Paws and laws collided at Saanich council as local politicians agreed to soften some of the requirements for dog owners to leash up their pets in public parks.
Revisions are coming to the proposed People, Pets and Parks Strategy that had dog owners furious at increased leash restrictions.
On Monday (Sept. 25), council advised district staff to revise the strategy, prohibiting dogs in playgrounds and allowing leash-optional activity between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. in all P4 parks that are not considered natural parks or conservation areas.
At PKOLS they added 500 metre extension to the summit parking lot to the off leash trail, making it 2.3km.
All beaches outside of the Victoria Migratory Bird Sanctuary will be leash optional with existing seasonal restrictions, adding that all Saanich beaches will remain as they are.
The three current pop-up dog parks, Lambrick, Rudd and Hyacinth, will become permanently off-leash, with leash length restrictions being restricted to 2.6 metres or 8 metres if retractable. The proposed new rules would have allowed 57 of Saanich’s 172 parks to have off-leash areas, and 12 of those would have fenced off-leash areas, including a 1.5-kilometre trail loop within Mount Douglas Park and a four-hectare fenced area with trails in Cuthbert and Holmes Park, while Cordova Bay Beach would be off-leash year-round.
The revisions caused cheers from some and more questions from others.
On Monday (Sept. 11), the council voted to pause the People, Pets, and Parks strategy after 54 dog owners showed up to speak against the proposal, and the trend continued with an almost full house in the chambers and 35 people listening in online.
Changes were proposed to reduce environmental damage and circumvent potential conflict with an increasing number of residents whoo utilize the parks.
Mayor Dean Murdock noted that council has listened intently to the public input and that the revisions were intended to adhere to a more balanced approach to the new restrictions.
At the same time, staff informed the council that a new draft of the bylaw could be back in front of the council on Oct. 30, where public input will be welcomed.
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