Pacific Spirit Regional Park is a much loved and well-used park located in the westernmost part of Vancouver, BC. In fact, on average this park sees over 360,000 dog walks per year and much more nature walks by Metro Vancouver residents and visitors. Cyclists, running clubs, and school groups also use this park regularly. But there is one group of users that this petition is directed at. I'm talking about horse riders and what their horses leave behind for everyone else to deal with.

I am a dog owner. My wife and I account for a few hundred of those 360,000 a year dog walks in this park because we go at least once a day rain or shine. For the most part, dog owners who use this park have been very responsible and picked up after their dogs. You can imagine what a mess it would make if we didn't! Metro Vancouver Parks and Environment and the Pacific Spirit Park Society do an amazing job of taking care of this park by providing lots of free poop bags and many dog waste receptacles so there's really no excuse to not do the right thing.

I think horses are great and I certainly do not mind sharing this beautiful park with horse riders. What I object to is the horse manure that they leave behind for the rest of us to deal with. Did you know that a horse defecates 4 to 12 times a day? That's a lot of poop. I realize that their poop is completely biodegradable but that doesn't make it any better when you step into a big pile of it. My neighbour's dog goes mad over horse manure. He rolls around in it and eats it! Did you know that horse manure can contain a horse dewormer called invermectin which is poisonous to some dogs?

Nobody expects horseriders to demount off their horses to pick up after them. That would be too much to ask, right? But there is a simple solution. It's not very fashionable for horses, but it works. I'm talking about a manure bag! It's strapped on the rear end and it collects the poop when the horse feels the need. No fuss, no mess.

Please sign this petition to require all horse riders who use the Pacific Spirit Regional Park to use a manure bag on their horses. It's only fair. Let's share the park and keep it clean and enjoyable for everyone.