Coquitlam’s crackdown on off-leash dogs kept bylaw officers busy over the summer.
According to a city staff report, close to 250 tickets were issued for unlicensed dogs and animals at large while one ticket was given to a person who did not clean up after their pet. Another 189 official warnings were also written up over the three-month enforcement blitz.
“We heard from people who said thank you for finally doing this,” said Mayor Richard Stewart. “I thought it was successful and I think it was a good balance.”
The crackdown was conducted in conjunction with the Train Your Human animal etiquette campaign, which encouraged pet owners to be respectful of other park users. Coquitlam launched the program after receiving numerous complaints from residents around Mundy Park who said the trails were being overrun with off-leash animals.
More than 500 patrols were conducted in green spaces across the city, representing about 50 hours a week of bylaw officer time. The campaign started in June as an education effort before officials began issuing tickets in July, with 202 written for off-leash animals and 46 for unlicensed dogs.
But it was difficult for city staff to get proper identification from people caught contravening the rules, according the report. Residents are required to provide their name and address to bylaw officers but, because those officers have no arresting power, many people refused, provided false information or simply left.
“Bylaw officers are often by themselves and it is not safe or practical to attempt to chase down a person evading a ticket,” said the staff report. “A member of the RCMP joined bylaw staff during one patrol and the cooperation from the public was noticeably increased.”
Having stepped up enforcement in parks may have other benefits aside from keeping more dogs on leash, said Coun. Brent Asmundson. The report noted that 26 warnings for smoking in the park and 10 for feeding wild animals were issued by bylaw officers during their pet patrols.
“Is it becoming a better, safer place all around?” he said. “The extra bylaw enforcement may provide other benefits.”
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