Puppy yoga draws visit from Port Moody bylaws officer

A Port Moody yoga studio is wondering why a city bylaw officer approached staff about a possible infraction while they were leading a puppy yoga session.

RVN Wellness, a yoga, counselling and wellness studio, was participating in Port Moody’s Car Free Day when they were approached by bylaw officers about receiving a fine for a violation the officer was unsure about. 

Dawn Slykhuis is the owner of RVN Wellness and a registered social worker. She worked as a crisis clinical for the START team in Port Moody and after witnessing the mental health impact of the pandemic on the community, Slykhuis, who is also a trained yoga instructor, opened the studio with a focus on bettering mental health. 

The studio also hosts puppy yoga classes and partners with rescue organisations, like Snow Dog Rescue Society, to raise money for the dogs. Slykhuis estimates they have raised $8,000.

“We try and we do as much for the community as we can … it’s just in my blood to try and help people and I’m using yoga as a way to do that” she said. 

On Aug. 16, during Port Moody’s Car Free Day, the studio was hosting a meet and greet and fundraiser for rescue dogs — Slykhuis said most of the dogs got adoption applications after the event. 

About six people, a mix of Port Moody police and bylaw officers, began peering into the studio’s windows. Afterwards, Slykhuis put in a freedom of information request with the Port Moody police, who said the police had not been called on Aug. 16 regarding the business, so Slykhuis is not sure why the bylaw officers were accompanied by police that day. 

A bylaw officer then pulled Slykhuis aside and asked if the studio does puppy yoga. After responding yes, the officer said she was unsure whether their current business licence covers that. 

Slykhuis said her understanding of their business license is that yoga-related gathering and activities are permitted —  RVN Wellness is also licensed for counselling, so Slykhuis explained that puppy yoga could also be permitted as pet therapy. 

“[The bylaw officer] was so adamant that she really wanted to give me a fine, which was really weird because I would have thought that she would know what she was coming for first of all … [it] was really bizarre.” 

However, the bylaw officer also checked to ensure their license was visible, which it was not. Slykhuis explained they had moved studios two months ago and believes the license was just forgotten to put back up. 

Slykhuis said the officer insisted the studio would be receiving a fine in the mail. 

But, two days later, the same bylaw officer called Slykhuis and explained she had simply been worried that the dog events were not covered under the business’s insurance liability.

Slykhuis said the officer was understanding about the business license not being put up and said there were no issues with the company doing yoga related dog events with their current license. 

The incident left Slykhuis confused as the officer had not brought up insurance in their initial interaction — the business is also insured and not something Slykhuis is concerned about. 

“[Insurance] was not their concern on Sunday, so it was a very big change of tune,” she said. The officer also said RVN Wellness did not violate any bylaws and would not be receiving a fine. 

Port Moody’s building and bylaw manager Stephen Cote-Rolvink, presented another explanation in a statement to the Dispatch. He wrote that on Care Free Day because the business had people lining up onto the sidewalk of the street — a potential accessibility and safety issue — event staff asked bylaws to speak to the business. 

“During their conversation, Bylaws observed that there appeared to be interactions between people and pets and pet adoptions being offered inside the place of business. Bylaws indicated they would need to check applicable zoning and licensing bylaws to confirm if the pet-related activities were permitted, and that they would follow up,” wrote Cote-Rolvink. 

He noted the business was free to continue activities and that the officer followed up to confirm the pet-related activities were permitted under applicable zoning and licensing bylaws. 

Cote-Rolvink also wrote that businesses planning special activities not part of their normal operations are encouraged to check with the city’s licensing division in advance. 

“This helps to prevent unexpected issues, helps ensure their activities run smoothly, and provides the City with the ability to respond to any inquiries,” he wrote.