The Weyburn Police Service is reminding dog owners the off-leash park is the only place dogs are allowed to be off-leash. They’re also asking dog owners to pay attention to their dogs while at the off-leash park.

“Generally, we don't hear of any issues, but lately we are hearing of a couple of issues, where dogs are acting aggressively towards other dogs or towards other people there, and it's just a reminder, the off-leash park is just that, it allows people to allow their animals to run off-leash without being in contravention of the bylaw, but all the other pieces of the bylaw do apply,” said Deputy Chief Rod Stafford.

This week's police report notes there are still significant liability issues with owners who have aggressive animals and fail to control them. Depending on the incident, the Bylaw could still come into play with regard to aggressive animals or even bites.

“If a dog bites another dog, dog bites a person, or is aggressive, or those kinds of things, those areas of the bylaw can apply equally as well whether if it's at the off-leash park, Jubilee Park, or on a street downtown, it doesn't matter, so we're just asking people to be aware of that, and if you have a dog that tends to be a little aggressive, or something like that, to just pay a little extra attention to it,” he added.

He noted some may claim their voice-command-trained dog is very obedient so they don’t require a leash. Unlike a police-trained dog, most well-trained dogs might not have the same level of discipline in nature.

“I suppose if you have an animal that is that obedient, then perhaps you can get away with that particular grey area in the bylaw of not having them on leash but you're still in immediate control of them,” he explained. “But for most people, I think if you're honest with yourselves, your dogs or animals do not listen that well, and that immediate, so you are required, then, to have them on a leash.”

The City's enforcement of the dog bylaw isn't the only reason to keep close, hands-on control of dogs.

“It doesn't necessarily have to be that they're aggressive towards another person walking on a trail, or another animal, a rabbit could run out, a bird or something, and the dog chase it out into traffic and get run over right in front of the family,” he noted. “And that is something that nobody wants to witness or go through, and the only way to prevent that is to make sure that your dog is on a leash and controlled at all times.”

Off-leash park or city street, dog owners are responsible for their dogs' actions.