Dogs may get their due in city parks
Surveys show most people accepting off-leash areas

Carolyn Heiman
Times Colonist
Thursday, March 01, 2007

Victoria dogs may get more freedom.

A proposal to extend the hours dogs can run off leash in some city parks is before council today.

There is very little evidence that people are opposed to extending the hours and areas where dogs can run off leash, said Pam Grant, chairwoman of the dogs-in-parks steering committee.

The committee reported on surveys done throughout 2006 determining attitudes to the Paws in Parks program.

Coun. Pam Madoff, whose portfolio includes the parks and recreation department, called the survey of 1,449 people "thorough" and "the first step to looking at expanding the hours of off-leash areas and then the expansion of locations."

The committee wants off-leash hours extended in six parks including Topaz, Oswald, Arbutus, Vic West, Alexander and Redfern. It also wants to look for additional leash-optional areas in the city.

Victoria is expected to budget $25,000 this year for managing off-leash areas. That includes fencing, signs, doggie bags and staff time.

Grant said much of the original furor around off-leash areas has died down now that park users -- both dog owners and non-dog owners -- understand how the program works.

Dog owners also were concerned they might lose Dallas Road as an area for leash-optional use, Madoff said. Issues from people who don't have dogs have mostly been dealt with by fencing and rules related to playground proximity.

Grant said some residents initially worried that parks "would be overrun with out-of-control dogs, but a lot of people go to the parks and find that there is a real community that has developed. [Dog owners taking their dogs to parks] are doing something responsible. They are caring for their animals. Irresponsible owners are the ones who tie up their animals in the backyard.

"People have used the areas responsibly and we have picked the right areas," Grant added. "I think it bodes well. It will continue to grow."

She is concerned, however, that some park users raid plastic bags from dispensers intended to ensure that dog feces gets picked up.

"People need to stop taking handfuls of them," said Grant. "Apparently, people are using them for all kinds of things including kid's lunches. ... How would you like to be one of the kids who takes their lunch in one of those?"

A goal of the committee struck in 2004 was to reduce congestion of dogs and owners at Dallas Road. That area continues to get high use, said Grant, adding that some spots, including the area around Goodacre Lake, have been made out of bounds.