Thursday, September 2, 2010

What should I know about walking my dog off-leash? **UPDATED**

Can I walk my dog without a leash?
The city has designated off-leash parks which have special signage and designation, which can be seen here. Off-leash dog walking is prohibited in all other parks unless otherwise signed.

Where are the off-leash parks?
A list of off-leash dog parks can be found on the City's website, here.

Are there any off-leash parks in Scarborough?
At the moment there are no off-leash sites in Scarborough, however two sites have been proposed; Botany Hill Park at 277 Orton Park Road, and Wanita Park at 5 Meadowvale Road. Both sites are still in the evaluation process, and may or may not be converted into an off-leash area in the future. Blantyre Park at 180 Fallingbrook Road has already been denied application.

At the current moment, the off-leash park closest to our ward is Sunnybrook Park near Eglinton Avenue and Leslie Street.

What can we do to get an off-leash park in our neighbourhood?
The process for creation of an off-leash site is resident-driven. To establish an off-leash park, the area must have a local dog-owner association, and the association must then submit an Off-Leash Area Application Form.

**NEW** Ursula Hummel, a certified dog trainer and resident of our ward, is starting up just such an association. If you would like to help out, you can get in touch with her here.

What do I do if I see people walking their dogs without a leash in our ward?
Please give our office a call at 416-392-1374, or email us; we will forward your complaint to Toronto Animal Services. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number so we can contact you, as well as the time and location of the incident.

Useful Links
Parks, Forestry, and Recreation
Toronto Animal Services
People, Dogs, and Parks
Off-Leash Dog FAQs
List of current off-leash areas
Off-Leash Area Application Form
List of proposed off-leash areas
List of denied applications for off-leash areas