‘Doesn’t matter what breed; poodle or teacup’: Georgina mom pleads to keep all dogs on leash

After being attacked by dogs about 15 years ago, one Georgina resident is still fighting owners to keep their dogs on leash. 

In 2007, then Uxbridge resident Rebecca Vangennip was picking apples near Baldwin when she was mauled by two Doberman pinschers.

“The dogs wanted to eat her,” said Karen Vangennip, Rebecca’s mother. 

“Here we are again, reminding dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash.”

For Rebecca, the attack resulted in years of sleepwalking, post-traumatic stress disorder, and being triggered by a dog barking behind a fence, Karen said. 

She was triggered recently again while out for a walk in her Georgina neighbourhood, where the pair encountered an off-leash Rottweiler.

“I shouldn’t have to tell the dog owner why I want the dog on a leash,” Karen said. “It’s the law. It’s about public safety. People don’t understand the real impact seeing a dog off leash could have on a victim.

“We live in this beautiful place and my daughter doesn’t want to go for a walk because she’s afraid.”

As of Aug. 17, there were 1,535 licensed dogs in Georgina — up by about 11 per cent over 2020, said town spokesperson Tanya Thompson. 

And there’s no training requirement or owner education required to purchase a pet licence, she added. 

For Karen, that’s a problem. 

“Irresponsible dog owners are accountable for what a dog does,” she said. “There could be sever consequences. It’s the law.

“You can’t drive a car without a licence. You shouldn’t own a dog if you don’t know the law.”

The law Karen refers to is the Dog Owner’s Liability Act (DOLA), outlining a dog owners’ responsibility, which could include criminal charges against the owner, dog to be euthanized, and paying for the victim’s medical bills if a dog attacks. 

And it’s not just about pit bulls, added Karen. 

DOLA applies to any dog regardless of natural tendencies.

“It doesn’t matter what breed,” said Karen, who owns an Australian shepherd. “It could be a poodle or a teacup. Keep the dog on a leash.”

Animal Services responded to 151 dogs-running-at-large complaints in 2020 — and 81 this year, as of July 2021. 

Dog owners can be faced with a $125 fine for a dog caught running at large. 

The town’s animal services webpage, makes mention of a dog owner’s responsibility under DOLA.

Dogs are permitted off-lease in designated leash-free parks or areas, such as the Georgina Leash Free Dog Park off Lake Drive South near West Park.

Prior to the pandemic, off-leash dogs were permitted at the York Regional Forest Tracts so long as the dog was under control.

Forest tracts became more popular among residents from all across the region during the pandemic, resulting in a greater number of complaints and incidents. 

As a result, dogs must now be on a leash at all times when visiting a forest tract, except for the off-leash area in the Bendor and Graves tract of McCowan Road in East Gwillimbury. 

Managing off-leash dogs in the forest tracts was a concern prior to the pandemic and was identified in the region’s nature management plan in 2019.

The region is looking at several options to make the forest experience enjoyable for all visitors, including a couple of tracts where off-leash dogs are permitted; a couple tracts where dogs, except for service dogs, would not be permitted; and adding a couple of fenced off-leash areas at several tracts. 

If a dog is off leash or running at large in town, residents are encouraged to call Animal Services, 1-877-979-7297.

Complaints about an off-leash dog at one of the regional forest tracts can be filed through Access York, accessyork@york.ca or 1-877-464-9675. 

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