I was heartened to read Pique’s feature article two weeks ago, “Green Lake is a hub of biodiversity: so why aren’t we doing more to protect it?” (Pique, May 27.)
A large chunk of the article spoke to the importance of protecting the only remaining area of sandy shoreline that hosts nesting shorebirds. The area, known to locals as “The Spit” or the “Fitz fan,” is located within easy walking distance of the Nicklaus North Golf Club and is a popular spot on a hot day.
Throughout the article many hazards to nesting shorebirds were highlighted, including illegal campfires, and boat and float plane traffic. One of the stressors focused on was the presence of dogs, particularly dogs that are off-leash. While leashed dogs are currently allowed to walk a section of the shoreline, the feature story spoke about how off-leash dogs pose a particular threat to nesting and migrating shorebirds.
You can imagine my surprise then, when I turned to the photo spread in the “Partial Recall” section of the same edition and discovered two large photos of off-leash dogs in Whistler parks! The areas depicted, the Ancient Cedars Trail and the Cheakamus River Trail, are part of the Whistler hiking trail network and subject to the same Whistler bylaws that state that dogs are to be on-leash at all times, except in designated and signed off-leash areas (located at Alpha Lake, Rainbow Lake, Lost Lake and Bayly Parks).
Dog culture is huge in Whistler, and unfortunately many dog owners have decided to ignore the leash rules.
This is evident whenever I step foot on any of the trails around Whistler. Recently, on the Fitzsimmons Nature Trail, I chose to remind a dog owner that their dog should be on a leash. I was standing next to, and pointed out, the large white sign that the dog owner was passing, installed by the Resort Municipality of Whistler, that stated explicitly that dogs on this trail are required to be on-leash.
After offering the sign a passing glance, the dog owner said, ‘Thank you” and continued down the trail without attaching the leash they were carrying to their dog.
The trouble is, off-leash dogs are everywhere. And the more people see them the more they feel justified in their personal choice to prioritize the experience of their dog over the experience of every other living creature.
The leash laws exist for a reason, and we need to stop normalizing the presence of off-leash dogs, particularly within the pages of Pique.
Kate Heskett // Whistler
