Pigeon racers and others who have the little feathered friends as pets have a few months left before the city makes them part ways.
City council has agreed to sharpen the teeth of a Cornwall bylaw which now makes it illegal to keep pigeons - be they as pets or for sport.
The animal control bylaw, which comes into effect in three months, completely prohibits keeping pigeons within city homes.
Councillors were originally looking at a bylaw that would have allowed as many as 10 birds per home - but many realized policing such a situation would have been too onerous.
"I'm not sure how we're going to police 10 birds," Coun. Maurice Dupelle, the main proponent behind the tougher bylaw, said.
Coun. Bernadette Clement also suggested a total restriction would be easier to monitor.
"Pigeons are really problematic," she said. "It would be really hard to keep track of how many."
Coun. Gerry Samson has met with some homeowners who complained to him about the pigeons and the health risks that come along with keeping them as pets.
"Her car was covered in pigeon droppings," said Samson. "It's ridiculous in this century that someone has to live with these health issues."
Pigeon droppings have been associated with cases of histoplasmosis - an illness which causes flu-like symptoms and can become a serious health issue.
But Coun. Elaine MacDonald said the revised bylaw is too much, considering other municipalities are allowing more animals in homes.
"I find the amendment rather Draconian," she said. "Some municipalities are allowing chickens now."
Stephen Alexander, the city's acting chief administrative officer, said residents in homes zoned "urban" would be affected by the bylaw. Rural areas and farms will still be permitted to keep birds, he said.
The city's bylaw department will be responsible for enforcing the new regulations.
Dupelle said this move is the first step in a plan to get tougher with property standards throughout Cornwall.
He and Clement plan to introduce a plan at an upcoming council meeting where a new task force will be created to get tougher with homeowners who leave their properties in a disheveled state.
"For a long time now the city hasn't been enforcing all they should have been enforcing," said Dupelle. "(Council) is ready to move forward on this."
