With off-leash pets causing disturbances at local park, some say more dog parks in Windsor could help
It's not a dog park — but an outdoor space in Windsor is being treated as such by dog owners, according to residents who live near the area.
The fence outside Leticia Nonya's backyard connects into Paterson Park in the city's Sandwich Town neighborhood.
She moved to the area two years ago and says, at least once a day, people have been walking their dogs throughout the park without a leash.
The result, according to Nonya, is dogs charging at neighbour's fences whenever they see another animal on the opposite side.
"For people that live in the area, their dogs get vicious and start attacking the fence as well," she said.
"I have a dog that is very anxiety-ridden now. She's terrified to go outside half the time because there are dogs charging at the fence."
According to Nonya, the daily confrontations led to a noise complaint which required a city worker to show up this past spring.
"I wouldn't care if they walked their dogs off leash if they had a recall for their dog," she said, referring to commands such as "come here" or "no, come back."
"The risk of off-leash dogs in a park with a playground where kids play is very dangerous. Someone who thinks they know their dog and doesn't may let their dog off leash and it attacks a child. That's scary."
Nonya expressed her frustation over the daily occurences on social media about two weeks ago. Many of the responses came from people who said they frequented the park and observed similar behaviour as what Nonya described.
Among those who responded are dog owner Margaret Cotter. One solution, she suggests, is for the city to add a dog park in the area where people would be permitted to let their pets roam free without a leash.
Windsor currently has four city-run, off-leash dog parks: Ford Test Track Dog Park at 3001 Seminole Drive, Optimist Memorial Dog Park at 1075 Ypres Boulevard, Remington Booster Dog Park at 701 Edinborough Street and Malden Dog Park at 4200 Malden Road.
"It's sad because we a lot of unused space that can be used correctly," said Cotter, adding the number of apartments in Sandwich Town could be leading some dog owners to Paterson Park.
"If they live in an apartment, they would prefer to have a dog park near the building so the dog can go and play if they don't have a backyard."
While Cotter agrees the quickest way to solve the ongoing issues at Paterson Park is for dog owners to ensure their pets are leashed while in that area, she said dog parks can connect communities in a way that other spaces can not replicate.
"You get to meet new people. You get to meet new breeds of dogs that you might not have thought to be a match for your family. If you're looking at buying a dog — and rescuing one, preferably — go a dog park and talk to the owners."
Cotter has a four-year-old dog named Rosie which lives as a service animal for her daughter with autism.
"When I take her to a dog park, she loves it. She runs up to the gate. She can't wait to get in. My daughter also gets to rollerblade," said Cotter.
"That's why we love places like Malden or Ford Test Track. The child can play and the dog can have its me time."
Some who commented on Nonya's social media post suggested the city either convert Paterson Park into a dog park or add a pet-friendly addition to the outdoor space.
According to Nonya, that idea would not work for the people who live around the park.
"They would have to petition the people around here before they do that. Our neighbors are not going to go for that because these dogs torment our as it is."
However, Nonya does agree with Cotter's idea that more dog parks in other parts of the city could help reduce the frequency of disturbances outside her home.
"Why not make more in areas you're trying to preserve? Add a dog park or two."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The lost season': Winter comes to a close as Canada's warmest on record
The warmest winter on record could have far-reaching effects on everything from wildfire season to erosion, climatologists say, while offering a preview of what the season could resemble in the not-so-distant future unless steps are taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
NEW High thoughts: The habits of Canadian cannabis users are revealed in a new StatCan report
Statistics Canada has conducted a series of surveys to measure the impacts of legalized cannabis since the Cannabis Act took effect in 2018. The latest one, the 2023 National Cannabis Survey, sheds light on users' preferences and habits last year.
Freddie Mercury's home is on the market for first time since 1980 minus his 'exquisite clutter'
Freddie Mercury's sanctuary in London, where he lived the last decade of his life, is on sale for the first time in nearly half a century -- minus his "exquisite clutter."
NEW Where to watch the state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney
A state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney will be held in Montreal on March 23. CTV News will have live special coverage of his funeral service.
Trump says Jews who vote for Democrats 'hate Israel' and their religion
Former U.S. president Donald Trump on Monday charged that Jews who vote for Democrats 'hate Israel' and hate 'their religion,' igniting a firestorm of criticism from the White House and Jewish leaders.
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.