– by Linda Hunter –
“Dogs are our link to paradise. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.” ~ Milan Kundera
As with many, Citizen Canine Dog Owners Association, a Greater Victoria not-for-profit society, was borne of need, originally coming together in response to oppose proposed restrictions on dog access in three of Victoria’s regional parks. More than a decade later, this evolved group promotes responsible dog ownership through advocacy, education and canine community-building.
President Mark Hawkes is proud of a substantial collection of accomplishments achieved in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation, counting among the most significant those around “off-leash” park use. He reminds dog owners that if they “have ever walked their dog off leash in Mill Hill Park, Thetis Lake Park or Francis King Park, that privilege is a direct result of the work of Citizen Canine.”
Having grown with time, in both size and strength, an organization of more than 2,200 members provides a voice that is recognized and valued, where educated and well-intentioned individuals, in consideration of all, offer creative and strategic solutions. Mark admits that with increased building and growing populations, the availability of green spaces, parks and beaches has decreased and he acknowledges that municipal parks departments have a tough job to do “managing the desires, needs and demands of several different user groups while providing solutions that preserve both the park and the peace.”
When asked about changing times, Mark points out much in the way of transformation; there has been a tremendous increase in responsible dog ownership with more training by dog owners along with a greater emphasis on providing good health care. “And notably, 15 years ago, there wasn’t a scoop to be seen, whereas now, most dog owners won’t leave the house without ‘bags’ in hand; a social ‘must do’.”
Having accomplished much in the political realm, Citizen Canine has been able to shift its focus from advocacy to community building and creating new programs and fun events. Included in the success story and featured on a comprehensive website is a list of on- and off-leash parks, emergency planning for pet owners, a resources page featuring a wealth of information, tips, guidelines and links and a community Discount Card Program that entitles holders to discounts off purchases of goods or services at a number of the Victoria region’s participating businesses. In addition to these offerings, Citizen Canine now has a social media presence, replacing The Scoop newsletter with an online face: http://tinyurl.com/jwzndxp and community: http://citizencanine.ning.com.
One of the Organization’s greatest accomplishments has been its annual Everybody and Their Dog Walk event at Beaver Lake, which, for the first time in a decade, won’t happen this month due to a lack of available volunteers. The event has historically been a huge success, operating with more than 200 people and dogs, on- and off-leash, completely without incident. Encouraging news, however: Citizen Canine has plans underway for a fall walk event, when with more volunteers, “Dogtoberfest” will take to the trail.
For those whose life has been enriched by dog ownership, Mark Hawkes invites you to join Citizen Canine. Membership is free, the work is rewarding, and you can help sustain a unified voice that continues to collectively affect change in the dog-owning community. www.citizencanine.org.
