Local dog park etiquette to keep dogs, residents safe

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — With spring finally in the Energetic City, the local dog park has seen more use.

Ryan Harvey with the City of Fort St. John recently spoke with Energeticcity.ca about guidelines dog park users should follow to ensure everyone’s safety.

Harvey says the most crucial rule for people to follow at the dog park is to listen to their dogs. If a dog doesn’t like other dogs, or if they’re reactive, bring a leash and introduce them in a way that isn’t going to cause any issues.

Another essential rule is to clean up after your dog. According to the City of Fort St. John, failure to clean up after a dog is a $200 fine.

Another bylaw residents should keep in mind is ensuring dogs are leashed until they reach the unleashed dog park area. Failure to do this is also a $200 fine.

“It’s really just the rest of the city is on leash, so your dog is required to be on leash outside of the off-leash park,” Harvey said.

“It’s nine acres of a parcel, so it’s a pretty good space. Once you get in there, you’re able to run free, and we see lots of dogs chasing after balls and stuff, which is the enjoyment of it.”

Dogs must also be licensed in Fort St. John, which costs between $5 and $30. The fine for an unlicensed dog is $200.

Harvey says the city encourages new dogs to stay away from the park until they get their vaccines.

“We did have a case a couple of years ago of parvo in a dog that was caught around the area and had been in the area,” Harvey said.

“It’s one of those things that if we can make sure that we’re keeping that out of our dog parks and out of our parks, then that’s a good thing.”

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus affecting all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than four months old are at the highest risk. Untreated cases have a 91 per cent mortality rate.

To ensure the safety of animals, Harvey says the city does what it can to eliminate harmful weeds in the dog park.

Harvey says a contractor uses a spray that follows regulations and safety precautions, and the city will post notices before spraying occurs.

“We know how much the dog park is used and loved, but I also want to make sure that it’s safe and there’s no foxtails or anything else that’s harmful to dogs, but also the products that we’re using to prevent those are also safe,” Harvey said.

For the latest updates on parks in Fort St. John, follow the city’s Facebook page or visit their website.

The full CR with Harvey can be viewed below: