West Vancouver councilors concerned about low dog registrations

West Vancouver councillors pushed for stricter enforcement of dog registration after a recent report by the District revealed that a significant number of the district’s estimated 8,800 dogs remain unlicensed.

The report, presented at a Committee of the Whole meeting on September 9, revealed that 55% and 75% of dogs in the district are not correctly registered. According to Corinne Ambor, the district official who presented, the community has between 5,000 and 8,800 dogs. However, only 2,288 licenses were issued last year.

Despite increasing dog license registrations by 20% in 2022 and 19% in 2023, councillors expressed concern about the high number of unregistered pets.

“We need to look at whether penalties are in place for owners who don’t register their dogs,” said Councilor Linds Watt, emphasizing the potential for increased revenue if more dogs were licensed. “As areas get more densely populated and dog ownership increases, there’s a need not just for park space but also for safe local spaces where people can exercise their dogs. For instance, this could be included in planning for Cypress Village,” Watt said.

Given the expected increase in dogs, Mayor Mark Sager and other councillors highlighted the need for additional dog parks.

Sager cited the dog park at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco as an example of how well-designed parks benefit both dogs and the community. “It’s not only good for the dogs, it’s really a nice social environment where people get together and meet new friends because their dogs are enjoying the space,” Sager said.

Councilor Peter Lambur pointed to the deteriorating fence that once separated the dog park from Ambleside Beach, leading to blurred boundaries between the park and the beach. Councilor Sharon Thompson raised concerns about conflicts between residents and dog walkers, particularly in public spaces like trails and parks. She noted that bylaw officers and rangers often struggle to respond quickly enough when issues arise.

In addition to enforcing registration, Councillor Watt suggested encouraging local businesses to register as dog-friendly. She referenced Vancouver’s participation in the website BringFido.ca, which could be a model for West Vancouver to attract both dog owners and local shoppers.

According to Park Stewardship Manager Corinne Ambor, West Vancouver is planning a dog strategy that identifies one or two small, fenced, off-leash dog areas and will recommend fenced off-leash dog areas with new high-density development as well as determine their environmental impacts. The proposed timeline for completion of the dog strategy is spring 2025.