LETTER: Saanich parks policy leads dog walkers on a path to failure

If the District of Saanich is serious about prioritizing safety and environmental protection in our parks, then the logic behind its dog bylaw changes needs a second look. As it stands, the implementation seems less like careful policy and more like a patchwork of contradictions. Take Braefoot Park, for example – a park where summer camp programs regularly run. It was designated as an unlimited off-leash area. Yet other parks that don’t host children’s programming have leash-time restrictions. If the goal is to reduce the risk of conflict or protect children, shouldn't that logic be applied consistently? Or is this about something else entirely? The municipality claims this plan is backed by research. But I suspect that a significant amount of data amounts to complaint logs – vocal, repeated calls from a small segment of the population. That kind of input is important, but it isn’t a stand-in for good policy. Environmental degradation has also been cited as a major driver, and some evidence of this was provided. Yes, dogs can cause damage, just like people do. But if you walk Mount Doug or Playfair or Panama Flats – many of the areas flagged as degraded – you’ll often find them lush and thriving. Meanwhile, the fenced-in dog zones (think Cy Hampson park in North Saanich) are typically bare, muddy, and overrun – not because dogs are bad, but because the space is far too small, with nothing but a grassy field that turns to mud to sustain them. Instead of giving dog walkers meaningful areas to use responsibly, we’re being boxed into failure. The small fenced corridor proposed in P'KOLS (Mount Doug) won’t solve anything. It’s not an off-leash park – it’s a containment pen. I support fences in principle; I want my dogs to be safe. But let’s make them thoughtful, multi-use spaces – not boggy afterthoughts. Dog walkers are some of the most consistent park users in this city. We show up year-round, rain or shine, and we contribute to the safety and vitality of these public spaces. Municipal policy is supposed to be for the benefit of all of the community, not just the most vocal. We deserve more than contradictory rules and defensive policymaking. Jennine Gates Saanich