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A suggestion and a rant

As anticipated, the request from the Salmon Arm Nature Bay Enhancement Society to formally ban dogs from the foreshore trail

As anticipated, the request from the Salmon Arm Nature Bay Enhancement Society to formally ban dogs from the foreshore trail has exposed a wide range of opinions.

Many are in support of a ban, saying the presence of dogs (not to mention the products dogs produce when walking outdoors) will be a detriment to wildlife.

Others believe leashed dogs create no more impact to the area’s wild species than trains, cyclists or toddlers  They favour keeping the city-owned trail open for leashed pets.

It appears most people accept that, should council decided to allow dogs on the trail, it should only be while on leash. I am of this ilk. And as such, I had a thought about how to ensure this could be accomplished.

In addition to a poop bag dispenser, possibly could there also be installed a leash dispenser?

Just a box at either end which says, “Dogs must be on leash and if you don’t have one, please take one.”

Maybe one of the local pet stores would sponsor it and supply a few leashes and dog people could donate extras to the cause.

Yes, it would be on the honour system, and hopefully people would not take advantage by stealing the leashes, but other honour system setups have worked in the past. I recently learned of a life-jacket loaning station in Sicamous where parents can borrow a PFD for their child and return it at the end of the day.

Organizers report that the station has been there for years and they have not had a single life-jacket go missing.

Let’s hope it could be the same with leashes as it has been for life-jackets.

I’m thinking the leash donation box would be a positive way to remind people to leash their dogs and then no one on the foreshore trail would have an excuse not to have a leashed pet.

The Christmas food drive is on in many venues in Salmon Arm, including here at the Observer.

If people bring a full bag (or more) of non-perishable food into our office on Shuswap Street, they can pick a numbered card off our Christmas tree and receive a gift, sponsored by local businesses, to go with it.

It’s a great promotion and offers a little something extra to those helping to fill the shelves at our local food banks.

But sadly, there are those who still feel the need to take, while donating items that are not really in the spirit of the holidays.

Already this year we have had expired food, and worse yet, open food, including kitchen spices that someone used and then decided to include in their food bags. It doesn’t seem like people should need to be told, but opened items simply can not be donated to those in need. It is unsafe and unhygienic.  And it is not at all in the spirit of giving to drop off items that will simply end up in the garbage.