Are you and Bingo above the law?
Dear Editor,
I believe that living in a national park is a privilege. I don’t just say it, I live it. I live it by my respect and awe of nature and all its creatures, by my commitment to leaving the natural world as it was before I entered it and in the way I have trained my dog to accompany me in this national park...on leash.
Parks Canada fights to keep nature in balance with our town. It really upsets me when they are criticized for doing what some dog owners have forced them to do. Most of you know what I am talking about and if you don’t, you should. Due to irresponsible dog ownership, a beautiful and majestic creature was destroyed, to no fault of Parks Canada. The blood of that wolf’s life is on the hands of every dog owner that allows their dog off leash on our trails.
I, like many people, keep my dog on leash, not just because it’s the law and I respect the obvious reasons why the regulation is in place, but because I respect other people. Not everyone likes dogs, not all dogs like other dogs and some people are truly afraid of dogs and everyone has a right to be on the trails.
People should not be subjected to your dog charging, jumping, licking and rubbing up against them with you franticly yelling, “Bingo come! Bingo come here!”…with a final plea “he’s friendly!”
Equally, my dog who is on leash does not need to experience this invasion of space. Part of my dog’s job is to protect me and he can feel threatened when your off leash dog comes sniffing around. He will growl, bark and get his back up if he feels it’s warranted and most times it is. Having your dog off leash approaching a leashed dog is incredibly unfair and obtuse…and you look at me like my dog is the problem. Despite recent events, you continue to allow your dogs off leash on the very same trails that two wolves did what they are predisposed to do…hunt prey. And now, that’s what every dog, leashed or unleashed, has become to these wolves…prey.
How dare anyone in this town blame Parks Canada for the destruction of those poor wolves. As dog owners you never have 100 per cent control over your dog and you are deluding yourself if you think otherwise. Plain and simple, it is not OK to let your dog off leash in our national park - ever. Now it has become dangerous for all people and pets that use the trails.
It’s time to put your dogs on leash.
Katelyn Fletcher
Resident, Jasper National Park
