- Our border collie, Jasper, enjoys off leash walks
It is not often that one is inspired by meeting an official of any kind – least of all a Bylaw Enforcement officer. I will call him Ron.
Sue and I took advantage of a fine sunny afternoon this week and took Jasper, our borderline collie, out for a walk at one of the many small parks around North Vancouver.
The one we chose is by the water near the Northshore Automall. It is not somewhere we go often but we had been in the area and a late afternoon stroll seemed in order.
We were not alone as late afternoon is a popular time to walk the pooch. There were a vast array of mutts, most of them off the leash. Some were chasing balls, some swam in the ocean, some simply waddled along beside their owners, and some, much smaller ones, were carried.
We had just let Jasper off the leash when Ron came over to us and told us that dogs must be on the leash in this area. We were able to get Jasper back pretty quickly and harness him up again.
From then everyone we met, dog owner or not, seemed to want to talk about Ron and his spoilsport attitude to what everyone agreed was an ideal place for dogs to be off leash. We all watched for Ron’s departure before letting our dogs off for their run.
This civil disobedience seems contrary to Canada’s law-abiding reputation. I think it sprang from the fact that this area is pretty industrial. It is virtually a waste ground, even though it is prime waterfront in North Vancouver. Behind us the Northshore Automall was the closest set of buildings. So what better place for dogs to run around? It seemed only fair that the dogs, and their owners, should enjoy what otherwise would be a neglected wasteland. And Canadians do love fairness.
