Off-Leash Dogs and Coyotes
As someone who spends a lot of time in parks, I witness my fair share of unfortunate incidents. One persistent problem I have observed for as long as I’ve been photographing wildlife is off-leash dogs running out of control. Sometimes, it happens in a flash—a coyote darts by with a dog in pursuit, or two dogs burst out of the trees, chasing a terrified rabbit fleeing for its life, with no guardian in sight. Other times, dogs run up to me, jumping on me or barking incessantly.
If I know wildlife is nearby, I inform people and ask them to secure their dogs. Occasionally, the guardians comply and leash their companions, but more often than not, I’m met with indignation, as if I’ve asked them to relinquish a basic human right. One person even accused me of harassment when I pointed out a fox in the trees and requested that they leash their three dogs, which were running out of control.
This is why I’m baffled by city councillors who refuse to address this dangerous situation by enforcing the bylaws through ticketing, especially in hotspot areas. This is not a new problem. Many people have stopped reporting incidents altogether due to political inaction. My own 311 reports and emails to councillors have yet to result in an effective response. Yet, I know my chances of being bitten by an unsecured dog are far greater than having any negative interaction with a coyote.
As the situation in Liberty Village unfolds—with Deputy Mayor Malik and a group of highly mobilized residents demanding the removal or killing of coyotes—off-leash dogs continue to run freely. “We have done everything,” they claim. If that’s true, why are off-leash dogs still roaming the area regularly without consequences? This is unsafe and irresponsible generally, but especially so given the situation. Because of the continued harassment of dogs off leash, coyotes are reacting to the presence of dogs in general. Leashing up and using aversion conditioning is the best move forward.
The cost of inaction is clear: dog guardians are now experiencing negative encounters with reactive coyotes. The coyotes in Liberty Village may ultimately lose their lives because of this long-standing failure to act. This entire situation is negligent and avoidable.
If you find this unacceptable, I encourage you to reach out to Deputy Mayor Malik (Councillor_Malik@toronto.ca) and your own councillor to make it clear that responsible pet guardians and wildlife should not have to suffer due to lawless dog owners.