Obey the leash laws
New Glasgow woman says having dogs on leashes protects people, others using the Samson Trail
A local dog owner says people using the Samson Trail to exercise their dogs need to keep them on a leash.
Megan MacKay said more than once her 25-pound dog Sunee has been involved in altercations with other dogs on the trail who have been off leash.
“I live on the trail and we walk the trail every day,” she said. “We were up by Sobey Point Park Monday and I had her on a harness and leash and a dog came running out of nowhere.”
MacKay said the dog, which was about same size as Sunee, was barking and snapping at her dog until its owner was able to separate them. When she asked the dog owner why his dog wasn’t on a leash, he told her that his dog doesn’t bite.
“It is not just about your dog being on a leash,” she told him. “It is about other dogs.”
She said the man harnessed his dog and put on a leash and apologized as he walked away, but the next day, Sunee was out for a walk again in the same area and this time an off-leash Irish Setter came running towards her.
“It is common to have people with dogs off leash on the trail,” she said.
MacKay says Sunee is nervous around other dogs, which she credits to her early years of living in Thailand. She adopted Sunee at the age of three from the SOI organization, which rescues stray dogs in Thailand. She said Sunee was on a truck headed to a meat factory in that country when the rescue group intervened. The dog was taken in, micro-chipped and cared for until she was healthy enough to be adopted by MacKay.
“I don’t want anything to scare her,” she said. “She has had
“I don’t want anything to scare her … She has had enough fear in her life and she doesn’t need any more.” Megan MacKay, speaking about her dog Sunee
enough fear in her life and she doesn’t need any more.”
MacKay said she contacted the town in the past about people letting their dogs run off leash in the trail, but she has seen little difference in the situation.
Signs are posted at various locations on the trail that state dogs must be on a leash at all times, and poop and scoop laws are in effect. The minimum fine for failing to clean up after a dog is $100 and the fine is $50 for a dog running off leash.
An unleashed dog park is located at Tartan Field in New Glasgow that also has bags available on site to help with clean up.
The Town of Stellarton has approved the development of its own dog park in this year’s budget.
New Glasgow Regional Police Const. Ken MacDonald said any animal-based complaints can be directed to the Town of Glasgow so its bylaw officer can investigate.