Dog owners and baseball folks in Chemainus are growling over the use of a ball diamond as an off-leash dog park.
Late last year, the Chemainus and District Baseball Association urged North Cowichan council to revoke the existing bylaw that permits the use of Diamond #3 by dog owners during the winter months.
That agreement goes back to 2011 when Diamond #3 was presented as the best option for an off-leash facility in Chemainus. No other suitable locations could be identified, and dog owners and their canine friends have been using the field from Sept. 1 to March 15 every year since 2011.
But it has not been all be cuddles and treats. The baseball people say the field is in poor condition as a result of the use over the winter months and getting Diamond #3 ready for the upcoming baseball season is a challenge.
The Baseball Association presented a petition to council in December asking North Cowichan to prohibit the use of the diamond. Now, a petition from Michele Yeoman, with almost 300 signatures, is asking council to retain Diamond #3 as an off-leash dog park during the off season.
Mayor Rob Douglas says North Cowichan is considering relocating the off-leash dog park but a decision is a little ways away.
“Council typically does not make any decisions related to petitions or delegation at the time they are presented, though Council may bring the topic up at a later meeting,” Douglas said.
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