Brandon City Councillor Jason Splett recently advised that the number of dogs being allowed off-leash in Jacobson Park was becoming a safety concern, and enquired if this situation could be addressed as soon as possible.
Brandon Police Chief Wayne Balcaen says “The Brandon Police Service By-Law staff, which incorporates Animal Control Officers, have been made aware of this concern. This year they have not had any calls for service to this park, nor any other parks in the City of Brandon as it relates to animal control. A search of the Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD) has also shown very limited calls for service related to this issue. The only call that could be located, around this park, was in late October of 2022, where there was a report of two dogs running at large. The dogs were spotted at a residential intersection near the park, located by Animal Control Officers and returned to their respective owner.
Balcaen says “Brandon Police Service By-Law staff will be monitoring this park for any violations of the Animal Control By-Law since it has now been brought to our attention. I would recommend that if Councillors receive these types of complaints (or any complaints relating to By-Law or Criminal Activity), residents are encouraged to call 204-729-2345 (or 911 in emergencies) to report the incident so that it can be addressed at the time of the occurrence.”
An email from the city says “Jacobson Park is not designated as a City of Brandon Off-leash dog park, and therefore all dogs at this park must be kept on a leash at all times. As there is also a playground as part of Jacobson Park, no dogs are permitted on the playground portion. The entrance to the park has signage that clearly states:
• Park is unsupervised
• Facility is inspected on a regular basis by City of Brandon staff
• Leash and clean-up after pets
• For maintenance please call 204.729.2148 or email parks@brandon.ca
As a reminder, the City of Brandon does have several off-leash dog parks that pet owners could bring their animals to. These parks are built specifically for off-leash interaction and include the following parks:
• Doggy Diamond – 2720 Park Avenue
• East End Paw Park – 11th Street East and Victoria Avenue East
• Hanbury Hill Pooch Park – 600 Braecrest
Residents with any questions or those wanting further information can do so at this link https://brandon.ca/dog-parks
As an overview, when using an off-leash park, the rules governing their use can be found in the City of Brandon Animal Control By-Law, ANIMAL CONTROL BY-LAW NO. 5900/57/91
