“As a dog owner, I know how important it is for families to have an outdoor space for their furry friends." — Mark Saunders
Toronto – As Mayor, Mark Saunders announced that he would create new off-leash spaces for people to take their dogs. For some dog owners, the closest public space is a schoolyard, yet many people don’t realize that dogs aren’t allowed on school property for reasons of health and safety.
It’s simple: kids shouldn’t have to play in the same place where a dog has peed – or worse yet, where an owner hasn’t picked up after their dog.
In more serious cases, dogs who are off leash on school property can pose a safety threat to students and staff. We saw this happen a few weeks ago when a student who was playing with his friends was seriously injured after being bitten in the face by a dog. Time and time again, these things are happening and we need to put a stop to it.
“I take my own dog, Copper, on long walks every single morning,” said Saunders. “But this is about safety. Dogs need a lot of space to run and play and have fun and this can’t be done on a school yard. We need to keep schools safe and clean.”
As Mayor, Saunders will: