Dog walkers utilize the designated off-leash area (fenced-in ball diamond), but many prefer the community park from dawn to 9 am.
Lyonel Doherty photo
The majority of dog owners who spoke at a recent meeting in Oliver made it clear that off-leash hours in the community park should continue.
About 20 people attended the February 17 meeting hosted by the Oliver Parks and Recreation Society.
Board chair Shiela Lange said the society wanted to remove the dawn to 9 am off-leash provision in order to make the park an all-inclusive area (for joggers and small children), not just exclusive for dog owners.
Dog owner Pat Buckland said she values the off-leash provision in the park because it offers a safe place to walk your dog and socialize with others.
Buckland said in four years of walking her dog in the park, she has only seen one instance where a jogger was chased by a dog. Generally, it’s not an issue during these hours, she stated.
In a letter to the society, Chad Teigen stated he doesn’t like to see free-roaming dogs in the park, citing an incident where a dog jumped on him while he was running. He noted this could be a liability issue.
Dog owner Corinne Janow expressed her support in removing the off-leash provision. She noted the designated off-leash area (ball diamond) is adequate in accommodating pet owners.
Rural Oliver resident Jim McGinnigle said some dogs “can get crazy” while off leash, citing one instance in a park in England where a dog knocked him over and broke his ankle.
Andrew Benedick said there doesn’t seem to be any bylaw enforcement in the park. He also raised a concern about dog feces and the lack of bag dispensers in the park.
Dog owner Bunnie Seidler said some people walk their dogs without a leash and do not carry pet waste bags with them.
Seidler said she knows one lady in town who steals bags from Penticton parks and brings them back to Oliver to refill the dispensers here.
As for the designated off-leash park, she said it can get muddy, so walking your dog there is not pleasant.
Seidler said that one lady and her dog were attacked by another dog in the off-leash area.
Julie Nykos said some people don’t use the designated area because of bigger, aggressive dogs running around.
Nykos said responsible dog owners should not lose the privilege of off-leash hours because of a few irresponsible people.
Resident Jill McCullum said she never saw a jogger in the park that early in the morning (between 6-7 am).
“I was fully prepared to put the dog on the leash but I never had to.”
McCullum said dawn to 9 am is a great time frame to walk your dog in the park.
“I’ve met a lot of wonderful people . . . they are a responsible group. People who are not responsible are from outside the area . . . they give the rest of us a bad rap.”
Joyce Bunge said she favours the off-leash provision because it offers a “cool” time when dogs can exercise.
But she voiced her displeasure about seeing “piles of feces everywhere.”
Bunge said there should be a bylaw enforcement officer patrolling the park and ticketing offenders.
But it all comes down to personal manners, she pointed out, adding that people with fear-inducing dogs have a responsibility to ensure their pets don’t threaten the safety of other dogs and people.
Former Oliver mayor Pat Hampson said the Town has the freedom to not legally enforce its bylaws. But that can be “very dangerous,” he stated, noting there are some aggressive dogs in the park.
Resident Neil Seidler said a lot of dog owners do not clean up after their pets and children end up in the mess.
Parks and Recreation manager Carol Sheridan said staff continually stock the bag dispensers in the park, but some people take all of the bags.
Sheridan suggested forming a “park watch” committee where responsible dog owners keep a lookout for infractions.
“Can we get a badge?” one person asked.
Sheridan encouraged people to contact the office if they are interested in forming a citizens’ committee to educate park users. In addition, the society will work with the Town on bylaw enforcement.
As for the bylaw, Town council previously stated it wasn’t prepared to change the off-leash provision in the park.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
