This lovable local bulldog, Daisy, can’t help but grin from ear-to-ear during the official opening of the Town of Osoyoos Off-Leash Dog Park on Friday, June 22. The town’s new dog park, which is located behind the tennis court at OSS, is open daily from early morning to late evening. Photo by Mathew White
About a dozen pooches were on paw Friday afternoon for the official opening of the Town of Osoyoos Off-Leash Dog Park.
“It feels great,” said Councillor C.J. Rhodes, who himself owns a “very old sheltie.”
“I’m really happy that we can add this amenity to our community.”
The Town of Osoyoos Off-Leash Dog Park was originally slated to receive $10,000 in the town’s 2012 budget, but Rhodes said he is proud to report the park came in below that cost.
The majority of the funds were used to erect the fence surrounding the park, while other costs such as signage, water and sanitation stations took up most of the rest of the costs, he said.
Rhodes also mentioned irrigation issues had been a factor while town crews were constructing the park.
“Part of the effluent spray area that we use is used just up the hill there, so what we did is segregate it and put our own timing system in and now we can control the time it’s sprayed here,” said Rhodes.
As he said during last Monday’s meeting of town council, Rhodes is hoping the residents of Osoyoos who use the park will come up with new and exciting ideas to see the park improve as time goes on. He is particularly interested to hear solutions for the inevitable dog poop problem.
“I’m really interested in some of the different methods and techniques used to handle dog feces because it’s going to be a byproduct of this park,” said Rhodes. “To run a successful dog park, you have to be able to control that and make sure that it’s cleaned up properly.”
Currently the dog park is making use of the traditional “plastic bags” method, but Rhodes said he would like to see more eco-friendly options being introduced in the future.
Finally, Rhodes said he would like to thank Jodi Hoffman, who helped raise signatures, select a location and a number of other things to make this park possible.
Without her hard work, none of this would have happened, said Rhodes.
Shelley Penner, an Osoyoos resident who recently purchased a shih Tzu named “Echo”, said the opening of a local dog park is just amazing.
“I read about it in the paper and I was just ecstatic,” said Penner.
Penner said she plans to get a lot of use out of the park.
It is great to be able to take her small dog somewhere safe where it can interact with other dogs, she said.
The Town of Osoyoos Off-Leash Dog Park is located behind the tennis court at Osoyoos Secondary School.
Rhodes said currently the hours of operation are from early morning to late evening (no specific hours have been set yet).
He also mentioned there is an off-leash swimming area located behind the museum near Gyro Park.
The rules for the dog park are as follows:
- A maximum of three dogs per person in the off-leash area.
- Aggressive dogs and prohibited breeds are not permitted.
- Owners are responsible for any damages or injuries inflicted by their dog.
- Dogs must be under control of owner and dogs must be in the sight of the owner at all times.
- Dogs must be wearing a license and be properly vaccinated to use the off-leash area.
- Owners are required by bylaw to pick up their dog’s feces and dispose of them in the proper receptacles located throughout the area.
- Female dogs in heat are not allowed inside the park.
- Owners must respect other park visitors by keeping their dogs from running up to and jumping on other people.
- Dogs must be on a leash prior to entering and upon leaving the off-leash area.
- Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
- Use off-leash park at your own risk.
