A request to extend the prohibition period for dogs on the foreshore trail was denied by Salmon Arm council.
The request was submitted via letter from Salmon Arm Nature Bay Society (SABNES) president Janet Aitken, who asked the proposed prohibition period of April 15 to June 15 – when dogs will not be allowed on the foreshore trail so as to protect nesting birds utilizing the wildlife sanctuary – be extended to the end of July.
“This would allow for the young to become less vulnerable and water levels to recede away from the trail,” writes Aitken. “Is it possible to amend your amendment, with these new dates in mind?”
Council, however, was not willing to amend the amendments proposed for the city’s parks regulation bylaw, decided upon after receiving more than two-hours of public presentations at a Dec. 14 council meeting. The need for input was sparked after SABNES, the guardian of the trail and bird sanctuary for the past 25 years, requested the city amend its bylaw to ban dogs from the foreshore trail outright.
“For sure there’s not 100 per cent agreement on the exact decision that we made, but the feeling I get from talking to people out there is that most people think the decision was reasonable,” said Coun. Alan Harrison, in support of not altering the proposed two-month prohibition period. They might not like all parts of it, but most thought the process was reasonable, and the decision, at least for a year before we look at it, was reasonable. And so I don’t want to change that now.”
Harrison noted the lack of “dog doo doo” on the foreshore trail indicates that dog owners are using it responsibly.
Coun. Tim Lavery, however, questioned how the prohibition period was determined, and offered a motion to support SABNES’ request. Without a seconder, however, the motion fell to the floor.
Council gave three readings to the parks regulation bylaw amendment, as well as a ticketing bylaw amendment that would see dog owners receive a $50 fine if they are caught with a dog off leash on the foreshore trail, with a dog on a leash exceeding two metres or with a dog on the trail during the prohibition period.
