Just two weeks after being sprung from canine custody, Abby the retriever is in trouble again.

The seven-year-old golden retriever, well known to the Abbeyglen neighbourhood where she lives, was picked up by bylaws officers at 8:05 a.m. Monday, five minutes after owner Ed Odgaard let her out.

"They were sitting there gunning for her," said Odgaard. "I know they are gunning for her."

He bailed Abby out a short while later, paying the $100 fee.

Abby caught the media's attention two weeks ago after she was picked up by City staff and brought to the pound. The dog has a habit of walking the sidewalk on the edge of her property, greeting passing schoolchildren.

Odgaard told The Daily News his dog is well loved by everyone. And while she is seldom on a leash, she never goes far. All she likes to do is patrol the sidewalk in front of her house.

"She will not follow me across the street, she will not go on the pavement, period. She never has," he said.

Odgaard wonders why the bylaws department appears focused on Abby. He wants to go before council in the New Year, hopefully to get some sort of exemption for his dog that would allow her to do what she loves to do — and what so many people want her to do — greet them at the sidewalk in front of her house.

"I don't want this to become an ongoing saga," he said. "I would like to have council consider giving her some kind or special permission to walk the sidewalk."

Coun. Jim Harker was incredulous when told by The Daily News of Abby's second run-in with The Man.

"You got to be kidding," he said. "I don't believe it. If the dog is never on the road or next door, I don't see it as a problem. If it's at the edge of the sidewalk, give me a break."

He said he hopes Odgaard shows up at council, suggesting council could easily deal with Abby's predicament. At the least, Odgaard could be spared having to pay the $100 fine.

"Council can do whatever it wants," he said, adding all that is required is five votes to make a difference.

Not all of Harker's council colleagues appear as eager to give the tail-wagging retriever more freedom.

Mayor Peter Milobar said Odgaard is welcome to come before council, but he wouldn't speculate about what might happen.

He said the City hears regularly from people who don't like how bylaws officers treated them. He added he has no way to know what happened Monday as he has not talked with bylaws. If Odgaard comes before council, officers will be asked for their account of what happened.

He said bylaws are put into place for good reason, even if people believe they are nit-picky. He added he doesn't think bylaws would typically scoop a dog for such a minor infraction.

"Bylaw officers are always in a tough position," Milobar said. "I won't second guess what they did."

Coun. Nancy Bepple seconded Milobar's opinion.

"I've always been impressed by (bylaws officers') professionalism," she said.

She added many people are terrified of dogs — even friendly ones — and people need to accept there are rules that govern community living.

"What does it say to everybody else?" she asked. "If we are going to have a bylaw, it makes it very challenging (if we don't enforce it)."

She also wants to hear from Odgaard, however, saying people should always feel free to approach council with their concerns.

Bylaws officers could not be reached for comment.