An Okotoks senior is pleading for responsible pet ownership after being injured from an incident at the off leash dog park last month.
“There are bylaws and there are rules and regulations, but it doesn’t seem like people are following that,” said Daphne Shiells. “I have a very small dog, my son was with me that particular day, he has a labradoodle and he keeps with that dog the whole time. He was walking around the big track and I went through the middle and waited for my son.
“This man was standing with his two children and had let the dog just run, and it’s not the dog’s fault, it wanted to run, but I was waiting at the gate for my son to leave and this dog knocked my flying.”
She said the experience, which took place on July 25, has been traumatic and left her battered and bruised with back pain that has lasted for weeks.
“I’m 78 years old and I’m not a light person to be knocked down,” she said. “I had a knee replacement not too long ago and the actual scar got grazed and that was bleeding, the top of my nose on the outside was bleeding and I had a bump on my head.
“(The dog) must have been going at quite a speed and, in fact, my son watched him do it because he was on his way to meet me.”
Shiells said she’s been in constant pain ever since, is attending physiotherapy and her doctor has set up an x-ray for her knee and ultra-sound for her bruised shoulder.
Compounding matters, Shiells said the dog’s owner did not react to the situation at all, showing neither concern nor attention to the matter.
“He was so spaced, he just stood there with his children,” Shiells said. “Once he let the dog off he did nothing, he didn’t move, he was like a statue. He didn’t come over and say ‘I’m really sorry he’s done that,’ he never called the dog.
“He was very irresponsible.”
Shiells said she spoke with Okotoks municipal enforcement who told her that unless she has information on the dog owner, there’s nothing they can do about it.
There are 17 rules for off leash dog park users listed both at the entrance gate of the park and on the Town of Okotoks website. Rule 6 states “dogs must be under the control and in view of their handler at all times,” and Rule 14 states “handlers are responsible for any injuries caused by the dog(s) under their control.”
Additionally, each person entering the dog park is acknowledging and agreeing to the rules, with Rule 17 stating “anyone entering the Okotoks Dog Park does so at their own risk. The Town of Okotoks is not responsible for the safety of persons and/or dogs while in the Park, and shall not be liable to anyone for any injuries or damage suffered by any person or dog while in the Okotoks Dog Park.”
For Shiells, who was a regular at the park for years, the incident should serve as a reminder to pet owners to keep watch and read the bylaws if they intend to bring their dogs to the off leash park.
“They (my sons) have been saying don’t go out there unless we’re with you mom, because I couldn’t look after (my dog) if he got attacked in any way,” Shiells said. “If people are not being responsible my boys are able to say to them, ‘get hold of that dog and take him away from here.’ They would listen to them, but people won’t listen to me.
“It’s been very traumatic and they’ve said to me don’t go to the dog park anymore. Well, that’s not fair that I should not be going, this person should not be going up there anymore. He had no clue what he was doing or what he had done and I think people need to be aware that if you’re going to use the dog park you have to do it sensibly and responsibly."
