Off-Leash Dogs - Pilot Project

Summer 2022 Update

The first of the District’s new off-leash dog areas, Merrill Park, is now open.

Signage has been installed at all entrances to the park to indicate that the park is an off-leash trail area and to educate users about the conditions they must follow to have their dog off-leash. 

The next off-leash area, under the BC Hydro lines in Brackendale, is expected to open in early 2023.

Fall 2021 Engagement

The District of Squamish conducted a survey to collect public feedback on an updated list of proposed pilot locations in Squamish for off-leash dogs and a set of conditions owners must meet to use those locations. The survey was open from September 24 - October 12, 2021.

Based on the feedback received during the fall 2021 engagement period, Council endorsed a plan to trial the following off-leash dog locations as a pilot project:

• John Hunter Park, Valleycliffe
• Brennan Park Fenced Dog Run
• Merrill Park, Garibaldi Highlands
• Powerline Service Road, Brackendale

The locations that require an investment in fencing and infrastructure will move forward as part of the 2023 budget process.

You can find information on the engagement process, including a summary of what the District heard in the survey, maps of the locations that were considered, and a list of the conditions that dog owners must follow in order to use the off-leash locations at: https://letstalksquamish.ca/dog-off-leash-locations

Background

With a growing population of dogs and dog owners in the community, the District identified the need to address off-leash dogs, and dog owner responsibility. Keeping dogs and the community safe is an important issue for the District. Impacts from off-leash dogs can range from little to very high consequences for people and the environment. In addition, the District is responsible for ensuring its bylaws remain up to date with changing times, complied with, and enforceable.

Public engagement on a set of proposed locations was conducted in 2019, however in 2020 the emerging COVID-19 pandemic forced staff to focus on other priorities. Since public engagement in 2019, staff narrowed down the original proposed options based on wildlife interface and access issues to develop additional new sites to propose to the community for public feedback.

The District reviewed all feedback to date regarding dog off-leash areas and considered factors such as:

• The community’s growth;
• Increase in number of dogs in the community;
• Wildlife encounters; the need for conserving sensitive environments;
• Land access to inform the recommendation of updated appropriate off-leash sites across the community.

The District will do a full review of the Animal Control Bylaw in 2022 as part of the ongoing work on the off-leash dogs process. 

Project History and Timeline

Spring 2022: Anticipated opening of the some of the off-leash dog pilot locations

Fall 2021: Public survey on an updated list of proposed off-leash dog locations. Based on the feedback received, Council endorsed a plan to move forward with four locations as a pilot project. Council also directed staff to conduct engagement to find a downtown off-leash dog location.

May 2021: District staff began reviewing past public feedback, as well as internal engagement with staff (Parks, Planning, Wildlife, Environment, and Bylaw Enforcement) and agency stakeholders (RCMP and BC Conservation Office) on the proposed dog off-leash locations and the draft Animal Control Bylaw

March 2020: As the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, Bylaw Enforcement staff turned their focus to emerging priorities. The project was placed on hold until 2021.

February 2020: The District of Squamish podcast, District B-Sides, aired a podcast discussing off leash dogs in Squamish. Listen to the podcast here.

October 2019: Online comment period open for those who could not attend the open house.

September 2019: Open house held to review the suggested locations and times, owner responsibility conditions, and updates to the bylaw. (View the poster boards)

April-May 2019: Online survey to gather community input into dog off-leash areas and owner responsibility conditions.