Metro Vancouver is making an attempt to reassure canine house owners it has “no plans” to alter leash necessities on the favored trails in Pacific Spirit Park.
It comes after the regional district stated it heard quite a few considerations modifications have been within the works after a member of the general public proposed new guidelines at a current Parks Committee assembly.
That proposal, which urged requiring all canine to be leashed on all trails south of West sixteenth Avenue, got here from a UBC assistant professor within the School of Drugs, who stated she suffered everlasting injury to considered one of her knees when she was charged by a canine in 2023.
Metro Vancouver park operations supervisor Richard Wallis stated that suggestion just isn’t at present on the desk, however the district is at present reviewing its canine administration program within the wake of quite a few public complaints.
“We’re into over a pair hundred bylaw and public feedback during the last a number of years. So it’s fairly vital,” he stated.
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“We’re going to be reviewing the incidents which have occurred, the general public complaints, the feedback, bylaw considerations. What we wish to do is be sure that we’re doing the most effective we are able to to make sure public security.”
About two-thirds of Pacific Spirit Park’s some 55 km of mixed-use trails are at present designated as “leash non-compulsory.” Together with canine house owners, the paths accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and horses.
Wallis acknowledged there may be room for battle there, given how slim a few of the trails are and the very fact the park attracts greater than 4 million guests a yr.
He stated the variety of canine visiting the park has additionally climbed for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, one thing he attributed to a wave of latest pet possession.
In some areas, the leash-optional and leash-required trails cross each other, additional including to the likelihood for battle.
“The influence is that individuals really want to concentrate as to which path they’re on,” Wallis stated.
“I believe it’s one thing that we have to overview. Perhaps we are able to make it a bit of bit less complicated.”
Canine house owners International Information spoke with within the park on Wednesday appeared cool to the thought of lowering the off-leash areas.
“I believe the world that’s being proposed as off leas is simply too small after which you’ll simply be ramming individuals in different for no cause,” stated Jon Ornoy. “Simply hold it the best way it’s.”
Helen Reeves stated the present signage just isn’t clear sufficient and could possibly be improved.
However she stated lowering the variety of off-leash trails would simply push canine house owners out of the park.
“I can completely perceive in case you are afraid of canine you don’t all the time wish to have a canine operating round, a few of them are massive, a few of them are boisterous,” she stated.
“However I might simply keep away from it, I simply wouldn’t come.”
Wallis in the meantime stated Metro Vancouver is accumulating suggestions and can use it to launch a pilot venture this spring to attempt to enhance security and deal with public considerations.
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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