Citizen Canine began as a grassroots initiative representing the interests of dog owners in the City of Victoria. A small group of residents organized to ask the city to recognize that responsible off-leash dog walking is a legitimate social and recreational choice. Citizen Canine petitioned for more off-leash park areas for dogs so as to provide equitable access to public parks for the thousands of dog owning residents of the city.
2003 was a year of expansion for Citizen Canine's advocacy work. In the spring, CRD parks announced their intention to ban off-leash recreation by dogs and their owners in Thetis Lake Park and the adjacent Francis King and Mill Hill parks. Citizen Canine joined forces with other dog owner groups including the Capital Comets Dog Sports Club, to voice opposition to this plan. In July, after much lobbying by Citizen Canine, the City of Victoria acknowledged the need to recognize the legitimacy of dog owners to use city parks to socialize and exercise their pets. The city also announced a plan to open up a few parks to off-leash activity. This is still unfolding in the City of Victoria.
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Advocacy
