http://midislandnews.com/off-leash-parks-nanaimo sights and sounds from Mid Vancouver Island Mon, 21 May 2012 06:00:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://midislandnews.com/off-leash-parks-nanaimo/comment-page-1#comment-39 Daphne Catterson Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:28:10 +0000 http://midislandnews.com/?p=446#comment-39 I really think it is important to have an off leash park in a swimming area for dogs. The current off leash facility at Beban Park is hot and dry in the summer and a mud hole in the winter. There is no diversion for the dogs and although it encourages interaction this often takes the form of aggression or bullying or packing. Swimming is important to many breeds of dogs and is really good exercise for them when they cannot run freely anywhere else. In Penticton one end of the beach at Okanagan Lake is designated for dog swimming. This was wonderful to have when we were visiting there. Swimming areas encourage owner interaction and thus keep the pet always under control. A big fenced field with benches allows pet owners to sit and read and leave the dogs to fend for themselves and often can cause problems with other dogs. Owners often spend time socializing with other owners by sitting on the benches and talking and not paying attention to when their pet is defecating or being aggressive towards other animals. I am not saying this is not needed and do agree that this is a wonderful facility for people who cannot walk or exercise their pets regularly but I would prefer some other kind of area. I have a golden retriever of a gentle nature that often gets overwhelmed and ends up on her back, has her ball stolen or gets really, really muddy if it is raining so I would welcome some alternative kind of area to exercise her. I really think it is important to have an off leash park in a swimming area for dogs. The current off leash facility at Beban Park is hot and dry in the summer and a mud hole in the winter. There is no diversion for the dogs and although it encourages interaction this often takes the form of aggression or bullying or packing. Swimming is important to many breeds of dogs and is really good exercise for them when they cannot run freely anywhere else. In Penticton one end of the beach at Okanagan Lake is designated for dog swimming. This was wonderful to have when we were visiting there. Swimming areas encourage owner interaction and thus keep the pet always under control. A big fenced field with benches allows pet owners to sit and read and leave the dogs to fend for themselves and often can cause problems with other dogs. Owners often spend time socializing with other owners by sitting on the benches and talking and not paying attention to when their pet is defecating or being aggressive towards other animals. I am not saying this is not needed and do agree that this is a wonderful facility for people who cannot walk or exercise their pets regularly but I would prefer some other kind of area. I have a golden retriever of a gentle nature that often gets overwhelmed and ends up on her back, has her ball stolen or gets really, really muddy if it is raining so I would welcome some alternative kind of area to exercise her.

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