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Waterloo Chronicle, 29 Mar 2018, p. 011

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11| W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,M arch 29,2018 w aterloochronicle.ca We are here to help! My office can help with: Catherine Fife MPP Kitchener-Waterloo 100 Regina St. S., Suite 220, Waterloo 519-725-3477 cfife-co@ndp.on.ca • www.catherinefife.com Recognition for special occasions • Hydro issues Long-Term Care issues • Ontario Works & ODSP Navigating the Healthcare System Ontario ID & Ministry of Transportation Preparation of Petitions for the Ontario Legislature help! issues ODSP tation egislature 1373 Victoria St. N., Kitchener | 519-742-8501 www.internationalhomeinteriors.ca For a limited time only, Stressless is increasing the savings on itsWing model recliner. Purchase any size StresslessWing recliner and ottoman, LegComfort™ or Office and receive huge savings in ALL Paloma leather colors. Combine with our extra savings on over 12 different model sofas to complete the perfect living space. *See sales associate for complete details. Stressless is proudly endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. Also save up to 25% on matching sofas.* THE INNOVATORS OF COMFORT™ RECEIVE $600 OFF* your purchase of StresslessWing in select colors. When it comes to finding additional areas around Wa- terloo where dog owners can let pets play off-leash, sports fields are out. That's the general con- sensus from folks who reached out after I suggest- ed that some of our parks, provided they are remote from residential areas, be made available for this pur- pose at set times. "You might be surprised, as I was, to learn that you can't even play soccer or baseball on an unused city field without a permit and twice I have be told so much for doing so," Sean Borman wrote. "Be prepared for a lit- any of excuses ranging from liability to maintenance concerns." The majority of folks who contacted me felt natu- ral areas and parkland should be considered, but this doesn't work for Bor- man either. He doesn't have a dog, and he and his chil- dren are "totally annoyed" by off-leash dogs to the point he feels they can no longer visit their favourite local natural area on days when off-leash dogs are likely to be in abundance. "I think any designation of new off-leash space, re- gardless of where that is should be married with en- forcement of the leash by- laws in the 'unofficial' off- leash areas," Borman said. Longtime Waterloo resi- dent Kenneth Coe feels that enough city property has al- ready gone to the dogs, more shouldn't be added. He cov- ers a lot of territory while out walking his dog and in his opinion, incidences of owners not picking up pet waste are on the rise. Coe is particularly puz- zled by those who take the time to bag waste, but then leave it behind. He is also an- noyed by those who dispose of dog waste in city garbage cans. "Perhaps stoop, scoop and dispose of properly is just too complicated for some," Coe said. "Maybe they do not realize that it is a biohazard and needs to be green binned." "Let's leave the sports fields unmolested by dog walkers. Let's try and re- duce the taint rather than expand it," said Coe. Compared to Waterloo, Kitchener offers its resi- dents two off-leash dog parks, while London pro- vides three and Hamilton of- fers five. When asked where they felt new off-leash areas should be located, most visi- tors to the Bechtel Park off- leash area felt the west side of the city could benefit the most. Columbia Lake, Lau- relwood, the Hydrocut area north of Ira Needles Boule- vard were some of the sug- gestions I received. I realize it's not a good idea to look a gift dog in the mouth, but the demand is there and folks on the west side of town deserve a leash- free area as well. In the meantime, fans of the Bechtel Park off-leash area will be happy to know that a fresh layer of wood chips now covers those ar- eas most susceptible to mud. That'll help keep our shoes clean, but as most dog owners know, if there is mud anywhere at all, dogs are sure to find it. - A freelance writer based in Waterloo, Penny Walford can be reached at pen- ny.walford@hotmail.com. OPINION Don't scrap sports fields for off-leash dog parks Dog owners pushing for more accessibility especially on the west side says Penny Walford PENNY WALFORD Column PET OF THE WEEK CHELSEA This orange beauty is Chelsea. She has been with the K-W Humane Society for almost a month now and the progress she has made is nothing short of extraordinary! When she first got here she was very shy and scared, but is far more open now to a human companion. She even comes out just to see what's going on. We can only imagine the progress she would make in a home with a caring family. Come into the K-W Humane Society today if you can help this cat grow into a paw-some feline friend or call 519-745-5615, ext. 241. K-W Humane Society photo

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