Photo: Darren Handschuh

City officials are looking into allowing leashed dogs in Polson Park.

Polson Park may be going to the dogs, but that's a good thing.

City officials are looking into allowing leashed dogs in the downtown park.

And that is welcome news to dog owners who have spoken out on Facebook about allowing the four-legged friends into the city's main park.

There are dog parks in the North Okanagan, but those heading to Polson Park need to leave the pooch at home - for now anyway.

“Polson Park may be open to leashed dogs soon on a trial basis. Staff presented council with a number of options to attract people and increase the safety factor, and allowing leashed dogs on a trial basis was one of them,” Coun. Scott Anderson said.

“Council asked staff to further investigate the idea and bring back a more complete idea of what that would look like in the near future. I can't speak for the rest of council, but I am in favour of it and I suspect most of council is at least open to the idea.”

The possibility of allowing dogs into the park has sparked a lengthy online public debate.

One man posted he had just been kicked out of Polson Park with his dog, a post that stared the ongoing discussion.

“This is ridiculous, really! There was a 'no dogs' sign on the tennis court. Didn't see any signs for no dogs in the park...this needs to get changed,” he said.

One person posted, “When I moved to Vernon I was shocked at how unfriendly the town is towards dogs. In the Lower Mainland, you can bring dogs pretty much everywhere as long as they're on a leash. I don't understand why leashed dogs can't be walked in Polson Park.”

The other side of the debate has people decrying hounds in the park. Comments about people not cleaning up after their dog and concerns over unfriendly dogs were common.

“If people were more responsible with their dogs, ie. having them under control, leashed and not bringing aggressive dogs into a public area and picking up after them, this would never be an issue. As usual, a few stupid people ruin it for all,” said one person.

Mayor Akbal Mund said he is not concerned so much about dogs in the park as he is irresponsible owners.

“For some reason many owners feel it is not their responsibility to clean up after their dog,” said Mund, a dog owner himself. “We are hoping people will police themselves.”

Mund admits people not cleaning up after their dog and having Polson Park littered with dog poop is the main concern.

The other concern is people letting their dogs run free. If dogs are allowed in the park, they would have to be on a leash at all times.

And the city will take steps to enforce the rules of dogs are allowed.

“There will be extra bylaw (officers) in the park,” said Mund. “There will be enforcement. If your dog is off leash, you will be ticketed.”