Barking, running, and playing are activities expected to be seen at dog parks.

But a local man and his nine-year-old Shetland sheepdog, Cameron, are banned from Uplands Dog Off-Leash Park for doing just that.

Last Thursday, John Levesque was hand-delivered a letter from the City while he and Cameron were playing at the park.

害羞草研究所淚t [the letter] says myself and my dog are banned from Uplands Dog Park for six months. What happens is he [Cameron] runs along the fence. Doesn害羞草研究所檛 bother people, doesn害羞草研究所檛 bother other dogs, or kids,害羞草研究所� explained Levesque.

The letter states,害羞草研究所漎our dog Cameron害羞草研究所檚 excessive barking and your inability to keep it under voice command while in the park has led to this ban.害羞草研究所�

Langley City director of engineering Rick Bomhof, confirmed a dog park visitor was given a letter under the Parks and Facilities bylaw that banned both owner and dog from using Uplands Dog Park for six months.

Bomhof said the ban is the first time it害羞草研究所檚 happened in the City that he害羞草研究所檚 aware of.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 want to restrict people,害羞草研究所� said Bomhof.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 when it害羞草研究所檚 consistent, you lose your enjoyment if the dog is not under control. There害羞草研究所檚 a certain expectation that you will manage your dogs害羞草研究所� activities in the park and not create a nuisance to the neighbours.害羞草研究所�

According to Bomhof, the complaints came from a resident adjacent to the park, and City staff also observed the dog害羞草研究所檚 behaviour.

For Levesque, who moved to Langley two years ago, Uplands Dog Park has given him a sense of community.

In 1974, Levesque went overseas to the Middle East as a peacekeeper after the Yom Kippur War.

Since returning, he suffers post-traumatic stress disorder, and uses the dog park as an outlet for exercise and socialization.

害羞草研究所淚 went over as a kid at 24, and I came back like a man of 45. I害羞草研究所檝e seen things I should not and I still see them in my mind,害羞草研究所� explained Levesque.

My social circle and my rehab is going there [dog park] and talking with these guys, walking for an hour. It allows me to be in a safe place. When I come home I feel good, invigorated, energetic, happy. I害羞草研究所檓 looking forward to tomorrow morning.害羞草研究所�

A group of friends that Levesque made at the dog park want to get him back in the park as soon as possible.

Dog park regular Layne Pennington called the ban 害羞草研究所渞idiculous.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t seems ridiculous that a dog running and barking at a dog park is banned. Yes the dog runs up the fence and chases cars and barks, but when John walks around, he doesn害羞草研究所檛 do it. It [the ban] comes across as the City trying to appease one person.害羞草研究所�

Dave O害羞草研究所橞rien, who has been coming to the dog park for eight years said he害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渟een it all.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he minimal amount of barking that happens here with the hour he害羞草研究所檚 [Cameron] here, does not fit the crime. It害羞草研究所檚 got to be hard on him [Levesque] to be sitting at home right now with no one to talk to.害羞草研究所�

After consulting with Bomhof, Levesque害羞草研究所檚 ban was reduced to two months.

But Levesque is not satisfied with the agreement, because he said a condition of his return is that Cameron must be leashed until they reach the far west end of the dog park.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an off-leash dog park. One dog has to be leashed. He害羞草研究所檚 under twenty pounds, he wouldn害羞草研究所檛 hurt a fly. It has to be one standard for all. If it害羞草研究所檚 an off-leash dog park, it害羞草研究所檚 an off-leash dog park,害羞草研究所� said Levesque.

Bomhof said he recalls the leash requirement was the owner害羞草研究所檚 suggestion 害羞草研究所渁s a compromise and it seemed reasonable.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he main premise here is that every dog owner must be in control of their dog at all times so as to avoid issues like this or conflicts with other dogs. If that means a person needs to keep the dog on a leash in certain areas of the park then we expect them to do that,害羞草研究所� explained Bomhof.

Levesque believes one neighbourhood house has been targeting him, as he and Cameron were also banned indefinitely from using the small-dog section of the park in 2017 for the same reason.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e ruined it for me and I don害羞草研究所檛 know who else. If I害羞草研究所檓 not there 害羞草研究所� who害羞草研究所檚 next?害羞草研究所�

Levesque and his dog park friends are hoping the ban will be lifted before the two months are up.

害羞草研究所淚t shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be a ban at all. It shouldn害羞草研究所檛 of come to this. The City needed to deal with the homeowner in their own way,害羞草研究所� added O害羞草研究所橞rien.