A true urban forest in the heart of Westmount, Summit Woods is at the centre of conflict between dog owners who walk their four-legged friends there without a leash and people worried about their safety and the preservation of the environment of this “unique” woodland.
Everyone agrees that for decades, Summit Woods — one of the three peaks of Mount Royal — has welcomed, during certain periods, dogs that walk there without a leash. A rarity, it must be noted.
“I’m so grateful that this place exists,” says Molly Erdstein, 26, as she walks through the woods. Her daily walk with Luna wouldn’t be as beneficial if her dog had to be on a leash, she says. “It’s a better experience for both of us. I can walk at my own pace and enjoy the beauty of nature while Molly expends more energy than she would when I walk her on a leash.”
A little further on, Sandra Sciangula also speaks enthusiastically about the community of dog walkers who stroll daily through Summit Woods. “It makes me feel good to be here. My dog Rocky being off leash gives him more freedom to interact with other dogs. He’s friendlier.”
But since the pandemic, word has gotten out and the crowds have increased. On nice summer days, dogs can be found in the dozens on this 23-hectare site, formerly owned by McGill University, designated as a “bird and wildflower sanctuary” by the City of Westmount.
Off the beaten track
“It’s really an extraordinary place,” says John Fretz, who also owns a dog. But along with a group of Westmount citizens, this biology enthusiast is opposed to the presence of off-leash dogs in Summit Woods.
“A dog without a leash is hard to control,” he says. If it’s chasing a squirrel, for example, the dog will stray off trail, trample plants and disrupt the habitat of the impressive variety of birds that live in the woods, many of which nest close to the ground and eat insects directly from the soil, he argues.
Supporting the study, he adds that the number of wild plants and flowers on the site has radically decreased in recent years. [La présence de chiens sans laisse] has a huge impact. We need to save Summit Woods,” he says.
In March, citizens sent a “formal notice” to the City of Westmount, ordering it to comply with the Act to promote the protection of persons by establishing a framework for dogs. Adopted by Quebec in 2018, two years after the death of Christiane Vadnais, the victim of a fatal dog attack, this law requires people to keep their dogs on a leash, except in a dog exercise area.
Change of name
A few weeks later, in May, Westmount City Council instead changed the name of Summit Woods to a dog run. “There was no change in use, it was just [un changement] administrative with the wording “for the provincial law,” Westmount Mayor Christina Smith said in an interview. “About 99% of people are happy with [cet usage]. »
Summit Woods is not enclosed by a fence. But there is nothing in the law that specifies that a dog run must be fenced. According to Maxine Cuttler, a retired lawyer who is among the Westmount residents opposed to off-leash dogs, it is clear that, in practice, dog parks are fenced and are specifically designed for that purpose. “How can they prevent anyone from getting attacked? It’s an open space,” she says.
In recent months, a petition was launched demanding that dogs be kept on leashes at all times. And another was written by dog owners who wanted to continue to walk with their pets, off leash, in Summit Woods. “This is the first time in my seven years at city hall that we’ve had a problem with this issue,” says Christina Smith.
Hourly
According to the current schedule, dogs can walk off leash from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to midnight, except during the bird migration period, from mid-April to mid-June. All dogs must wear a tag issued by the City of Westmount. This tag can be purchased by non-residents.
Also this spring, council approved an increase in the cost of a tag from $50 to $100 for non-residents, and fines for regulatory infractions (failure to comply with the off-leash schedule, wearing a tag, picking up excrement, etc.) increased to $500. More patrollers are also patrolling the trails, assures the mayor.
Christina Smith — who herself enjoys walking in Summit Woods with her dog, Charm — believes a balance has been struck. “Certainly there are people who think we’re not there. And there are others who want to go [au bois Summit avec leurs chiens sans laisse] seven days a week, twelve months a year, all day long. They were told no. Not everyone is happy, but that’s political life.”
Contrary to what was reported in a local newspaper, there was no dog attack on the street bordering Summit Woods in mid-June, confirmed to Duty Montreal police. The City of Westmount did not immediately provide us with data to assess the number of bites that have occurred in Summit Woods in recent years.
For John Fretz, public safety is at stake and it is clear to him that off-leash dog walkers are taking the best hours, before and after the work day. “Everyone should have equal access to the woods,” he says.
But for Brian, who walks with his dog, Bella, there are plenty of hours each day for non-dog lovers to enjoy Summit Woods. “People who live in the neighborhood know it’s been a dog-friendly space for decades. It’s nothing new.”
At his side, his father-in-law, Douglas Wetherup, adds that the place is unlike any other in Montreal. Traditional dog parks are much smaller and overcrowded, he says. “This is nature at its best.”