Two hundred dog owners marched in a pooch protest Sunday to demand more on-leash parks.
The canine convoy of 117 hounds paraded along Abbott Street from Strathcona Park to Kinsmen Park to show their displeasure with the limited supply of green space near downtown.
"There are five parks in walking distance of my home on Abbott Street and I can‘t enter any of them legally," said Helen Schiele, one of the organizers. "The city wants us to lower our carbon footprint, and they‘re making us drive."
Shane Kallstrom has to find running space for his Harlequin Great Danes, a father and son. They‘re happy with a short walk, but the park nearby is off-limits.
"A park is a nice place to walk. You‘ve got shade and grass under their paws. Everyone‘s happy - the owner and the dogs. You‘re not walking on scorching hot asphalt," he said.
The city has 68 on-leash parks where dog-owners can take their pets. Off-leash parks are harder to get to. There‘s a temporary one on Hartman Road in Rutland, a narrow, fenced-off strip on Knox Mountain, a big field north of the Glenmore Landfill, a popular park near the Mission Sports Fields and an off-leash at Cedar Creek Park, the only beach access.
Pat Rosinkski says it makes sense to allow off-leash dogs to run in Sutherland Park at the foot of Knox Mountain.
"It‘s not fit for swimming anyway. People aren‘t really using it," she said.
Most participants in Sunday‘s march are calling for more on-leash parks. The majority of owners are responsible and pick up after their licensed pooches, said Jill Hilderman, one of four organizers. They help police others who leave a mess.
"We can be an influence on irresponsible dog owners and tell them how they‘re spoiling it for the rest of us," Hilderman said. "Let responsible owners model appropriate behaviour so we can all share the parks."
More than 300 have signed a petition asking city council to allow greater access to on-leash dogs. Counc. Michele Rule, who took part in Sunday‘s march, wants to see on-leash access to all parks except those too small and those where dogs might pee on children‘s playgrounds.
Interior Health discourages dogs from getting close to water because their feces could cause health problems. Counc. Charlie Hodge may present a motion today to direct staff to find another dog-running beach in Kelowna, Rule said.
Hodge and Rule are also pushing for "doggy-dip zones," where Fido can be on a leash, get wet and cool off, she said.
Organizers plan to present their petition to city council this fall. Top of Page
