Responsible dog owners have their pets on leashes in Lion’s Park during the recent Walk for Dog Guides. Here, Bertie Barens takes her leashed pet for a stroll. Photo by Dan Walton
Oliver’s new bylaw enforcement officer is keeping a close eye on dog owners who let their canines off the leash in local parks.
Corporate Officer Diane Vaykovich said the goal of bylaw enforcement this summer is to reduce liquor and drug consumption in parks, and to ensure dogs are kept on their leashes.
These two matters generate a few complaints to the Town and Oliver Parks and Recreation, she pointed out.
“Currently bylaw enforcement has asked park users to remove their liquor from the park entirely, and several users have been warned regarding dogs off leash.”
Vaykovich said one visitor expressed kudos to the new bylaw enforcement officer for his dedication to keeping dogs on their leashes.
Last year the visitor quit coming to area parks because of the tendency of dog owners to let their pets off their leash. But while visiting one local park and talking to the bylaw officer, the visitor was impressed when the officer suddenly stopped their conversation to deal with a dog owner whose pet was off leash.
In the latest bylaw activity report (for January 1 to April 30), the Town received 52 bylaw enforcement complaints relating to untidy/unsightly properties, noise, animal control, land use, snow removal and general nuisance.
With the spring and summer season, complaints regarding unsightly properties are prevalent, Vaykovich said.
Under the Good Neighbour Bylaw, the Town investigates complaints and may serve an order to the offender by registered mail.
Property owners who live within the Town have five days to comply with the order to remedy the property. Owners who live outside of the town have 10 days. If the property owner fails to clean up the property within that time period, the work is carried out by the Town and the cost is added to the offender’s property taxes.
Vaykovich said the Town has received complaints regarding this process for chronic offenders.
“Adjacent neighbours would like to see the Town take a more proactive approach and remedy the property in a timely fashion.”
But Vaykovich said this would be in contravention of the bylaw and may be perceived as an unfair approach.
By Lyonel Doherty
