This past Sunday while attending the Rivers and Trails Festival, I spoke with local residents Michael and Teresa Webb who were concerned with the lack of dog parks in our City. I told them this was an issue I was planning to address so I was glad they brought it a bit higher in my thinking.
I have been a dog owner for the last 17 years (I am pictured at the left with my puppy Winston) and have enjoyed the off leash areas in Coquitlam, Port Moody and Anmore. Why should dogs have to take their owners out of Port Coquitlam for dog parks?
There are a number of areas in the City which would be great as off leash areas or enclosed walk / run areas: the southern part of Shaughnessy Park (where the new bikes skills park opened this year); Thompson Park between the baseball diamonds; and Castle Park before the overpass near the wooded area are three which come to mind. These low cost, low maintenance areas offer additional recreation facilities for our residents and canine friends.
I will make this happen and will spell out more of the details in my Issues section. I would love to hear from dog owners – and non owners for that matter – on this proposal.
Actually I believe dog owners for the most part have taken things into their own hands and use the Poco (aka Traboulay) trail as an off-leash area for their dogs — particularly along the dykes. There does not appear to be any enforcement of the city of leash rules. This is not nice for runners and bikers and even other dog owners with their dogs on a leash who have to contend with the occasional frisky/aggressive dog. Nor is it even that safe for off-leash dogs as bears and coyotes frequent the area.
Safe off-leash areas are a wonderful idea — as long as that is accompanied by more enforcement of dog leash laws — which currently is not the case.
Wolfgang – thanks for your comment.
I agree that bylaw enforcement throughout the city is lax. Some of the reason is we lack the proper number of enforcement officers for a city of our size. As well, the enforcement officers work the same hours – typically 9 to 5 Monday to Friday. This is why I am proposing the hiring of at least one more officer who works those “off hours” to assist with enforcement.
As for the dog parks, I believe once dog parks are in place most responsible dog owners will utilize these facilities.
Thanks again.
I prefer my tax dollars to go to projects that benefit people not dogs.
Marie you are obviously not a dog owner. These parks benefit not only dogs but the owners and families. These parks are a social outlet and I for one want this to happen.
Using your logic, saving heritage buildings is wrong, saving the environment is wrong and fixing potholes is wrong.