Dogs weave in and out of their owner’s legs, taking over the path and forcing everyone else to the side.
For the City of Victoria, this is a $60,000 problem.
“We’ve heard from lots of people, particularly seniors who’ve stopped coming down to walk on Dallas Road, because they get jumped on or pushed over by dogs,” Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said. “So, as a simple solution, for one year we’re going to try putting up a fence.”
Soon, a split-rail fence will line the popular waterfront route that draws hundreds of walkers, joggers and dog lovers everyday. It will stretch roughly 1.5 kilometres from Beacon Hill Park to Clover Point.
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Many are already dumping on the doggie divide.
“That’s a terrible idea!” said one dog owner. “My dog loves this place, it’s like a community here.”
Another said, “If I were the City of Victoria, I’d use that money to hire another police officer to work downtown instead of picking on the poor dogs here.”
Technically, dogs are only allowed to run free in the grassy fields. The pathway is actually a designated on-leash area. The city will be enhancing its signage, while bylaw officers ramp up their patrols.
“This needs to be a city that’s accessible and welcome to everyone,” Helps said.
The city claims the number of complaints involving off-leash dogs and park users has actually decreased in recent years, but suspects it’s because those who have come forward are now avoiding the area.
The pilot project will allow some time for public consultation to see if there is any further reduction in dog-pedestrian conflicts.
Construction is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks.
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