Photo: The Canadian Press

Victoria-area politicians are considering putting limits on the number of dogs people can walk and charging a fee for dog-walking businesses who use regional parks amid complaints about packs of wandering animals.

Capital Regional District politicians are poised to approve a bylaw next month that would cap the number of dogs walked at one time to three for individuals and eight for professional walkers.

Mayor David Screech of the suburban community of View Royal said in an interview that people regularly tell him they encounter dogs numbering nine or more animals while on hikes in area parks.

"We've been getting more and more complaints from people, especially in Thetis Lake Park about large groups of dogs, as many as nine, 10, 11 and 12 under the jurisdiction of one owner," Screech said. "What it comes down to is the basic issue of how many dogs can one person control."

But Pam Delaney, who was at a Victoria off-leash dog park Thursday, said she's happy to see large groups of dogs in area parks.

"They behave better, it seems, in a pack," she said. "Dog owners used to keep their dogs away from each other, not realizing they are social animals who love getting together, which is so obvious here."

Screech said the bylaw will go before the regional district board next month, and if approved, will set out a code of conduct for owners and charge a $320 licence fee for professional dog-walking businesses.

"I do think everybody has the right to feel comfortable when using a park," he said.

If approved, the new dog limit rules would be in place by May 1, 2018.