Answers

1. What is being recommended for beaches in the amended Animals Bylaw?

   All beaches and beach access within the Victoria Migratory Bird Sanctuary (see map) are on-leash.

   

   Beaches outside of the Victoria Migratory Bird Sanctuary will remainleash-optional with the same seasonal restrictions that currently exist:

   • Dogs are prohibited during the months of May through August at:
     • Cordova Bay Beach between Walema Avenue right-of-way to Cordova Bay Park
     • EXCEPT before 9:00 a.m.
     • Whitehead Park
     • PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) beach

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2. Can you clarify the list of parks that will be proposed as: leash optional, leash optional only from 6am to 9 am, which areas will be fenced?

   This information appears in the schedules attached to the amended Animals Bylaw [PDF - 8 MB].

   Leash Optional Parks Map

   

   Click on the image to expand

   Click here to view a pdf version of the map. [PDF - 2 MB]

    

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3. I understand the beach area below the high tide mark is federal government land, not municipal property. How does this affect Saanich Parks beach restrictions?

   All levels of government play a role in managing coastal shores. Local governments hold the authority to plan and regulate land use within their respective boundaries, which may extend over foreshore and nearshore areas. The amended bylaw clarifies this issue.

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4. Can you let us know if the 10-meter leashing requirement is still going to be in place around playgrounds or is the dog prohibition on the actual playground space replacing that?

   Dogs will continue to be required to be on leash within 10 metres of a playground and are now prohibited from entering the playground surface area surrounding the play equipment.

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5. Is there an official start day that the bylaws will be enforced?

   We’ve now entered an education and transition period that will give Saanich staff and CRD enforcement officers time to inform park visitors about the coming changes.

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6. With the announcement of retractable leashes or leashes longer than 2.4M (8’) not being allowed in Saanich, does that mean I cannot use them in leash-optional parks?

   • ‘Leash’ means a non-extendable fixed leash of not more than 2.4m (8’) in length.
   • In leash-optional parks, dogs are not required to be on leash, but people are welcome to use leashes. If dogs are off leash, they must remain under control which means “in direct and continuous charge and within a clear line of sight of a person who has control over the dog and immediate return of the dog to the person upon recall or signal.”
   • In all leash-optional areas, there is no requirement to be on “Leash”, therefore, these areas would permit training leashes and retractable leashes.

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7. With low enforcement resources, how does the council plan to enforce these new regulations?

   Saanich currently contracts our animal enforcement to CRD Animal Care Services, and this contract will continue. As we all adjust and transition to the amended bylaws Saanich and CRD Animal Care Services will review their work and adjust accordingly.

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8. What does the proposed bylaw amendment mean for Cedar Hill, Rithet’s Bog and Quick’s Bottom?

   • Rithet’s Bog - no dogs allowed in the park except on-leash on the perimeter trail (continue as it is currently)
   • Quick’s Bottom –this park would remain as a ‘no-dogs’ allowed park (continue as it is currently)
   • Cedar Hill Park - the park would continue to be on-leash in all areas of the park (trails and open areas), but no dogs would be allowed on the active golf course.

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9. If a park is not listed on either Schedule C or D (Autumnwood park for example) of the amended Animals Bylaw, are dogs supposed to be leashed at all times in the park?

   There are 43 parks on Schedule C and 56 on Schedule D which adds up to 99 parks, but with over 170 parks in Saanich this leaves many parks unaccounted for.

   The answer is yes – if it is not on those lists then it reverts to the default which is dogs must be on a leash in those parks and in other public areas in Saanich.

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