Dogs in BC Parks: Leash ‘em if you love ‘em!

Dog owners love their furry friends like family, and here at BC Parks we understand—many of us are dog owners too. Our doggos brighten our lives on daily walks around the neighborhood, hikes in the parks we care so much about, and even when they decide to pop into video calls from time to time!  

While we love our dogs, we need to protect them and the environment by keeping them on a leash during park outings where leashes are required. When we want them to let off some extra steam, we take them to a park that offers a designated off-leash area where they can roam free. 

Leashes keep pooches safe! 

While the happiness of an off-leash dog is hard to deny, there are many good reasons to keep them on a leash in parks: 

• Leashes keep dogs safe from other dogs and wildlife; not all pooches get along, and predators like bears, cougars and wolves can seriously injure or kill dogs, or people around them, when they feel threatened.  

• Leashes help protect curious dogs from diseases that can spread through bites and feces from wildlife. 
• Leashes protect dogs from getting lost or hurt in the wilderness; over 1 million pets go missing in Canada each year, and every dog owner knows how quickly curious canines can wander or run out of sight. 

Whether it’s keeping your dog safe from wildlife and other dogs, or wandering too far and getting lost, leashes help ensure they’ll come home safe and healthy with you after your park outings together!  

Leashes are an act of environmental stewardship 

Another reason leashes are important—and one that isn’t always obvious to individual dog owners—is the environmental impact that off-leash dogs and their waste have on wildlife and sensitive ecosystems. There are a few things to consider when it comes to dogs and the environment: 

• Numbers matter: British Columbia has seen a boom in dog ownership since the pandemic, and it’s no surprise that parks are a favourite outing for hikers and their dogs. While a romp in the bushes might seem harmless, the sheer amount of dogs going off trail in popular parks can really add up to significant damage to plants and displacement of the animals that inhabit these natural spaces.   
• Dog waste can pollute the environment: According to the Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control, the non-native bacteria in dog poo and pee can pollute soil, rivers, and lakes, and spread illness to wildlife and humans alike.  
• Dog waste is NOT a beneficial fertilizer: A shocking study from the UK found that the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus being deposited in nature reserves by dogs rivals or exceeds legal levels used in commercial farming! While it’s a common myth that dog poop acts as a beneficial fertilizer to the soil, parks are actually low-nutrient environments, and additional fertilizer poses a serious threat to the natural biodiversity of these areas.   

Leashing not only protects your pooch from unwelcome encounters and getting lost—it is also an act of environmental stewardship that helps ensure parks and their wild inhabitants will remain healthy and thriving for generations to come. 

Not all people are dog people 

While many of us passionately love our dogs and think our pooch is the friendliest fur baby in town, not everyone loves dogs or is comfortable around them, even if they are friendly. Keeping your pup on a leash in parks respects those park visitors who might not feel safe or comfortable around them and helps create enjoyable experiences for everyone. 

This summer, let’s all enjoy our parks responsibly and respectfully 

The next time you and your pooch are out enjoying one of the many stunning parks in British Columbia, remember that leashes protect both your dog friend and wildlife they might encounter. Leashing your dog is an act of respect towards the natural environment and people who may not be dog people, and it keeps parks enjoyable for everyone. Parks with designated off-leash areas offer a good option when your pooch needs to run free.   

By keeping these points in mind, we can all enjoy BC Parks responsibly and respectfully, and help make them welcoming and safe places for their furry friends and fellow humans alike.