A Chilliwack parent is asking dog owners to steer clear of school properties, and the school district is supporting her efforts.
Zuzana Armstrong says the risk to students are too great, especially when a large or aggressive dog encounters a child who has a fear of them. Her son attends Watson elementary, and regularly encounters dogs on the walk to school. In the cases where a large dog and its owner take up the sidewalk, she has learned that her son has chosen to walk on the road. And that has prompted her to take action.
It’s not that the family doesn’t love dogs. In fact, the opposite is true.
Armstrong says she herself has brought along her own small dogs on school runs, sometimes even tucking one into her coat when she enters the school. But she says, she has changed her habits and hopes other dog owners will, too.
“We love dogs. That’s not an issue,” she says. “It’s the responsibility that every dog owner should have. Nobody can predict what can happen when a stranger pets somebody else’s dog or just dogs with each other. Not to mention dog waste.”
She approached Watson elementary school’s administration and the school district. Both have assured her they are looking at clamping down on dog owner behavior on their grounds.
Rohan Arul-Pragasam, acting superintendent of schools, says they are not able to ban dogs from school property, but that they are working to educate parents on the matter.
“In the past when there have been issues with parents bringing dogs on school property we have taken the approach to educating parents by placing information in the school newsletter, as well as actively supervising the front and back of the school at the start of the day,” he says. “The plan now is to try and educate parents at all sites and be vigilant about dogs on school property during the instructional day … We are mindful that is not feasible to ban dogs from school property as it is not enforceable in a consistent manner.”
Watson elementary added the information to this month’s newsletter, asking parents to not bring dogs onto school grounds.
“Dogs are an important part of life for many Watson families, and as such, are often included in day-to-day activities such as walking children to and from school,” the newsletter states. “The school appreciates this inclusion and values pet ownership as an educational experience; it also acknowledges other families (and individuals) can find contact with dogs stressful, even frightening.”
“We are asking families to please respect our request to keep their dogs off the school property,” it adds, citing health and safety concerns for students.
It’s a move that Armstong was happy to see, despite knowing that problems will still exist. That’s why she’s personally appealing to parents, as well as community dog owners.
“I’m happy that the (district) as well the Watson elementary principal acknowledged this issue and are willing to use their resources to address the parents,” Armstrong says. “However they can not enforce it. Would a bylaw help? Probably. But that’s out of the school grounds reach. We are trying to protect our children and avoiding lawsuits as well.”
So, the issue is in the hands of the people holding the leashes.
“Most people love dogs. Most people own dogs but that doesn’t mean we are ignorant to others,” she says. “Why should parents with large dogs have any more importance than my son? Let’s respect each other enough and keep our pooches off the school grounds.”
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