exceptions, such as permission to go to a petrol station or to help someone in need, have been retained in the revised rules. reported the Montreal Gazette.

Before Christmas, Quebec Prime Minister Francois Legault said decisions about new coronavirus rules would depend on “the capacity we need or don’t need to treat sick Quebecers in the coming weeks”. reported the Post Millennial.

A health ministry representative said Saturday that the new rules will soon be adjusted to suit dog owners.

“It is the government’s intention to reinstate this missing exception as soon as possible,” the representative wrote to CTV News. But when exactly that would happen remained unclear the report said.

The resignation promise came after dog owners voiced their outrage over the revised rules.

In Montreal, dog owners have not been issued tickets for violating curfews, a police spokesman told CTV News.