The City of St. Thomas says it has had “several reports of off-leash dogs” in some of its major parks, including 1Password Park and Athletic Park.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, September 29th, the City said By-law Enforcement and Animal Services “will be increasing patrols throughout the park system and monitoring off-leash dog activity.” City of St. Thomas Animal Services shared the same message on Thursday, October 1st.
“Even if your dog is friendly, our number one priority is the safety and comfort of everyone using our parks,” the City said. It pointed to “unpredictable interactions between dogs, young children and other park users.”
What the rules say
The City’s Animal Control By-law (71-2011) says a dog must be on a leash unless it is on its owner’s land, or on someone else’s land with that person’s permission. Owners must also pick up after their dog right away on any property that is not their own.
The City’s post cites this by-law. Under it, each of these has a set fine of $105:
- letting your dog run loose
- not picking up after your dog
A set fine is the amount on the ticket. If a charge is prosecuted another way, the by-law allows a fine of up to $5,000 for each offence.
The City’s parks by-law (96-2019) adds its own rules for parks, trails and other City recreation areas. Dogs may only be off leash in a designated leash-free dog park. Animals are not allowed in splash pads or wading pools, and you may not tie an animal to a tree.
The City’s notice mentions only the $105 tickets. But the parks by-law sets its own fines, so in a park the two by-laws overlap and the amounts differ. Under the parks by-law, the ticket is $300 for letting an animal run loose and $300 for letting one into a pool or splash pad. Not picking up after a dog is $100.
Where dogs can run free
The City pointed dog owners to two places:
- Lions Club Dog Park, 25 Talbot Street, just west of the Jumbo statue. The park sits in a wooded ravine along Kettle Creek, at the west end of the city. It opened in 2010 and is named for the St. Thomas Lions Club, whose donation matched the City's contribution toward the fencing and parking lot. The City runs it with the St. Thomas Dog Owners Association.
- Kettle Creek Dog Park, next to the Dan Patterson Conservation Area, 44070 Mapleton Line. The five-acre park is a fenced off-leash area with three sections: one for small dogs, one for large dogs and an individual play area. It is open year-round from dawn to dusk, and no permit is needed.
The Kettle Creek Conservation Authority owns and runs the Kettle Creek park. It was made possible by a partnership between the conservation authority, the Municipality of Central Elgin and the City of St. Thomas, and the St. Thomas Dog Owners Association helps make sure the rules are followed.
Those rules say all dogs must wear “visible, valid and up-to-date license and rabies vaccination tags.” Owners must carry a leash at all times, and one adult may watch no more than three dogs in the park.
Sources: City of St. Thomas on Facebook (September 29, 2026) · Animal Control By-law 71-2011 · Kettle Creek Dog Park (KCCA) · St. Thomas Dog Owners Association: Lions Club Dog Park
By Anthony Zruna · About the LocVox Newsroom
