As the voting day approaches for British Columbians, a local movement is encouraging Saanich residents to elect leaders who back a particular cause: allowing dogs to play off leash in more nearby parks. The debate over this issue in the community has gone on for six years, starting when Saanich imposed strict rules on off-leash dogs in parks, leading to claims of targeted harassment and threats by residents on both sides.
Some dog owners were upset when Saanich council initially restricted off-leash dogs in several parks, including Eulala Mills and Trish Fougner, co-founders of the Capital Regional District Dog Owners and Friends for Good Governance (CRD DOGG) Society. Fougner noted, “We both realized this couldn’t continue.”
While the council slightly eased its pets in parks policy in 2023, only 56 of the district’s 170+ parks currently have all-day off-leash areas, with 43 allowing off-leash dogs for three hours in the morning. However, CRD DOGG’s president, Mills, argues that this is insufficient, with only eight parks offering all-day space for a 20-minute off-leash walk. Since the policy change in 2023, the group has been strategizing on mobilizing their nearly 1,900 “Happy Dogs in Saanich Parks” Facebook page followers to boost voter turnout and revise off-leash dog regulations in parks.
In their efforts, Fougner mentioned meeting with election candidates and highlighting their positions on the dog policy issue on their Facebook page. She stated, “This dog issue is a divisive topic in this community,” reflecting broader challenges faced in the municipality regarding decision-making processes.
Saanich’s senior park manager, Eva Riccius, explained that the current policy resulted from extensive community consultations, considering various perspectives on pets in parks and balancing the needs of dog owners with environmental conservation and other park users.
Local dog trainer Meg Sorley highlighted the benefits and challenges of off-leash time for dogs, emphasizing the importance of respecting all park users. Environmentalists, like Michelle Watt of the PKOLS-Mount Douglas Conservancy, stressed the critical role of park restrictions in protecting endangered ecosystems in Saanich, despite facing backlash and threats from some passionate about off-leash dog spaces.
The issue has evoked strong emotions due to the personal connection people have with their pets, with both sides acknowledging a shared love for local parks, even amid differing opinions on their appropriate use.