Hay River council upset by mess pets leave behind
Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Hay River (Jun 04/01) - Town council is considering a bylaw that would ban dogs from municipal parks and playgrounds.
Council is acting on several complaints made by residents who want dogs -- on or off-leash -- out of recreation areas.
"Parents are not impressed -- parks are made for children not for dogs," Deputy Mayor Dean McMeekin said at last Monday's meeting.
Coun. Tom Hamilton argued the motion was unfair to responsible dog owners and Coun. Diane Ehman clarified that the issue was not with off-leash dogs, but the mess left behind.
"The problem is with dogs doing their thing in the park. People can walk their dogs in other areas," Ehman said.
"They're not talking about along the beach road, they're talking about where they are playing ball and where they keep their equipment."
"It's a problem in a lot of major centres," she added.
Coun. Hamilton requested a better definition of parks and play areas. Council agreed and the motion was tabled until such a definition could be provided.
