Editor:
Delinquent dogs and dog owners are out of control.
There are feces everywhere.
As an avid tennis player, I am concerned about the proper and responsible use of White Rock’s and South Surrey’s public tennis courts.
One major problem is that many dog owners use the tennis courts as off-leash areas for their dogs to run amok, safely without running into the road. I have seen this many times, and on more than one occasion found dog feces on the court – a health and safety issue, especially when your tennis ball rolls through it.
I am also concerned about the way so many dog owners ignore the leashing bylaws throughout White Rock and South Surrey, including on White Rock beach, promenade and beach area west of High Street.
According to City of White Rock’s website, the leashed-dog area is limited to the area between High Street and Bay Street.
I go to the beach about seven times a week, and each and every time I see multiple dog owners completely disregarding the bylaw.
Delinquent dog owners also treat Duprez Ravine, Crescent Beach, Serpentine Fen Wildlife Area, Mud Bay Park Wildlife Management Area, Elgin Heritage Park, Kwomais Point Park, Semiahmoo Trail and pretty much everywhere else as off-leash areas.
If the cities hired additional animal-control officers to hand out fines, this additional revenue would pay the wages and put money in the cities’ coffers to pay for road repair and other services.
As a landscape photographer with an interest in local and migrating wildlife, I am greatly concerned about the impact to wildlife, other members of the community and the feces dog owners leave in all my favourite places.
I like all animals, including dogs, but wonder why bylaws aren’t enforced, and why so many owners think the bylaw doesn’t apply to them.
Adrian Brown, Surrey