What happens when one of the few places our dogs can safely run and exercise is taken away?

For many of us, our dogs are family. They are our companionship, our routine, and often the reason we get outside, stay active, and connect with others in our community.

Bramblewood’s field has long been a place where local residents can responsibly exercise their dogs off-leash outside of school hours. Now, that access is at risk of being taken away entirely.

We fully support keeping the field clean and safe for students. Owners who do not pick up after their dogs or properly control them should be held accountable. But responsible dog owners should not all lose access because of the actions of a few.

This space matters for people too. Walking and exercising dogs is an important source of daily physical activity for people of all ages, including seniors. For many people, walking the dog is their exercise, their social time, and their reason to get outside.

Dogs also need more than a short leash walk. They need opportunities to run, play, socialize, and burn off energy safely. Leaving them at home while we exercise is not a realistic solution when they need exercise too.

And this is bigger than one field. If off-leash access continues to disappear from community spaces, dog owners will be left with fewer and fewer options.

We are not asking for unrestricted access during school hours. We are asking for a reasonable compromise: designated off-leash hours outside of school time, clear rules, proper cleanup, and stronger enforcement for those who do not follow them.

A complete off-leash ban may be the easiest solution, but it is not the fairest one.

Please sign this petition and ask Bramblewood to work with local residents on a solution that keeps the field safe for students while preserving responsible off-leash access for our community.