Dear Editor:
Eleven years ago when we moved here beside Waterfront Park our grandchildren were very young and we all enjoyed the play area in the park.
It sounds lovely doesn’t it? But there is a worm in the apple. Despite signs at each entrance designating the park “Dogs prohibited,” each week up to 50 dogs and their owners regularly use the park with impunity.
Before spending time in the park we made sure the area around the play area was clear of dog excrement but another issue was that our grandchildren love dogs. They’d see a dog, sometimes leashed, often not and want to pet it.
In eleven years I’ve seen bylaw officers only once and they were on their way through the park on a mission not connected to the “Dogs Prohibited” bylaw. When asked about the lack of enforcement they said “take a picture and send it to the Bylaw Department.” You might wonder as did I, what that would accomplish.
It’s obvious the City of North Vancouver has no intention of enforcing the “Dogs prohibited” bylaw even though small children and strange dogs are a dangerous combination for reasons of both health and safety. So I agree, bylaws are indeed “bygone.”
Lesley McLauchlin
North Vancouver
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