Ste. Anne de Bellevue revokes dogs on boardwalk policy
By Kevin Woodhouse
www.thesuburban.com
The city of Sainte Anne de Bellevue passed a notice of motion at its May 12 council meeting that will become a bylaw at the next meeting revoking the right of owners to walk their dogs on the city’s renowned boardwalk.
“Last year, we changed the bylaw prohibiting dogs on the boardwalk as a test,” Mayor Paola Hawa told The Suburban. “But having dogs on the boardwalk was not appreciated by terrace restaurant owners and customers eating their dinner while seeing dogs do their business nearby.”
Mayor Hawa cited the unhygienic factor of the animals’ leavings on the wooden made boardwalk as another problem since “the wood is porous and even though most dog owners would pick up, it was still a cleanliness issue.”
Even thought the city had set up specific garbage dispensers that provided poop and scoop bags, the bylaw will come into effect, reversing the one year test that allowed dog owners to use the boardwalk during non-peak hours.
When asked if public security will target dog owners in the fall and winter months when the restaurant terraces are closed to the public, Mayor Hawa said that “dogs will be prohibited all year round.”
In the last few years, more and more residents have added dogs to their families and with the boardwalk off limits again, perhaps the city can edict on its many parks as a place for dogs and owners to be able to play off leash.