New pilot project allowing dogs in Quebec provincial parks a success

A pilot project that allows dogs in three Quebec provincial parks is going "better than expected," according to officials.

The project, which started May 20, allows dogs on certain hiking trails and camping sites in Frontenac, Jacques-Cartier and Oka provincial parks. It's set to last three years.

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Since the project began,1,500 dogs have visited the three parks participating in the project.

"It's going well, actually. It's a lot better than we first expected,"said Raphael Goulet, conservation and education officer at Oka park.

Morepatrollers

Goulet said the park hired extra patrollers to make sure dog owners followedthe rules, but more than a month in, 90 per cent of dog owners are following the rules and keeping their animals on-leash.

"We took a long time to prepare ourselves, so we were ready for anything. But it's been calmer and easier than we thought,"he said.

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Initially, park officials harboured fears that by allowing dogs, they would be alienating people who don't like animals.Gouletsaid a number of people have voiced their concerns about allowing pets, but park staff workreassure them.

Only a portion of Oka's hiking trails and camping sites are available to dog owners.

Measuring environmental impact

Over the next three years, a team of scientists will keep an eye on how the presence of dogs affects everything from the number of birds to the spread of disease and wildlife deaths in the park.

A decision will then be made whether to continue the program, extend it to other parks or cancel it altogether.

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