Opinion

Saanich council unanimously voting on the dog-leash issue is very puzzling. Perhaps I’m mistaken, I thought we lived in a democracy where the voters and residents in the majority have a certain measure of control over the decisions made affecting them. Sannich is showing democracy is only applicable when it aligns with the needs of special interest groups and politicians.

Like many non-conforming dog owners, Ray Lazanik conveniently leaves out the fact that all of Cadboro Bay and the beach area is a federal migratory bird sanctuary. That fact alone should dictate no off-leash dogs at any point in time anywhere on Cadboro Bay beach including the areas in both Saanich and Oak Bay.

Everyone knows that 100 is the number of years in a century, the boiling temperature of water at sea level, the number of centimetres in a metre, the number of yards in a sprint track event, and of course, the age at which you become a centenarian.

Sunday morning I had the good fortune to be out on a short run (there is no other kind when you’re over 70). Coming down Hillgrove near my home a group of eight on horseback were headed up the road towards me. They parted as the dog and I ran through them. I commented on how fortunate I was to be on the set of “Yellowstone”, which aroused a chuckle and I believe a “Yee-ha.”

I was stimulated to expand on the public transport theme after reading in your paper about the lack of shelter for passengers travelling by bus from the Swartz Bay ferry terminal.

I live at the base of PKOLS. I have a dog. I am also a lawyer and feel compelled to look at this debate (debacle?) from a legal perspective. Our laws (including municipal bylaws) are meant to protect fundamental rights and reflect societal needs and values. Saanich’s People, Pets, and Parks strategy falls short. Whatever your views on the strategy, the lives and well-being of many members of our community are impacted, and a change this big deserves due process of the law.

I would like to take a moment to address those of you who feel that the rules for walking your best friend do not apply to you. We love dogs, and ours happens to be a rescue we adopted and is very reactive to other dogs due to her past life before we adopted her. We stay away from off-leash areas because of this and stick to clearly posted on-leash areas where we can work to re-train our family member with the help of a professional trainer.

I write to oppose the proposed People, Pets, and Parks strategy. My main opposition is to the amount of public funds proposed to be spent on this project, as well as to the restrictive nature of the bylaw, which does not address the main threats to natural areas in Saanich parks (invasive species, braiding of trails by people (not just dogs) and the need for more concerted efforts in ecosystem restoration. Following are some alternative ways in which this $5-7 million could be spent.

We’re writing to express our concern about the proposed regulations that would restrict/eliminate off-leash dog walking in Saanich parks and beaches. In the People, Pets and Parks draft report, the vision statement is that “Saanich parks are safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all park users and provide a variety of experiences that balance the different needs of people and pets while protecting environmental integrity and promoting stewardship.”

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