PEI Humane Society says dogs not on leash an ongoing problem

Charlottetown officials say off-leash dogs are an ongoing problem.

The city has received several complaints recently from residents about dogs running freely at local parks.

Charlottetown hires the PEI Humane Society to enforce its dog bylaws, and the group confirms dogs off-leash are a common sight.

"Saturday actually I was looking for a stray dog that was acting pretty aggressively down by the trail by the market in Charlottetown, and I met six dogs that were off-leash," said animal protection officer Lorinda McCarthy.

"People leave their dogs out, they're running around, we don't want to give you fines but when it happens over and over again, unfortunately we have to."

There's no getting around the rules; except for specific areas, dogs can't run free.

"The bylaw states quite explicitly that your dog is to be on leash at all times," said Mitchell Tweel, chair of parks and recreation for the city.

Fines for letting dogs off-leash range from $100 to $1,000.

The Humane Society say the number of fines it hands out varies from month to month, with the problem increasing as the weather gets warmer.

Some dog owners who spoke to CBC said it would be nice to have more off-leash areas in the city, with Upton Park and the dog park behind the Humane Society the only spots available.

Currently, the dog park is closed for spring maintenance, but will re-open May 23.

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