Dear Editor:
Re: Fido Should Venture Freely Along Whyte Lake Trail, Oct. 1 Mailbox.
I hike the North Shore trails, including the trails accessed via the Whyte Lake trail, with the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre hiking club.
In my experience, the trails where dogs are allowed off leash are properly used by professional dog walkers who keep their doggie charges well in control and at a respectful distance from hikers.
However, problems arise on trails such as the Whyte Lake trail where groups of friends walk their dogs in an uncontrolled manner, off leash, ignoring the bylaw. The dogs take on a pack mentality, and chase each at high speeds on the trail. On more than one occasion, I have been almost knocked off my feet, once on a steep embankment where a fall would have resulted in injury.
I do not support off-leash dogs at Whyte Lake, and would instead like to see better enforcement of bylaw 4545.
Ingrid Ruberg
West Vancouver
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