New rules could be coming for dog walkers at Chief Whitecap Park

Dog walkers who visit Chief Whitecap Park south of the city may soon have to keep their dogs leashed.

It's all because of recent attacks by dogs on people, and other pets, according to the Rural Municipality of Corman Park.

"We have people jogging, walking, and more than that, horseback riding," Reeve Judy Harwood said. "Not all dogs that may come out from the city have seen a horse, so we've had some issues with dangerous dogs attacking each other, but also with some issues with some of our residents."

The city operates the park, but it's in the RM.

Whitecap was never formally an off-leash park, but dog walkers have long been able to let their pets run free without fear of getting prosecuted.

But the recent attacks are changing that.

"I have horses, and if you're riding a green horse and you have a dog coming at you, it can be a dangerous situation," Harwood said.

The city and RM are working out the enforcement and prosecution details. There's no word on when the new signs will be going up.

Some visitors said the change may dissuade them from coming to the park.

"I don't see why people would come out here to use it as a on-leash park,"  said Nicole Dyck. "It's about 20 minutes out of the city for me, so the big advantage is coming and letting my dog run free, so we probably won't come out here anymore."

Dyck also said she has never encountered any violent dogs at Chief Whitecap.

Another park visitor, Rochelle Tokarchuck, also said she won't come back if she can't let her dog off-leash.

The issue will receive further debate when it goes to planning and development committee in July.