No leash, no problem: Guelph reveals new leash-free policy

Good news for dogs in Guelph: the city is allowing 41 unoccupied sports fields to now be used as leash-free areas, when not otherwise in use.

In addition to those parks, the city has also announcedplans to buildfenced leash-free parks at Peter Misersky Park and Bristol Street Park in 2019 and Lee Street Park in 2020.

The changes come as part of Guelph's new leash-free policy.

"We're grateful to the community for helping us shape the future of leash-free parks,"Luke Jefferson, manager of Open Space Planning with the City of Guelph, said in a news release.

"The final leash-free policy gives our community the choice of taking their dogs to one of our existing leash-free areas, a new fenced leash-free space or to one of the designated leash-free sports fields."

According to thepolicy, children under the age of six will not be permitted in fenced leash-free parks, while children between the ages of seven and 17 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

The city noted there are still72 sports fields that cannot be used as leash-free areas.