Barrhead dog owners will finally have the opportunity to allow their dogs to go for a run when it opens an off-leash dog park.
At least temporarily.
Councillors voted 5-1 on May 14 to convert the area behind the baseball diamonds on the Barrhead Sportsgrounds to a dog run as part of a pilot project to determine the viability of a permanent off-leash park.
Coun. Don Smith was opposed to the motion and Coun. Leslie Penny was absent.
Mayor Dave McKenzie said the town has received many requests for an off-leash dog park and the proposed location gives them a chance to see how receptive nearby residents and dog owners would be.
Parks and recreation director Shallon Touet stated the area would be relatively simple to create and would involve the use of construction style fencing with two of them having “passenger gates.”
He added staff would also have to install dog waste disposal bins and information signs stating the rules of the park, such as to clean up after your pet, ensure the gates are closed before letting your pet off-leash and not to leave your pet unattended. Touet also suggested including a “use at your own risk” warning.
“As part of the rules, I would also like to see it stated that dogs need to have collars and licencing tags,” McKenzie said, noting all dogs and cats older than six months in the Town of Barrhead are required to be licenced.
Licences for intact animals is $20 a year. For spayed and neutered pets, the fee drops to $8.
McKenzie also suggested the signage include hours of operation from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Coun. Ty Assaf said the hours of operation should coincide with the town’s noise bylaw which prohibits excessive noise between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
While he agrees the community needs an off-leash dog park, Coun. Don Smith opposed the project on the grounds that he didn’t believe the sportsgrounds were an appropriate location.
“When I go to other communities the dog parks are usually on the border of the community in or bordering a residential neighbourhood,” he said.
“I don’t think it blends well with the area and what it is designated for. I think it is being put forward because it is there and readily available, so let’s just go ahead and use it for an off-leash dog park to appease dog users.”
McKenzie interjected that the area being proposed might not end up being the permanent location for an off-leash dog park.
“Before this council commits money to build a proper dog park, it gives us a chance to see how the community reacts. This might not be the end location,” he said.
While she supported using the site as a temporary location, Coun. Shelly Oswald, agreed with Smith that a dog park should ideally be located on the edge of the community, away from residential neighbourhoods.
