DOG walkers and unleashed dogs in Jameson Park was the topic under discussion at a meeting with the city's Parks Department.
According to ward councillor, Martin Meyer, the department will investigate the viability of his suggestion to have two 'leash free hours' per day as a pilot project in which dog owners can have their dogs off leashes in the park.
“The idea is that there will be two hours daily that dogs would be allowed off leashes in the park. Signs will be erected in the park, clearly stating that in these two hours there are dogs running free in the park. The onus would still however be on the owners to ensure their dogs behave, do not attack any other park users, and that owners clean up after their dogs. The Parks Department has agreed to investigate the possibility to launch this as a pilot project,” said Meyer.
Meyer said he still received complaints from people saying they felt uncomfortable using Jameson Park because of the many unleashed dogs.
“I agree there is a need for a 'dog friendly park' in the area, as many people live in apartments, or have small gardens, and dogs need the exercise. I also understand that people want their dogs to run free. But the fact is that the bylaw states that dogs must be leashed in public spaces. An owner can and will be fined if found in violation of this bylaw. This is also true for Jameson Park,” he said.
Resident, Caroline Jankovich, who is a spokesperson for dog walkers, said there were a lot of people who usde Jameson Park every single day. Some in the morning and most in the late afternoon after work.
“All the dog walkers were devastated to hear that we might have to put our dogs on leads. Jameson Park officials approached us in the first place to discuss having a 'Dog Park' as they do elsewhere in the world. We all thought it was a brilliant idea and items like special water troughs and dispensers with 'dog poo' refuse bags in them were discussed,” she said.
Jankovich said none of the discussed items materialised but dog owners continued to let their dogs run free as there was nowhere else they could take them, particularly as the racecourse was now closed to dogs.
“We feel there are lots of other parks in Durban for people to walk in. Mitchell Park is across the road and we are all aware that dogs have to be on leads in that park. None of the regular dog walkers who are there from around 4.30pm to 6pm are aware of anyone being bitten. There is occasionally a scuffle between the dogs when a new dog arrives, which is just the normal way of things in the animal world. It's like the prefects telling the new boys how to behave. We understand the by-laws say that dogs must be on leads, but it would be so nice if just one of the many parks of Durban could be dog friendly,” she said.
She said Meyer’s idea was a good compromise and said it would be an idea to have one session from 6am to 7am and another from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
Berea Mail highlighted this issue in February, after it came to light that the Parks Department staff had started locking the gate at the Montpelier Road entrance to the park during the day.
According to Meyer at the time, the gate was being locked as Park's staff had been bitten by dogs who weren’t on leashes. The dogs were also, according to the department, destroying the flower beds.
