Editor: I am writing to ask you a few questions. My number one question is why does Langley have no off-leash dog walking areas?
I have lived in many areas over the years and they have all had excellent walking areas. Here in Langley, we have one very dirty unkempt area at Derby Reach. It is not a walking area. It is simply an off-leash area that has been let go.
I have talked to many people during my walks with my golden retrievers. I have encountered a lot of angry people who want to know why we have not been provided with an off-leash walk area.
Most of them are out walking and their dogs are off-leash. They are very tired of being harassed by the bylaw officers. I want to know why?
I have tried to have a conversation, and ask these questions to Mr. Bean. All he does is quote company policy. He never answers the actual questions.
By the end of our e-mail discussion, I was feeling angry, tired and very discouraged. I decided to take a few weeks off and let it rest.
I decided once again to try. This was sparked by the fact that we are so uncomfortable walking in the Metro Vancouver park areas in Langley. My husband chose to drive to North Vancouver to enjoy their beautiful dog walking park. This is by far my favourite place in the world. Unfortunately, I could not join him as I had office work to do.
I knew, what with the drive and the walk, it would be at least a three-hour adventure. It turned out to be more like four and one-half hours.
To me this is so sad, and it’s environmentally unfriendly. To drive a car to North Vancouver is one extra car on the road at a time when we are building bike lanes and gas is so expensive.
The Metro Vancouver parks in Langley have miles of walking trails, yet not one is dedicated to off-leash walking.
Laurel Pickles,
Langley
