It is the small things in a community that can quickly become big things that pull on the fabric of its civility.
If you have been at recently — or ever — you have likely seen folks with dogs on the beach and walking the lake loop, even though they are clearly no-dog zones.
Plenty of signs remind visitors of this fact.
And yet, there they are time and again.
Stop this, pet owners.
To be clear, dogs are fantastic, and we need more large, fenced dog parks so they can let their freak flags fly safely.
But that doesn’t mean owners can break the rules where pets aren’t allowed.
At Alice Lake Park, all dogs must be kept on a leash at all times; dogs are not allowed on the Alice Lake Trail, beaches, playground, or in picnic areas.
Dogs are allowed on-leash in Alice Lake Park in the campground, on the Four Lake Trail, and on the DeBecks Hill Trail.
There are no areas in the park where dogs are allowed off-leash.
But why, you ask?
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, which oversees provincial parks, notes that Four Lakes trail is surrounded by environmentally sensitive wetlands that serve as toad habitat that can be trampled and impacted by off-leash dogs.
Bears frequent all parts of the park; off-leash dogs increase the likelihood of negative interactions with bears and other dangerous wildlife, such as cougars and coyotes, the spokesperson added.
“The day-use areas at Alice Lake become very busy, which increases the likelihood of a reactive dog causing safety concerns for park visitors. It also impacts the enjoyment of many park visitors who are not comfortable around dogs,” he said.
And while many folks likely get away with breaking the rules, they can be caught.
Park Rangers may issue warnings, evictions, and fines under the Park, Conservancy, and Recreation Area Regulations when necessary.
But really, it is like many social issues and about respect.
Remember, being a responsible dog owner means keeping those puppy paws on a leash and maintaining harmony for all parkgoers at Alice Lake.
