The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is developing a "dogs in parks" policy.
Intended to address the needs of dog owners and park users, policy options that will be brought back to the board for consideration include:
Establishing areas in parks that require dogs to be leashed, such as parking lots, and areas where dogs should not be allowed, such as playgrounds, sports fields and certain park lakefronts.
Creating fenced off-leash areas in the SCRD.
Exploring funding sources such as using licensing and impoundment fees.
Collaborating with other jurisdictions including the Town of Gibsons, the Sechelt Indian Government District and the District of Sechelt.
Fundraising by potential users and animal welfare groups.
Updating the parks bylaw to address deficiencies regarding dogs in parks.
Scouting for available compatible land uses including BC Hydro right of ways, other public and private lands.
Creating a volunteer "dog park club" to host the parks and encourage responsible behaviour.
Discussing the proposed policy at the May 9 community services committee meeting, Gibsons alternate director Lee Ann Johnson suggested advice could be sought from animal advocates and veterinarians.
"As the population ages, the number of dogs goes up and the size of the dog goes down. It becomes difficult for seniors to take pets on rural trails," Johnson said. "I think it's a really good idea to start investigating it."
"I don't object to having a policy," Roberts Creek director Donna Shugar said, "but I think it has to be creative. It's not a simple thing."
In a report to the committee, parks staff said about 2,200 dogs are licensed by the Town of Gibsons, District of Sechelt and SCRD. A recent survey found that about one-third of Coast residents regularly participate in dog walking.
The report notes that the SCRD's dog regulation and parks bylaws require dogs to be kept on a leash and there are no fenced dog parks or off-leash areas within SCRD jurisdiction.
