{"id":1548,"date":"2023-03-04T20:29:28","date_gmt":"2023-03-04T23:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/longlakepark.ca\/news\/?p=1548"},"modified":"2023-03-04T21:03:35","modified_gmt":"2023-03-05T00:03:35","slug":"dogs-on-leash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/longlakepark.ca\/news\/?p=1548","title":{"rendered":"Dogs on leash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Sign at Long Lake Provincial Park<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Long Lake Provincial Park Association has posted several notices in Long Lake Provincial Park stating that pets (notably dogs) must be leashed in the park. Some park users have wondered why dogs should be leashed, and a few refuse to follow this guidance.  So why has LLPPA posted these notices?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first and most direct answer to this question is that provincial and municipal laws require that dogs be leashed. Regulations under the provincial Parks Act require that all pets be leashed in all provincial parks and Long Lake Provincial Park is not an exception. The park has never been an exception to this rule, despite rumours to the contrary. Municipal by-laws also apply to all public spaces within the municipality as signs in the park also make clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A deeper question is \u201cwhy is the law so strict?\u201d Dogs enjoy being off leash. There are four parts to the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, some people are afraid of dogs. Many people have been bitten by dogs and become afraid as a result, and for some the fear is ingrained and cultural. Provincial parks are intended to be enjoyed by everyone, including small children, elderly people, and those who are fearful of dogs. Keeping dogs leashed is safe and respectful of all trail users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, dog-dog conflicts are not unusual and when the aggressor is not leashed this can lead to serious injury with costly veterinary bills, as has happened at Long Lake. Keeping dogs leashed reduces the possibility of injury and is respectful of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, off-leash dogs are sometimes at risk in forests and lakes. They may get lost, as has happened at Long Lake. They may meet a porcupine or coyote and end up worse off as a result.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourth, dogs can be a threat to wildlife.  While incidents of actual physical harm may be relatively rare, incidents of pursuit of wildlife by dogs are commonplace. These pursuits result in stress for wildlife, may displace them from their home territory, and cause energy to be wasted by animals that have no reserve energy to spare. Natural-environment parks like Long Lake exist so that visitors can enjoy natural surroundings that are as undisturbed as possible. Off-leash dogs disturb the tranquil environment that the park was created to maintain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Long Lake Provincial Park Association has posted several notices in Long Lake Provincial Park stating that pets (notably dogs) must be leashed in the park. Some park users have wondered why dogs should be leashed, and a few refuse to follow this guidance.  So why has LLPPA posted these notices? The first and most direct…<\/p>\n

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