Jasmine takes a sniff, approves

Work has begun on a leash-free dog park along 2nd Line, immediately next door to the Humane Society.

The LOL Off-Leash Dog Park was tasked by the city with finding $25,000 to put toward construction of the park, which will include two fenced in runs a total of about three acres, said LOL (Legal Off-Leash) director Beverly Dupuis.

One run will be utilized by small dogs, while the larger run is intended for large dogs.

The final $5000 was handed to the LOL Off-Leash Dog Park by Dr. Gary Palmer, who represents Algoma Academy of Veterinary Medicine.

The academy had made an agreement to provide $5000 if the group could raise the first $20,000 on its own.

“It’s taken them a while, but they’ve done it. We’re happy to contribute,” says Palmer.

One preventable problem that Palmer would like to see avoided is obesity in dogs and their owners.

“Obesity is such a tremendous problem with dogs these days, if the owners can get them out and give them a safe environment to exercise in it will go a long ways,” said Palmer.

Construction has begun already, with deliveries of dirt to be used to fill holes and level the property for the runs and a parking lot.

The plan is to keep the existing trees within the runs to create shade and maintain the natural environment.

The project has been a long time coming for Dupuis, who actually had a different dog when the project was first considered over eight years ago.

“This will be a safe haven, we have quite a bit of land. They can run, they can play, they can socialize,"said Dupuis.

Owners will be expected to follow the rules and pick up after their own dogs.

Palmer, who is a dog owner himself, is looking forward to bringing his family back to the park once completed, timeline for construction will be under two months.

For more information please visit www.loldogs.ca

(PHOTO: Jasmine the dog sniffs at the site of the furure LOL Off-Leash Dog Park May 29, 2014. SooToday.com/Kenneth Armstrong)