GRAVENHURST – The dog days of August are bringing new treats for local canines, but even a dog’s life has certain restrictions.
The town’s new off-leash dog park on John Street will be opening on the morning of Aug. 23 and to get ready for pooches’ near free-reign there, council approved the list of rules and regulations Aug. 7. Town manager of recreation and community services Debbie Broderick presented the suggested list of 10 regulations that will create some control and limit the potential of liability for the town.
“(They’re) 10 basic rules that will guide the users of the park on how to use the park safely and how to control their dogs,” she said, adding signs will be posted at the park shortly with the rules listed.
Those rules include that any dog at the park must be licensed with current vaccinations displayed, that dogs are to be leashed in all areas around the park, save within its boundaries, that people are responsible to scoop waste and not bring food in, that sick or aggressive dogs are to be leashed and removed and that no chokers, spike or pinch collars are allowed. People are to always remain in control of their pets when off leash and will be liable for damages their pets may cause. One of the rules; that pit bulls are to be leashed, drew some concern from Coun. Randy Jorgensen.
“There is no definition of a pit bull; how are we going to know what’s a pit bull and what’s not,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned the provincial law that bans pit bulls is ridiculous and unenforceable as well; I don’t want to put something in there that we can’t enforce.”
The rules also ask people to provide their own bags for scooping, however, a supply will be stocked at two locations in the park along with disposal bins. The regulations were accepted as presented, with only Coun. Jorgensen opposed.
There will be an official opening ceremony held at 10:30 a.m. at the park Aug. 23 with light refreshments provided. There is also currently a naming contest on for the park with suggestion bins set up at the Gravenhurst Pet Valu and Top Dog store locations as well as the Farmers Market of Aug. 15. The deadline is Aug. 17.