Letters to the editor

I am also a runner myself but no matter how hard I train or how much I run there is no way I can ever run fast enough to keep up with my dog.

I find there is no where in Kelowna that will allow me to run along a flat trail while giving my dog freedom to be off leash running with me. My dog is obedient, listens well and likes to run ahead of me then turn around and run back, always in my sight.

The current off leash parks are far outside of town or too small for us both to enjoy a run.

Why is Kelowna so strict about off leash dogs? I can not accept that a large dog be leashed his entire life because the city can not free up some in-town trail space for animals to enjoy along with their owners.

Keeping a large dog on leash at all times makes them crazy, they need to run. Getting to a dog park everyday that is 10 km out of town or away from your house is not a good daily option for exercise.

If the city can not give dog owners some appropriate space for both dog owners and dog's to exercise why not just ban large dog's from the city all together?

I find that I often have to make the choice at owning a crazy anxious dog 5 days a week or choosing to face a fine to let him run!

Even with a large back yard and Monday-Friday daily on-leash walks this is not enough exercise for a large dog.

I propose that dog owners be giving a section of the Mission Creek Greenway as an off leash friendly running trail or post off leash hours where owners and dogs can enjoy some daily exercise together.

Dog owners need some running trails and not just fenced in PARKS to bring our dogs to.

Please do something to make it possible to enjoy the outdoors with my loved family dog.

Angela Daniels