A weeks-long public safety closure of a popular Salt Spring Island trail has been lifted, according to officials, who have re-opened the Daffodil Point area of Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park to visitors.
A trail there had been subject to a BC Parks closure notice since Oct. 11, after reports of off-leash dogs sent bylaw, parks and RCMP officers to the area in search of a pack of at least five animals reportedly being aggressive toward hikers and dog-walkers.
Mark Groulx, chief bylaw officer for the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Bylaw and Animal Care Services, said over the weekend that while three dogs were collected by responding officers and brought to the CRD’s animal shelter, the rest of the five had not been seen again since the initial encounter.
“Regrettably we have not been able to locate them,” said Groulx. “To date, we have not received any new calls regarding ‘dogs at large’ that may be associated with this initial incident.”
Several islanders had taken to social media as early as Oct. 4 warning of a dog pack running freely around Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park, intimidating or attacking both humans and their pets.
Dogs are required to be always leashed at Burgoyne Bay, according to BC Parks –– as well as at other Salt Spring Island provincial parks, including Ruckle, Mount Maxwell and Mount Erskine parks. A separate standard for CRD’s regional parks requires dogs merely always be “under control,” although that bylaw specifically calls for owners to be in clear line of sight of the owner and return when called.
Groulx said they were continuing their efforts to locate the remaining dogs; BC Parks meanwhile lifted the safety closure for the Daffodil Point trail in time for the weekend. CRD senior corporate communications manager Andy Orr encouraged anyone observing unattended dogs to contact the CRD either by email at animalservices@crd.bc.ca or by calling 1-800-665-7899.