ABBIE'S GUIDE A DOG S LIFE IN WEST VANCOUVER. westvancouver.ca/dogs

Transcription

1 ABBIE'S GUIDE A DOG S LIFE IN WEST VANCOUVER westvancouver.ca/dogs

2 ABOUT THIS GUIDE WELCOME TO WEST VANCOUVER My name is Abbie the golden retriever, and I'm your guide to West Van. (I have the most popular dog name in West Van, and I'm also the most popular breed.) This is a great place to be a dog. There s so much to do, see and sniff, but there are also rules. I love everyone, but not everyone loves me so it s important my owner knows the rules. IN THIS BROCHURE Licensing Your Dog The Seawalk 2 Off-Leash Areas 3 Commercial Dog Walkers 3 Map of Designated Dog Walking Areas 4 Bylaws and Rules 6 How to Keep Your Best Friend Safe 7 Doggy Facts 9 If you have questions related to dogs, or if you have found or lost a dog, please contact the West Vancouver Bylaw and Licensing Department: 750 7th Street West Vancouver BC V7V 3T3 phone: call us: 8 a.m. 8 p.m. 7 days a week visit us: 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday westvancouver.ca/dogs This guide has been developed by the District of West Vancouver in collaboration with Abbie. Tank DOG LICENCES 0 DID YOU KNOW DON T LOSE ME PLEASE GET ME A LICENCE I need a licence. If I am more than six months old, I need to wear my West Van dog tag. It s not jewellery or bling although cool and always in fashion. It s my licence and I need it in case I get lost. My licence is good for one year, based on the calendar year, which means I need a new one every January. If you remember to renew my licence early, you ll even get a discount, but more importantly you'll have peace of mind knowing I can be found more easily if I go off exploring on my own! Buy your dog a tag from the Bylaw and Licensing Department, West Van SPCA, or West Vancouver and Gleneagles Community Centres. For spayed or neutered dogs (a veterinary report or other proof is required the first time) the licence fee is $26 if paid before the re-newal date ($45 after that date). For dogs who are not spayed or neutered the licence fee is $67 before the renewal date ($85 after that date). If you re new to town and have a dog licence from any other BC municipality, your owner can bring it in to municipal hall and get a West Vancouver licence for $0. If you lose your licence tag, you can get a replacements tag at municipal hall for $0. Did you know that your licensing fee helps fund bylaw officers who respond to a variety of animal control calls, including responding to aggressive dogs and lost dogs, as well as patrol the Seawalk?

3 THE SEAWALK IS A BUSY PLACE TO WALK AND WE ALL NEED TO POLITELY SHARE THIS BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC SPACE SEAWALK RULES 0 Your guide to walking with your humans on the Seawalk: The dog path between 9th and 24th Street is the only part of the Seawalk open to dogs; dogs must stay behind the fence. At 24th Street dogs must be back on-leash and exit the Seawalk at 24th Street. We are working to make this route more clear by installing enhanced signage particularly to help those not from West Vancouver who may be unfamiliar with the route. 2 I love the Seawalk, but so does everyone else. From families to joggers, locals to visitors, it s a busy place. If you want to walk me here so I can smell the salty air you need to know the rules. I even have my own special path where I can play and race along off-leash with my pals! PLACES WHERE I CAN ROAM FREE WEST VANCOUVER S 4 OFF-LEASH AREAS A maximum of three dogs per owner off-leash and under control. Ballantree 2 Benbow 3 Seawalk, north of fence (9th 24th Street only) 4 Clovelly Walk 5 Cypress Falls 6 Douglas Woodward 7 Hay 8 Klahanie (trails only) 9 Lighthouse (trails only) COMMERCIAL DOG WALKER INFORMATION My family is really busy. So sometimes, to make sure I get my exercise, they hire a dog walker to take me out. Commercial walkers are only permitted to walk up to six dogs at a time and they all must remain under control. The permitted areas for commercial walking include: Ballantree 2 Cypress Falls 3 Douglas Woodward 4 Klahanie (trails only) 5 McKechnie I like nothing more than running at top speed with my ears flapping, or wandering about saying hello to everyone I meet. And luckily, there are lots of areas where I can roam free. But everywhere else, I need to be kept on my leash. Please see the map on the next page for more information. 0 Walking trails and fire access roads in the undeveloped public lands north of the highway (with exceptions, please see map) McKechnie 2 Seaview Walk 3 Westhill 4 Whytecliff (east of ) 6 Trails and fire access roads in undeveloped public lands north of the highway, with the exception of the Cabin Area as shown in Schedule C of the Bylaw. The restricted area includes: West Lake Road, Hollyburn Ridge Cabin Area Fire Access Road and the Grand National Trail. Being a commercial dog walker requires a permit and a licence. Both are available from the Bylaw and Licensing Department at Municipal Hall. Please, make sure I m in good hands. Ask to see their permit and licence before you entrust me to a commercial dog walker. 3

4 Whytecliff HORSESHOE BAY Gleneagles Golf Course Seaview Walk Whyte Lake dogs must remain on leash Eagle Lake Eagle Lake & Surrounding Area prohibited to commercial dog walking Old Growth Conservancy The Cabin Area prohibited to commercial dog walking Ballantree WANNA GO FOR A WALK? WHERE? WILL I NEED MY WHERE? WILL NEED MY LEASH? LEASH? EAGLE HARBOUR CAULFEILD Clovelly Walk Lighthouse Cypress Falls McKechnie Cypress Bowl Road Benbow Prohibited Areas Off-Leash Locations *dogs permitted off-leash on trails and fire access roads in undeveloped public lands north of the highway. On-Leash Areas Dogs Permitted on Trails only Off-Leash and Designated Commercial Dog Walking Locations Dundarave 25th Street Westhill Inset A Hay Memorial Douglas Woodward 5th Street AMBLESIDE Inset B Lions Gate Bridge Capilano View Cemetery Taylor Way Klahanie 99 North Vancouver PROHIBITED AREAS Please remember dogs are NOT allowed not allowed on beaches, on: sports fields, school beaches facilities, playgrounds and other sports municipal fields facilities. school property playgrounds municipal facilities undeveloped private lands north of the highway (e.g. BPP) 24th Street 23rd Street Seawalk Dog Path 22nd Street Community Centre Aquatic Centre Seniors Activity Centre 2st Street Bellevue Avenue Memorial Library 20th Street Memorial 9th Street Fulton Avenue 8th Street 7th Street Municipal Hall Argyle Avenue 6th Street 5th Street Millennium 4th Street Police Tennis Courts Playing Fields Concession Building Change Rooms Washrooms Grass Field Playing Fields Royal pedestrian railway crossing Pound Road C N R Ambleside Pitch & Putt Inset A John Lawson Allotment Gardens Ambleside Pier Inset B Squamish Nation land

5 BYLAWS & RULES A Dog s Life There s a lot to see, do and sniff as a dog in West Van. There are also rules for us dogs and our owners to make sure everyone enjoys our parks, beaches, trails and public space. Here is a list of bylaws which are not commonly known. Share the love but three dogs is the maximum per property. So, if two dogs live on the main floor of a house, only one could live in the basement suite. Every dog can have a bad day... but dangerous or aggressive dogs must be muzzled and on leash at all times when off their owner s property. Every dog barks occasionally but excessive barking disturbs the neighbourhood may be fined. Every dog poops... but we can t pick it up ourselves. Picking up poop is the right thing to do and it's the law. INFRACTIONS AND MINIMUM FINES Please note: Dogs are not permitted on Ambleside Pier. They re serious on this one! There are bylaws in place so everyone, dog-lover or not, can enjoy our community. When bylaws aren t obeyed there may be a fine. Below are the rules and information you need to know in order to be a good dog owner. HOW TO KEEP YOUR BEST FRIEND SAFE The Bylaw and Licensing Department get lots of calls about animal welfare. Lots of people in our community want to make sure Abbie and her friends are being treated well. Here are the top five dog health questions we get asked in West Vancouver. # IS IT ILLEGAL TO LEAVE A DOG UNATTENDED IN THE CAR? No. It is not illegal to leave a dog or pet unattended in an enclosed space, which includes boats as well as cars, provided there s fresh air via a vent or opening in the window and the temperature in the enclosed space does not exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Another important tip: if dogs are outside the passenger compartment (for example in the bed of a pickup) they must be tethered to the vehicle for their own protection. The safest way to do this is with a harness and two leashes to prevent the dog from jumping out of the vehicle. #2 IF IT S NOT ILLEGAL, DOES THAT MEAN IT S OK TO LEAVE MY DOG IN THE CAR WHILE I RUN ERRANDS? Dogs (and cats) cool themselves by panting and by releasing heat through their paws. On summer days the air and upholstery in your vehicle can heat up to high temperatures making it impossible for pets to cool themselves. Just like people, your dog would be more comfortable waiting for you at home instead of inside a hot car. Failure to remove animal droppings $50 Dog not licensed $50 Dog without tag $50 Animal running at large $50 Dog in prohibited area $50 Dog not under control in off-leash area $00 Dangerous animal at large $500 Dangerous animal not muzzled $500 Animal aggressively harassing or pursuing a person $500 Animal injuring a person or pet $500 Barking dog $00 Human keeping more than three (3) dogs $500 Human walking more than three (3) dogs $00 Commercial walking of more than six (6) dogs $200 Animal left inside vehicle $50 Animal untethered outside the passenger compartment of a vehicle $50 #3 IS IT TRUE THAT DOGS CAN GET HEATSTROKE? Yes. It s possible your dog might be suffering from heatstroke if they display any of the following symptoms: Exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting) Rapid or erratic pulse Salivation Anxious or staring expression Weakness or muscle tremors Lack of coordination Tongue and lips redden (and may eventually turn bluish in colour) Convulsions or vomiting 6 7

6 #4 WHAT IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO TREAT HEATSTROKE? SHOULD I APPLY AN ICE PACK? Do not apply ice. This constricts blood flow which will inhibit cooling. If your dog shows symptoms of heatstroke, follow these instructions: Immediately move the animal to a cool, shady place. Wet the dog with cool water. Fan vigorously to promote evaporation. This process will cool the blood, which reduces the dog's core temperature. Allow the dog to drink some cool water. Take the dog to a vet as soon as possible for further treatment. Vets may apply supportive measures such as oxygen to prevent brain damage, and/or intravenous fluids to re-hydrate the animal. DOGGY FACTS There are lots of different dogs in West Van, but did you know what the most common names and breeds are of dogs in the area? TOP THREE MOST COMMON BREEDS IN WEST VAN: #5 WHAT WINTER HAZARDS EXIST FOR DOGS? During the winter months, dogs can encounter a number of hazards.. Temperature When it s cold outside be attentive to your dog s body temperature. They feel windchill too, so make sure they are bundled up. Also, if your dog is a working animal or spends a lot of time outside, a few more calories might be needed since it takes more energy in winter to keep body temperature regulated. 2. Burns If your dog is really cold, make sure he or she doesn t get too close to fireplaces, baseboard heaters and other heat sources. There is a risk of burning in an effort to get warm. 3. Salt Salt used to break down ice can also break down your pooch s paws. Be sure to towel down your dogs and pay special attention to the pads of their paws so that any salt residue is removed. 4. Antifreeze Antifreeze is needed in Canadian winters, but it can cause serious injury or death. Always be attentive to what your dog is sniffing and possibly licking off the ground. 5. Dehydration Just like people, dogs can get dehydrated in winter just like in summer. Snow doesn t cut it. Make sure there s always plenty of fresh water available. Labrador Retriever TOP THREE MOST COMMON NAMES IN WEST VAN (AFTER ABBIE): TOTAL NUMBER OF LICENSED DOGS IN WEST VAN: Max Shih Tzu Border Collie # #2 #3 (and counting) Molly Sammy 8 9

7 GIVE A DOG A HOME CONSIDER ADOPTION Adopting a dog can change both its life and yours. Visit the West Vancouver branch of the SPCA at 020, or online at spca.bc.ca/branches/west-vancouver For more information visit westvancouver.ca/dogs