Increase in dog bite incidents prompts Wolfville park to limit off-leash hours

CBC

28-06-2025

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After an unspecified number of incidents involving off-leash dogs at Reservoir Park, the Town of Wolfville, N.S., is running a pilot project until January that will limit the hours dogs can be off-leash.
The changes mean dogs must stay on leash between 10 a.m. AT and 7 p.m. each day. Previously, there weren't any restrictions.
Wolfville Mayor Jodi MacKay said when she received a call from an emergency room doctor telling her she was seeing more cases of dog bites coming from the park, MacKay said she knew something had to be done.
MacKay said the town gathered feedback from community members for a couple of months.
"We heard a lot of just negative interactions [with off-leash dogs]," she said.
MacKay said she does not know how many incidents there have been and how severe they were.
People who don't comply with the new rules can be fined between $100 and $1,000.
MacKay, who owns a five-year-old schnauzer named Mac, said people who want to share feedback about the pilot project can do so by scanning QR codes located throughout Reservoir Park.
David Steele is a member of a naturalist group and often walks at the park.
"I've had excited dogs come racing at me and jump on me," said Steele. "I'm a fairly sturdy fellow, but not everybody who walks here is, so I can understand why that could be quite threatening and even dangerous for some of the people who use the park."
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Steele said it isn't just dogs that can be found at the park. He said most of his interactions with pets there have been positive, but the few that aren't can be especially dangerous for children and elderly people.
Doug Watling of Kentville, N.S., is not pleased with the change. He frequently drives to Reservoir Park to let his dog, 13-year-old Hannah, off-leash.
"One of the things that made the park charming is the fact that dogs were off-leash and got to engage and interact with people," he said. "We'll be coming here far less often, trust me."