Breaking the rules
North Rustico man says he still sees too many pets off-leash in P.E.I. National Park
CAVENDISH — A North Rustico senior wants to see better control of dogs on hiking trails and beaches in the P.E.I. National Park.
Simon Lemay says he encounters too many dog owners walking their pets off-leash.
Lemay points out that the majority of owners are abiding by the law but notes he has seen more people out this year, perhaps due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and some people may not be aware of the rules.
Lemay, who walks every day on the trails or beaches, says he still suffers from trauma after being attacked by a large dog on a beach in the park two years ago.
“I am speaking out because I care about seniors,’’ Lemay said in an interview with The Guardian recently on the trails at Cavendish Grove. “I want to remind dog owners to keep them on a leash; that there are other people on the trail. Seniors are very vulnerable. If you have a big dog jump on you, what are you going to do? Even the owner can’t do anything.’’
Lemay said he was out for a walk at Cavendish Beach two years ago when he could see a dog running towards him.
“I can still see his eyes getting bigger and bigger as he ran toward me. He jumped on me. His paw ended up on my shoulder and his face was right in my face. It was so frightening to me. It was shocking.’’
At the time, Lemay said he was coming off surgery to correct heart palpitations as well as a cataract operation.
Immediately following the attack, Lemay said he was hospitalized and still deals with occasional memory loss, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.
One of the park wardens in the P.E.I. National Park fined the dog owner $125 because the dog was off-leash.
“She had the leash with her, but it was in her hand,’’ Lemay said, referring to the dog owner.
Lemay said he spoke to the dog owner after the incident about the fact it had left him traumatized.
“I told her that her dog should be on a leash. The words she said to me are not repeatable. She had a bad attitude.’’
Lori-Anne Duffy, one of the park wardens in the P.E.I. National Park, said they have seen more people using the park’s properties this year and have been educating them on the rules. She added they can only be in so many places at any one time.
“The 2020 season was unprecedented for Parks Canada,’’ Duffy said. “We spent a significant amount of time (patrolling). Parks wardens and staff (spent time) communicating and educating with visitors who may have been (unaware) of the regulations. There is a majority of dog owners that do respect the domestic animal regulations. However, there is a proportion of our visitor population that do not.’’
The domestic animal regulations in the park require all dog owners to keep their pets on a leash at all times in all areas within the park’s boundaries. Dog leashes cannot exceed three metres in length.
Duffy said people are also reminded that dogs are not permitted on beaches in the park between April 1 and Oct. 15.
Lemay said he’s also frustrated by dog owners who either don’t pick up after their animal or the ones who do and leave waste bags on the ground. He thinks the park could address this by placing more waste bins on along the trails and on the beaches.
“This is of the (pet) etiquettes I feel mostly strong about,’’ he said. “Fill up your bag of poo but don’t leave it lying around.’’
Duffy concurs.
“It’s very important that pet owners … clean up after their pets and remove waste bags from their visit,’’ she said.