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BYOUR CITY ALLOWING DOGS ON BOARD ION TRAINS AIM OF DOG FRIENDLY KW PETITION ORGANIZATION PROMOTING A DOG-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE DOWNTOWN CORE ACCESSIBLE TO MORE RESIDENTS BY LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS ON PETS ON LIGHT RAIL TRAINS JOHANNA WEIDNER jweidner@therecord.com A local organization promoting a dog-friendly community wants to see leashed dogs welcome on Ton trains. Dog Friendly KW start- ed a oon. (dogfrien- dlykw.com/Irt-campaign) calling for Grand River Transit to allow dogs on leash to travel on light rail vehicles alongside their owl On nly animals small enough to fit in a portable crate are currently per- mitted on public transit in Waterloo Region. But oth- er cities, including Toron- to and Calgary, don't bar any dogs, and they're al- lowed on GO Transit buses and trains. “There is demonstrated success of this across Can- ada," said Justine Spar- ling, co-founder and direc- tor of Dog Friendly KW. "It increases accessibility." The non-profit organi- zation aims to create a safe, accessible and inclu- sive dog-friendly commu- nity while supporting lo- cal, small businesses and promoting responsible dog ownership through educa- tion. since its launch in 2020, Dog Friendly KW has host- ed numerous events in the downtown core. Spai ling said iti is “auite restrictive" for dog without a vehicle to sattend these events or get to pet- friendly or pet-oriented businesses, of which there are countless along the light rail corridor. Their only options are a costly taxi ride or to stay home. Some people live in the core in ‘pel -friendly build- ings, but there is no on-site arking. Even with a vehi- cle, finding parking down- town can be tricky. Sparling lives right across from. re Block Line station in Kitchener, and would love to be able to get on the Ion with her rescue mutt, Marshall. ‘he region's goal for building the light rail sys- tem was economic devel- opment in the urban cen- tre and to encourage peo- ple to come to the core. eu erRoofing n Fame Exterior Experts! * Roof Inspections ¢ Installation ¢ Repairs ¢ Waterproofing ¢ Flat Roofing « Replacement ¢ Energy Saving * Skylights & more "It really does preclude om that," events it's hosting this summer, including 15 planned for June alone. They'd like to run limited pilots when dogs are al- lowed on the Ion, starting with the day of an event and then expand to a week- end and a longer stretch. Montreal is in the midst of a nine-month pilot pro- ject called Dogs on the Metro, which allows dogs on public transit with cer- tain guidelines such as wearing a muzzle and only 42]-] To Fairway travelling during off-peak "Sparling said there are simple solutions to miti- gate objections people may have, such as ensuring transit is safe for service dogs and those with aller- gies or fear of dogs. Certain cars could be designated for four-legged riders, along with the re- nts in the Montre- al pilot. In Toronto, there are few complaints related to dogs on “These other communi ties, they're doin; limited challenges," ling said. Dog Friendly KW en- ear we On... @ HOME & GARDEN TELEVISION -e) To Conestoga €Z0Z‘SL OUNp ‘epsunyy, | efo]UEIYD COUEyeM | S David Bebee/Waterloo Record Justine Sparling, co-founder of Dog Friendly KW, and her dog, Marshall, stand at the Block Line lon station. Her group has started a petition calling for leashed dogs to be allowed on lon trains. courages people who don't support the idea to reach out, Sparling said. "We'd love to hear their perspec- tive." The petition closes in August and the plan is to speak to regional council about the proposal in the ll. > Grand River Transit is aware of the campaign to make changes to its pet policy and appreciates the feedback received to date, a regional sp okespel rson said. The transit authority constantly reviews its pol- icies to ensure the service is available and accessible to all riders. CHRONICLE READERS’ CHOICE 2022 t wait, call us today 226-989-5897 info@reuterroofing.ca o'9]9|UOIYDOOLIE}2M