Urgent: Saanich Dog Bylaw Changes Spark Controversy Among Walkers

UPDATE: The recent changes to dog bylaw policies in Saanich have ignited urgent backlash from local dog walkers, raising serious questions about safety and environmental protection in public parks. Just announced, the new regulations have left many feeling cornered, with hikers and dog owners fearing that they are being led down a path to failure.

Dog walkers across the community are expressing their frustrations regarding the inconsistent rules, particularly at Braefoot Park, which is designated as an unlimited off-leash area despite hosting numerous summer camp programs for children. Meanwhile, other parks without such programming have stringent leash-time restrictions. Many are asking: “If the goal is to safeguard children and reduce conflicts, shouldn’t this policy be uniformly applied?”

Local resident and dog walker Jennine Gates voiced her concerns in a letter to the editor, questioning the rationale behind the changes. “I suspect that a significant amount of data amounts to complaint logs—vocal, repeated calls from a small segment of the population,” she stated, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive and well-researched policy-making that benefits all community members.

The municipality claims that the new policies are driven by research, citing environmental degradation as a major concern. While acknowledging that dogs can cause damage, Gates argues that many areas flagged as degraded, like Mount Doug, Playfair Park, and Panama Flats, remain lush and thriving. In contrast, fenced-in dog zones like Cy Hampson Park are often barren and muddy, indicating that poor design, not the dogs themselves, is the issue.

The small fenced corridor proposed in P’KOLS (Mount Doug) has drawn particular ire from dog owners, as many believe it will not serve as an effective solution. “It’s not an off-leash park—it’s a containment pen,” Gates argued. She supports the idea of fenced areas but insists they must be well-designed and multi-use rather than simply overlooked patches of land.

Dog walkers, who are among the most consistent users of Saanich parks, contribute significantly to the community’s vitality and safety. Gates highlights their year-round presence, stating, “We show up, rain or shine, and we deserve more than contradictory rules and defensive policymaking.” The community is calling for a reconsideration of these policies to ensure that all citizens can enjoy the parks responsibly.

As this situation develops, the Saanich municipality must address the concerns of dog walkers, balancing the demands for safety and environmental integrity with the rights of responsible pet owners. The pressing question remains: will Saanich officials heed the voices of its community before it’s too late? Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving situation.