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Lachine dog owners set to take their battle with city to court

Anne Sutherland
The Gazette
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Some dog owners in Lachine are upset at the borough for a perceived bias against dogs.
For years, they have been fighting a municipal bylaw that forbids dogs from the Parks Canada lands beside the canal.
The next stage in their battle against the city will be in Quebec Superior Court on Sept. 22 and 23.
The borough does have some designated parks where dogs are permitted, but several of those are below standard say some dog lovers.
Last year, to celebrate the first day of autumn and to bring dog owners together, a group of citizens staged a dog walk and picnic in Stoney Point park, where dogs are only allowed between 6 and 10 a.m. and 6 and 10 p.m.
For their second annual walk and picnic, they asked for the same locale but were turned down.
The dog enthusiasts have been relegated to Promenade du Rail – on Victoria St. from 28th Ave. to 10th Ave. – a strip some dog owners say is dangerous and unsuited to their needs.
“This is a bike path, not a park, and it’s very dangerous to share space with cyclists,” said dog owner Shari Harrison.
“We’re trying to show Lachine in a legal way that we are responsible dog owners. We licence our dogs and clean up after them.”
Karine Belisle, communications director for the borough, said the council suggested the dog owners go to Promenade du Rail since there are no restrictions on the hours dogs are allowed there, giving the picnic goers more time.
“It was decided that this location would be better for the event as dogs are allowed there all day,” Belisle said.
“The council wants to show support for the event by scheduling it in a place that is better for the dogs.”
The second annual First Day of Fall Dog Walk will be held Sunday Sept. 21 from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Everyone is invited to bring their dogs, leashes, water bowls and poop bags to the gathering place at the corner of 28th Ave. and Victoria at 10 a.m.
asutherland@thegazette.canwest.com