Dogs will need leashes on most York Region forest trails if new rules approved

Thestar.com
Feb. 11, 2022

You’ll have to leash up your dogs in most of York Region's forests if new rules are given final approval by regional council later this month.

The region’s 160 kilometres of forest trails have become a popular spot for dog enthusiasts during the pandemic, and that’s led to some canine conflict.

Now the region wants to tame the turmoil with a proposal that would require dogs to be on-leash at all times in York Region forests except for two designated areas -- the Bendor and Graves tract in East Gwillimbury and Davis Drive tract in Whitchurch-Stouffville.

Regional council members gave the thumbs up to a staff proposal outlining the new rules on Feb. 10.

Dog walking is one of the most popular uses in the regional forests -- protected green space that includes 24 properties and more than 2,400 hectares.

Dog owners had been able to walk their dog off-leash, provided the animal remained in control, until March 2020, when the rule was revised as a COVID-19 safety measure. Off-leash use was restricted to an enclosed part of the Bendor and Graves tract.

In response to growing complaints and concerns related to off-leash activity across the region’s forests, Environmental Services conducted a review and comprehensive public consultation over an 18-month period to develop an updated rule for dog walking in the Regional Forest.

“In recent years, there has been an increase in confrontations between off-leash dogs resulting in serious injuries and several dog fatalities,” the staff report said. “Similarly, off-leash dogs pose a bite risk to forest visitors and encounters with off-leash dogs can make for an unpleasant visitor experience. Users have also reported dogs spooking or chasing horses.”

Off-leash dogs also impact the ecological health of natural areas, affecting wildlife, native plants and introducing invasive species, the report said.

A survey of 1,900 people in the fall of 2020 found that 41 per cent were concerned that dogs were not under control. Others raised concerns about dog waste not being picked up and the fear of being approached by an unfamiliar dog.

York Region staff propose to open two tracts -- Bendor and Graves and Davis Drive -- for off-leash dogs, chosen based on ecological sensitivity, size, location, current use, educational programming and parking.

If given final approval by council on Feb. 24, the new rule would take effect in May 2022.

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The region would partner with local municipalities to deliver education and enforcement.

Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt said he supports the move but is concerned about the burden on local bylaw officers to enforce it, as many people continue to go off-leash on forest trails.

“I think we’ve got a long road ahead of us to try and change behaviour.”

The region will consider enhanced enforcement funding and would monitor the situation, said Erin Mahoney, commissioner of environmental services for York Region.

Newmarket Mayor John Taylor warned that the Bendor and Grave tract, in particular, is already popular as a leash-free spot and will be quickly overrun.

“The chance of conflict for dogs increases with the number and there’s a point where you can have too much dog activity,” he said. “I think we should be adding at least one more, and the further south the better.”

Staff agreed to look at additional leash-free tracts as part of their next review.