City of Victoria staff recommend banning off-leash dogs from Gonzales Beach
Dogs may no longer be able to run free at one of Victoria’s most popular beaches, because City of Victoria staff are recommending council approve a change to a bylaw that would remove Gonzales Beach as an off-leash area.
City staff are recommending that council amend the "Animal Responsibility Bylaw," which governs off-leash areas, to align with the federal Wildlife Protection Act. The federal regulation protects the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary (VHMBS), which includes Gonzales Beach.
The proposed change was prompted after the city received a letter from The Canadian Wildlife Service in June.
The national animal protection agency noted there was an inconsistency between the city’s Animal Responsibility Bylaw, which allows dogs to be off-leash at Gonzales Beach, and the federal Wildlife Protection Act.
Section 5(1) of the Wildlife Protection Act regulations states: "No person who owns a dog or cat shall permit the dog or cat to run at large in a migratory bird sanctuary."
The letter from the Wildlife Service asked that the City of Victoria to make the changes to the bylaw to address the issue.
In a report to be presented to city council on Thursday, staff recommend changing the current bylaw that permits off-leash dogs at the beach in order to comply with the federal regulations and to protect migratory birds that depend on VHMBS as a habitat.
In a statement to CTV News, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps says staff are recommending the change to meet the federal regulations and to maintain biodiversity.
"This proposed change will bring the city’s bylaws back into compliance with federal regulations with respect to the bird sanctuary," said Helps.
"Gonzales Beach is the one key area where off-leash dogs can have a negative impact on migratory birds," she said.
The report says that in addition to amending the bylaw, staff plan to work with the Canadian Wildlife Service to update signs at Gonzales Beach outlining the impact of off-leash dogs on bird habitats. It says the Wildlife Service has committed to assisting with education and enforcement efforts in the coming months.
Under the current bylaw, dogs are not permitted on the beach leashed or unleashed during June, July and August.
With the city expected to ban off-leash dogs at Gonzales Beach year-round, city staff are recommending that visitors and residents use nearby Pemberton Park if they want to have their pets off-leash.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.