The dog days of summer have arrived in Saanich and with it some restrictions for where you can take your four-legged friends.
Saanich reminds dog owners of restrictions in place from May 1 to Aug. 31, prohibiting dogs from the following parks and beaches:
• Gyro Park and the public beach at Cadboro Bay lying between the easterly boundary of Gyro Park and the boundary of the Municipality of Oak Bay, except before 9 a.m. on any day;
• Whitehead Park;
• Cordova Bay Beach area lying between the northerly boundary of Cordova Bay Park and the southerly boundary of the Walema Avenue right-of-way, except before 9 a.m. on any day;
• Mount Douglas Park Beach and the part of Mount Douglas Park bounded by Cordova Bay Road, Ash Road, Douglas Creek, the natural boundary of the ocean and the northwesterly boundary of the park, except the asphalt road surface lying to the northwest of the picnic area between the two gates.
Dog owners are also reminded of the year-round leash restrictions on the perimeter trail at Cedar Hill Golf Course, in Rithet’s Bog and within 10 metres of all playgrounds. Dogs must also be leashed at all times on all public school grounds and are prohibited from any fenced baseball field during the months of March through October.
Dogs are prohibited in Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary and Quick’s Bottom all year long because they are sensitive nature sanctuaries.
Owners are also asked to clean up after their dogs and keep them under control at all times.
More detailed information about dogs in parks, including maps of prohibited areas, is available on saanich.ca. If you have questions regarding the Saanich animals bylaw, please contact the Saanich Pound at 250-475-4321.