UPDATE: Saanich Coun. Ned Taylor said on Monday night Saanich council unanimously defeated a motion to no longer allow dogs to be off leash in Mount Douglas Park, Cuthbert Holmes Park and Panama Flats. Full story
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Saanich councillors in a special meeting Monday will discuss keeping dogs on leashes in Mount Douglas Park, Cuthbert Holmes Park and Panama Flats, places that have seen a degradation of environmentally sensitive areas and have “high levels” of human and dog conflict.
Mayor Fred Haynes, in a letter to council, recommended: “Given the environmentally sensitive areas of Mount Douglas Park, Cuthbert Holmes Park and Panama Flats are recognized as possessing important natural state attributes that are deserving of protection,” council direct staff to report on amendments to bylaws to permit dogs in these parks only when they are on standard non-extending leashes.
Some residents just hearing of the proposal have sent correspondence opposing the recommendation and to complain about lack of consultation.
Regan Weiner argued “the majority of people who use the park are dog owners with well-behaved dogs,” while Matthew Heinl asked council to “not punish dogs over a bad owner.”
Jeannie Achuff wrote about the “incredible elation” her doodle has at the entrance of Mount Doug Park, when it does its first mini-sprint along the trail in the woods. “An off-leash dog corral does not afford the same delight, nor possibility of exercise for a dog or their owner,” she said, adding she’s seen more “canine drama” in enclosed parks because of how they psychologically affect dogs.
Achuff said that after conversations with residents and Mount Douglas users, she is “very disappointed” about a lack of consultation and blames a “vocal few” who will create permanent changes that will affect quality of life for hundreds of people and their dogs. It reveals “great ignorance about the nature of and needs of our dog friends — many of whom have made this last year survivable during COVID,” wrote Achuff.
Any restriction for dogs to be on standard leashes in Mount Douglas Park, Cuthbert Holmes Park and Panama Flats could be reviewed at the end of the year as part of a district-wide dog strategy, said Haynes.
Saanich has what the district calls broad off-leash laws for about 160 of its 170 parks and many kilometres of trails. With some restrictions, dogs can be off-leash under what’s called “effective control” in most parks, according to the district.
District bylaws that require dogs to be on-leash, for example, include areas within a 10-metre radius of playground equipment in a municipal or regional park, at Royal Oak Burial Park, on Lochside Trail and on the trails at Cedar Hill Park. Dogs are prohibited from three ecologically sensitive parks: Rithet’s Bog (except on leash on perimeter trails), Quick’s Bottom Park and Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary.
On May 17, council approved several items in a report from the parks and recreation and community services director that would create sites were dogs can run free.
The Cadboro Bay Residents Association backs the idea and would like to see it come to Cadboro-Gyro Park after what it calls “a perfect storm,” including closing of the University of Victoria dog field on Cedar Hill Cross Road and seasonal dog restrictions in some parks.
Saanich officials have received reports of “particularly high levels” of human-dog and dog-dog conflict. Saanich police have warned that unless in an off-leash area, dogs must be on a leash or under control.
On April 6, a large unleashed dog attacked and killed a small leashed dog, and bit and injured the small dog’s owner. After police released photos of the larger dog, the owner came forward.
Meanwhile, stewardship groups indicate an unsustainable degradation of plant biodiversity and wildlife at Mount Douglas, Cuthbert and Panama Flats — especially for nesting birds and waterfowl, Haynes said.
Council recently rejected a pilot project to allow food trucks at Mount Douglas and Mount Tolmie, in keeping with efforts to protect their ecology and because of the potential for community conflicts.
