When it comes to which beaches dogs can freely visit in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, both municipal bylaws and federal regulations are in play B次元官网网址� but not all dog owners are on side with the rules set out to protect bird habitats.

As summer foot traffic fills Willows Beach and Cadboro Bay and municipalities receive a federal report on dogs in Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 three migratory bird sanctuaries, dog owners continue to wrestle with where they may take their furry friends.

Oak Bay doesnB次元官网网址檛 permit dogs on Willows Beach between May 1 and Sept. 30.

This also applies all year to South Willows Beach, which runs from the end of Bowker Avenue to the south boundary of Glenlyon-Norfolk School.

Oak Bay parks services manager Chris Hyde-Lay said the restriction at South Willows Beach was the only change in that municipality this past year.

B次元官网网址淭hat is to protect all birds that congregate in the Bowker estuary,B次元官网网址� he said.

Before May and after September, leashed dogs can be on the north of Willows Beach in B次元官网网址渇ull custody and control of a competent person.B次元官网网址�

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Saanich generally requires dogs to be leashed or B次元官网网址渦nder effective controlB次元官网网址� in public spaces, which implies they remain in sight and return immediately when called.

In a bylaw amendment made last fall, owners now must leash their dogs at Cadboro-Gyro Park, whether using the park or Cadboro Bay beach, in compliance with federal migratory bird sanctuary rules.

Trish Fougner, a member of the Facebook group Happy Dogs in Saanich Parks, said frustration around dog access is mounting as the summer rolls in.

B次元官网网址淚 think Gyro Park is one of the biggest contentions in this area right now,B次元官网网址� she said, referencing the new on-leash dog policy.

Fougner questioned why such a B次元官网网址渟ensitiveB次元官网网址� bird sanctuary has restrictions for dogs but none for people.Laying down the law

Saanich Police Const. Markus Anastasiades said the department often receives calls about dogs at Cadboro-Gyro Park.

Anastasiades said there is now only one full-time animal control officer but that will change when Saanich transfers animal services to the Capital Regional District Wednesday (June 1). He added that Saanich historically performed on-call beach patrols in the summer when it had two full-time animal control officers.

B次元官网网址淭he bylaws are in place with the hope that they are followed,B次元官网网址� he said about the on-leash policy.

Wylie Thomas, vice-president of the Friends of Uplands Park Society and a former dog owner, said there are increasingly limited options for dogs.

B次元官网网址淒og walkers have been squeezed out of all regions,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧eople need a place to walk their dog off leash.B次元官网网址�

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Environment and Climate Change Canada issued its report on local dog-migratory bird interactions to Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 municipalities Thursday (May 26).

Ken Brock with Canadian Wildlife ServiceB次元官网网址檚 pacific region said the federal review was sparked after 2019 reports of off-leash dogs in the sanctuaries, which violates the Migratory Birds Convention Act first passed in 1917.

B次元官网网址淚t came to light that there was some confusion about what was allowed and where it was allowed, or where it wasnB次元官网网址檛 allowed between areas that were open for dogs in the municipalities and the sanctuaries.B次元官网网址�

The report draws attention to the sanctuaries, their use by migratory birds and harassment of birds, including species of concern, by dogs.

Brock noted it remains an offence to have off-leash dogs in those areas B次元官网网址� for now.

B次元官网网址淭his isnB次元官网网址檛 personal, and I really understand and have empathy for the position (of dog owners),B次元官网网址� said Brock, a dog-sitter himself. B次元官网网址淎t the same time, the regulation is what it is.B次元官网网址�

He said itB次元官网网址檚 difficult for enforcement officers to determine whether off-leash dogs are under control, whereas having dogs on leash helps moderate and mitigate their effects on birds.

Biologist and Community Association of Oak Bay member Jacques Sirois said using the B次元官网网址減ricelessB次元官网网址� beaches in the sanctuaries for off-leash dogs is B次元官网网址渘ot normalB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渁 total circus,B次元官网网址� but taking action against dog owners can be difficult.

B次元官网网址淒og owners tend to be more organized as a lobby group, whereas we, the non-dog owners, are not.B次元官网网址漀ot just about dogs, B次元官网网址榓lso humanB次元官网网址�

Mark Hawkes, president of Citizen Canine Dog Owners Association, said thatB次元官网网址檚 because dog owners have had a lot to lose and argues that dog-walking is just as legitimate as other outdoor sports like hiking and mountain biking.

B次元官网网址淭he ability (for dogs) to enjoy these parks off leash is very important, both physically and mentally,B次元官网网址� he said.

Hawkes, who owns two border collies, said his loyal companions have never chased birds and it drills down to the ownerB次元官网网址檚 ability to discipline their dogs.

B次元官网网址淥bviously a lot of things are dog-related, but a lot of it is also human.B次元官网网址�

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The Rocky Point Bird Observatory encourages against letting dogs roam beaches at times of high-bird activity, including at dawn and dusk and after heavy rainfall.

Observatory board member and volunteer Ann Nightingale said the main issue lies with people who know the rules but choose to disregard them.

Nightingale said on-leash dogs can disrupt resting and feeding birds, as well.

B次元官网网址淚 would say that generally, if there are birds on the shore, that is a not-good beach.B次元官网网址漃op-up dog parks to return

Saanich will bring back pop-up dog parks later this summer, offering nine off-leash locations from June 1 to Sept. 6.

Fougner said this wonB次元官网网址檛 suffice for the size of her black Lab, adding that off-leash beach access will be vital for dogs in another heatwave.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very limited view for the majority of dog owners in Saanich and Oak Bay,B次元官网网址� she said.

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With the federal report on the sanctuaries now issued to the municipalities, dog owners and environmentalists alike await next steps by the districts of Oak Bay and Saanich.

Meanwhile, surveys this summer will allow Saanich residents with and without dogs to share their input on the various related bylaws.

Do you have a story tip? Email: evert.lindquist@blackpress.ca.

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