You know spring has officially arrived in Nelson with the three Fs: foliage, flush trucks in Uphill and fresh spray paint on Baker Street.
This week city crews were busy with a number of spring-like activities, one of the most noticeable being the freshly painted “no dogs allowed” symbols on downtown sidewalks. It’s a bold reminder of one of the most divisive issues in this community that has lingered since the mid-1990s.
This past weekend I had the good fortune to travel to Coeur d’Alene with an army of other Nelson soccer parents. It was my first time in the community and I was impressed.
Coeur d’Alene is like Nelson on steroids. Lovely historic downtown lined with little shops and outdoor patios, a gorgeous lakeside setting and a real outdoorsy feel amongst its friendly residents. If you haven’t been... it’s worth the trip south.
When I spend any amount of time in a community that appeals to me, inevitably the comparisons to home begin.
Nelson and Coeur d’Alene have much in common, but the most striking contrast is the way dogs are treated in the downtown.
On Saturday morning we arrived for a downtown stroll while organizers of the Dog d’Alene Festival were setting up in a downtown greenspace. This third annual event brought together 500 dogs and their owners for games, information and bonding. Four-legged beasts of all sizes wandered the streets all day while their owners shopped, ate lunch and inevitably spent plenty of dough.
The festival is put on by the downtown business association, which is obviously smart enough to know the spinoff benefits of drawing dog’s best friends to an inclusive gathering.
It’s unfair to judge Coeur d’Alene’s attitude towards canines on that one day so when I returned to the office I put a call in to City Hall.
Coeur d’Alene does have bylaws to keep control of dogs, but they are subtle and less offensive to those who love their pets. Dogs are allowed in the downtown, but must be on a leash. They are not allowed in the city’s gorgeous public parks, but there is a dog park which caters to hounds.
Their dog policies are not without problems, but local leaders clearly realize the attachment people have with their pets.
“When you live and die with tourists, it requires tolerance and flexibility,” Coeur d’Alene’s deputy city administrator Jon Ingalls told me on Wednesday. “We try our level best with the soft approach.”
During the peak tourist season the city enlists volunteers to roam around on foot and on bike with a pamphlet that welcomes visitors to the city and explains some of the more unique laws, customs and traditions of the city. With a friendly smiling face, these people deliver the news in a way that makes tourists feel even more welcome.
In Nelson, by-law officers are charged with delivering the edict. Though a pleasant crew who most often exercise the proper discretion when dealing with dog violations, the fact it’s delivered by somebody in uniform can be off-putting.
Nelson’s strict downtown dog by-law was born out of frustration. Shop owners and many of those who visit the downtown were frustrated by the bad apples. Mostly travellers stopping to hang out in Nelson to check out the scene. These people leashed their barking dogs to parking meters, didn’t clean up the mess on the sidewalks and allowed their animals to approach folks who might not appreciate a dog’s snout in their crotch.
Those people should be dealt with, but do we really need the offensive sidewalk signs on every corner? Do we really need to tell the young couple from Saskatoon that their Maltese has to stay in a hot car while they check out the downtown shops?
The answer is no.
Like Coeur d’Alene, Nelson is a community that depends on tourist dollars for its survival. In fact, we are in direct competition with our southern cousins for the attention of visitors. They offer pretty much exactly what we offer right down to the funky vibe, but they do some things much better. Welcoming dogs is one them.
The answer for Nelson isn’t easy, but it’s out there. City council might want to start by picking up the phone. Call shop owners and leaders in places like Coeur d’Alene to see how they manage dogs in their downtown. I have the number. I can email it to you.
Bob Hall is the editor of the Nelson Star. Reach him at editor@nelsonstar.com