So I’ve had some time to think since my last column about pets in Squamish (which, in case you missed the Facebook comments, did not goover well).
As we see with almost every dog-related story we share, such as covering the District’s open house that proposed off-leash dog areas in Squamish, it’s not easy to make the two-legged happy when it comes to our four-legged friends.
From dog owners asking for enclosed off-leash areas (not a bad idea) to those with concerns about canine behaviour (also valid), just about everyone in town has an opinion to bark. Let’s hope we can all play nice — there’s no need to fight like cats and dogs.
While I’m still not ready for the responsibility of caring for another living creature, I’m looking forward to seeing you all out there with yours. Perhaps soon, our off-leash habits will get the District stamp of approval in five areas where no dog has ever been off-leash before. Ever. Right?
I’m yanking your leash. Many treat Squamish as one large dog park, which can be great for the dogs and not so great for humans.
I love dogs, but this love is conditional: I don’t particularly like being drooled on. I don’t mind being jumped on, but I am hesitant around bigger dogs (read: bigger than me, of which there are some). An old knee injury makes me cautious of things that are knee-height running full speed in my direction. The less-than-pleasant doggie bags that seem to line trails or — worse yet — poop au natural? No one likes those.
When I had a roommate who had a phobia of dogs, I was confused why she would choose to live in Squamish, where we saw dogs everywhere we went. On another side of the fence, I once went to the lake with a friend whose dog was off-leash. Besides some soft whining, she was well behaved enough that I wouldn’t have had the heart to put her on a leash either.
Now, we finally have the chance to come up with a way to appease dog owners and non-owners alike.
If you made it this far, you probably have your own opinion on man’s best friend’s place in Squamish. Share it with the District’s survey. They’re throwing us a bone with this proposal, and it’s up to us not to bury it.
