Some dogs will be off-leash in Gibsons’ Brothers Park, in violation of a town bylaw, until a “workable” free-range exercise option for those pets is provided. That’s according to 3 o’clock small dog group spokesperson Patricia Gray, who provided an update to Coast Reporter on June 26.
In early June, town communications coordinator Bronwyn Kent confirmed that fencing was installed to separate park areas “where dogs are not allowed, which is on the sports fields, and where dogs can be, but on leash only”. That was done after group members reached out to Mayor Silas White and others at town hall, to ask that continued, respectful gatherings that included off-leash dog play be allowed in that park.
Fencing a disappointment
While the group was hopeful the fence would create space where the requirement to keep their animals on-leash would be relaxed, that was not the case.
“The most ridiculous part is we are supposed to keep our dogs on-leash within that small area” Gray said. She cited having as many as 20 leashed dogs at one time in the semi-confined area near the park’s skateboard facility as a safety hazard for the humans holding those animal tethers. That created an “insane whirligig of leashes”, something dangerous for the group, which includes numerous senior citizens, she noted.
For that reason, the group keeps their pets within the fenced area, but without leashes. Gray said they plan to continue that practice. She said the new fence was “useless” as it does not form an enclosed area. There are several large openings in the fence, two near roadway accesses. She reported that members are bringing “make-shift” solutions such as blankets and caging sections to close off those gaps and keep their animals safe.
As for responses to the group’s call to have an off-leash area within the town, Gray said there has been “absolutely no discussion on a future place where we can go and have a safe dog park that is designated for off-leash use. In Vancouver they are increasing the number of dog parks and making them better. Here they won’t even give us access to one park even on a restricted basis”.
The group plans to apply to appear before town council as a delegation to request consideration of alternatives to allow off-leash dogs in parks. Gray said that in past conversations with town representatives, a lack of money was identified as a reason why an off-leash dog park or area had not been created.
“Our solution is for them to allow us to go onto the field at Brothers at certain point during the day. That doesn’t cost anything. That’s our goal,” she said. Allowing dogs on the playing field at designated times, set to respect times booked for park use by sports groups, is a viable option for all park users in her view.
Off-leash area of ‘growing’ interest
Gray said the group got started during the COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings, as a way for small dog owners to connect, form friendships and support each other. She said that there are now over 80 members on the groups Facebook page. “We’re a growing group and we are not going away,” she said.
Kent confirmed that as of June 26, no 2023 bylaw infraction tickets have been issued to group members or others for having an off-leash dog in a town park.
Gray reported that bylaw enforcement staff drive by the park often when the group is there and stopped to visit with them on June 26. “They thanked us for keeping our dogs off the playing field portion of the field,” she stated.