Editor’s note: this letter was sent to the District of Squamish and copied to The Chief.
Long-in-tooth Squamish residents will remember when dogs were permitted in Garibaldi Park. Dogs once lived on Whistler Mountain; my brother had a German shepherd at Mid-station for years. When dogs were finally banned, wildlife populations recovered, and dangerous wildlife/people interactions declined.
Squamish newcomers, often city refugees, are delighted that free-range chickens, free-range kids and free-range dogs are finally achievable. Well, not really. Squamish has rapidly growing city-type problems, as well as human/wildlife interface problems. Squamish isn’t the idyllic, rural community some people imagine.
Like it or not, change is a mixed bag. Both us oldies and the newbies need to and are adapting. Keeping Squamish dog-friendly means changing both habits and expectations.
Recommendations regarding Squamish’s growing fur-babies population are laid out in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2012, pp 50,51, Appendix E – Potential Dog parks). Thank you to the District of Squamish for considering one of the recommendations, i.e. fenced dog parks. I anticipate that the recommendations pertaining to potential funding sources, information systems, and policy/bylaw amendments will also be forthcoming.
Meg Fellowes
Squamish
