The public will soon be able to weigh in on ideas of how to create new off-leash dog areas.
During its Mar. 26 meeting, council unanimously voted in favour of starting a public engagement process that would allow District staff to create a survey for residents to fill out. An open house on the findings would follow. About $6,000 has been allocated for this engagement process.
Currently, the District is considering the option of designating larger unfenced off-leash areas as opposed to creating more fenced-in parks.
This could be less costly, and it would allow enforcement officers to better manage their resources, said Chris Baker, the District’s bylaw and animal control supervisor.
“This would... create zones and conditions as opposed to fencing and specific areas,” he said.
Fencing is not completely off the table, though. The District will be looking at future results of the survey before making any moves.
For the time being, however, at least one member of the public seemed to favour the idea.
Michelle Kunciak, the owner of Doghaven, was at the meeting and noted that fenced areas are often “a ring of dog poop and pee.”
“I don’t know how beneficial they are,” she continued.
Coun. John French said he heard fenced-in parks could pose safety issues for smaller dogs, which can get roughed up by larger canines if they are enclosed together.
Owners are often less attentive and on their phones when their dogs are in fenced areas, Kunciak noted.
She also said that fenced areas lacked stimulation for dogs. Having off-leash trails would be preferable, she said.
One other important consideration would be regarding dogs with behavioural issues.
A possible method would be a graded approach — which is used in other municipalities — where dogs that roughhouse or even bite other dogs are rated on a scale each time an incident happens, Baker said.
“Dangerous” dogs on the highest end of the offending spectrum wouldn’t be allowed to roam freely in off-leash areas, he said.
Coun. Chris Pettingill wondered how to inform out-of-town residents about where the off-leash zones would be.
Baker said that if the District did a good job telling residents about the off-leash bylaws, they, in turn, would be able to educate tourists and new residents.
