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.

91裸聊视频淚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. Doesn91裸聊视频檛 bother people, doesn91裸聊视频檛 bother other dogs, or kids,91裸聊视频� explained Levesque.

The letter states,91裸聊视频漎our dog Cameron91裸聊视频檚 excessive barking and your inability to keep it under voice command while in the park has led to this ban.91裸聊视频�

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 it91裸聊视频檚 happened in the City that he91裸聊视频檚 aware of.

91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 want to restrict people,91裸聊视频� said Bomhof.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 when it91裸聊视频檚 consistent, you lose your enjoyment if the dog is not under control. There91裸聊视频檚 a certain expectation that you will manage your dogs91裸聊视频� activities in the park and not create a nuisance to the neighbours.91裸聊视频�

According to Bomhof, the complaints came from a resident adjacent to the park, and City staff also observed the dog91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 went over as a kid at 24, and I came back like a man of 45. I91裸聊视频檝e seen things I should not and I still see them in my mind,91裸聊视频� 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. I91裸聊视频檓 looking forward to tomorrow morning.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频渞idiculous.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 do it. It [the ban] comes across as the City trying to appease one person.91裸聊视频�

Dave O91裸聊视频橞rien, who has been coming to the dog park for eight years said he91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渟een it all.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭he minimal amount of barking that happens here with the hour he91裸聊视频檚 [Cameron] here, does not fit the crime. It91裸聊视频檚 got to be hard on him [Levesque] to be sitting at home right now with no one to talk to.91裸聊视频�

After consulting with Bomhof, Levesque91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an off-leash dog park. One dog has to be leashed. He91裸聊视频檚 under twenty pounds, he wouldn91裸聊视频檛 hurt a fly. It has to be one standard for all. If it91裸聊视频檚 an off-leash dog park, it91裸聊视频檚 an off-leash dog park,91裸聊视频� said Levesque.

Bomhof said he recalls the leash requirement was the owner91裸聊视频檚 suggestion 91裸聊视频渁s a compromise and it seemed reasonable.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e ruined it for me and I don91裸聊视频檛 know who else. If I91裸聊视频檓 not there 91裸聊视频� who91裸聊视频檚 next?91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚t shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be a ban at all. It shouldn91裸聊视频檛 of come to this. The City needed to deal with the homeowner in their own way,91裸聊视频� added O91裸聊视频橞rien.