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.

香蕉视频直播淚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香蕉视频直播檛 bother people, doesn香蕉视频直播檛 bother other dogs, or kids,香蕉视频直播� explained Levesque.

The letter states,香蕉视频直播漎our dog Cameron香蕉视频直播檚 excessive barking and your inability to keep it under voice command while in the park has led to this ban.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播檚 happened in the City that he香蕉视频直播檚 aware of.

香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 want to restrict people,香蕉视频直播� said Bomhof.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 when it香蕉视频直播檚 consistent, you lose your enjoyment if the dog is not under control. There香蕉视频直播檚 a certain expectation that you will manage your dogs香蕉视频直播� activities in the park and not create a nuisance to the neighbours.香蕉视频直播�

According to Bomhof, the complaints came from a resident adjacent to the park, and City staff also observed the dog香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 went over as a kid at 24, and I came back like a man of 45. I香蕉视频直播檝e seen things I should not and I still see them in my mind,香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to tomorrow morning.香蕉视频直播�

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 香蕉视频直播渞idiculous.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚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香蕉视频直播檛 do it. It [the ban] comes across as the City trying to appease one person.香蕉视频直播�

Dave O香蕉视频直播橞rien, who has been coming to the dog park for eight years said he香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渟een it all.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭he minimal amount of barking that happens here with the hour he香蕉视频直播檚 [Cameron] here, does not fit the crime. It香蕉视频直播檚 got to be hard on him [Levesque] to be sitting at home right now with no one to talk to.香蕉视频直播�

After consulting with Bomhof, Levesque香蕉视频直播檚 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 an off-leash dog park. One dog has to be leashed. He香蕉视频直播檚 under twenty pounds, he wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 hurt a fly. It has to be one standard for all. If it香蕉视频直播檚 an off-leash dog park, it香蕉视频直播檚 an off-leash dog park,香蕉视频直播� said Levesque.

Bomhof said he recalls the leash requirement was the owner香蕉视频直播檚 suggestion 香蕉视频直播渁s a compromise and it seemed reasonable.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭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,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e ruined it for me and I don香蕉视频直播檛 know who else. If I香蕉视频直播檓 not there 香蕉视频直播� who香蕉视频直播檚 next?香蕉视频直播�

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

香蕉视频直播淚t shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be a ban at all. It shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 of come to this. The City needed to deal with the homeowner in their own way,香蕉视频直播� added O香蕉视频直播橞rien.