By ROY WOOD

An Oliver dog owner and former mayor would like to see Lions Park and the northern section of the Hike and Bike Trail become early morning off-leash areas.

Pat Hampson told council that the Lions Park Action Committee has discussed the possibility of a fenced off-leash area at the north end of the park, but an open off-leash would be preferable, he said.

“Fenced areas are a good idea for dogs but for some people, walking around in a circle day in and day out is a boring, mind-numbing activity,” Hampson added in a letter to council.

He suggested that Lions Park and the Hike and Bike north of Fairview would be excellent for off-leash dog walking from dawn to 9 a.m., similar to the current situation at Community Park and the southern section of the Hike and Bike.

Chief financial officer David Svetlichny told council that Parks and Recreation needs to be involved in any such decision and that town staff would contact them.

Hampson conceded that dog attacks occasionally happen. “There are breeds which are definitely aggressive to other dogs and people,” he said. “Unfortunately the behavior of these breeds has unfairly been attributed to dogs of almost every breed. Generally speaking, dogs are social animals and like the opportunity to meet and greet others of their species.”

Lions Park and the Hike and Bike are lightly used by others in the early morning hours and having dogs off leash would be a good use of the parks, he said.

“There is nothing more delightful than walking along our H&B trails; there is much to see in nature and social interaction occurs between residents and their animals,” he wrote.
Hampson was a town councillor from 2002 until 2008 and then served one term as mayor.