Toronto plan to ban professional dog walkers from park sparks outrage
Global News
A motion presented by the local councillor has banned commercial dog walkers from using a dog park in midtown Toronto after neighbours complained about it.
A popular midtown off-leash dog park will soon be off-limits to professional dog walkers after neighbourhood complaints prompted the local city councillor to bring forward a motion banning commercial attendees
The motion sparked an outcry among local businesses and dog owners who frequent the park.
Ramsden Park, sandwiched between Yonge Street and Avenue Road near Davenport Road, has tennis courts, a splash pad, a hockey rink and, at its western edge, a large off-leash area. A municipal sign on the gates was recently installed informing people that as of Sept. 19, commercial dog walkers will no longer be allowed to access it.
“All the dogs are local and all of these dogs’ owners are paying taxes for these dogs to use the park,” said Rebecca Riddell, who owns Bark Buddies Toronto.
Aside from finding out that she’ll be required to travel farther to find an off-leash area, she’s concerned about no longer having access to Ramsden Park’s special zone for small dogs — an amenity not featured at every city dog park and one that will affect her business directly.
“Essentially they’re asking us to throw these small dogs in with dogs from any size, they can go up to over a hundred pounds,” she said, “and that’s not safe.”
Riddell authored a petition asking for a compromise in lieu of an outright ban, including limiting the time commercial walkers could access the off-leash area to midday hours. She also said there could be an option to install another off-leash area closer to Yonge Street, away from the homes.
The ban is the result of a member’s motion introduced by University-Rosedale Coun. Dianne Saxe at a June meeting of city council. Member’s motions can fast-track the implementation of a bylaw by skipping the usual committee process that gives community members the opportunity to weigh in on the process.
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