The goats are back!

For the next week, a herd of approximately 200 goats will be dining on weeds in Confluence (West Nose Creek) Park as phase two of The City’s targeted grazing program begins.

Phase one was undertaken in 2016, and we’re excited about the results. So far we’ve learned that goats can be used in an active park without disrupting park visitors’ enjoyment of the park, whether on foot, on bicycle, or with a leashed dog. Preliminary signs also indicate that the goats have done an excellent job targeting a significant volume and variety of invasive weeds such as Canada thistle, hound’s tongue, and hawkweed.

Phase two of this pilot program sees the goats return to Confluence Park so we can analyze the long-term success of using targeted grazing as a weed management tool. We will be focusing on how effective the goats are at controlling certain weeds, and how well they can do that without impacting the native vegetation we want to keep in the area. The goats will be visiting the park a week at a time, for three different weeks throughout the summer.

If you see the goats grazing while you’re in the park, please keep your distance and obey the shepherd at all times. Remember to keep your dog on-leash as Confluence Park is an on-leash park (there is a fenced off-leash area near the parking lot). These goats are working and when people interact with them it disrupts their work and can cause them distress.

If you are interested in learning about this pilot project please visit us online at calgary.ca/goats.

First P.U.P.P.Y event of the summer to be held this weekend at Auburn Bay off-leash area

We are hosting P.U.P.P.Y. (Pick Up Pooch's Poo Yourself) events throughout the spring and summer, beginning this Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m. in Auburn Bay’s off-leash area.

P.U.P.P.Y. experts will share information about dog waste, proper disposal methods and The City’s Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw. Supplies will also be available for anyone wanting to pitch in and pick up.

With over 120,000 dogs in the city, the amount of pet waste in our parks and off-leash areas can quickly add up if owners aren’t picking up after their pets. Help keep our city pet-waste free. Always carry pet waste bags with you when walking your dog (or someone else’s) and pick up and properly dispose of your dog’s waste as soon as possible.

Events run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us at a P.U.P.P.Y. event near you:

April 30 - Auburn Bay off-leash Area, 55 Auburn Bay Dr. S.E.

May 14 - Taradale off-leash area, 64 Ave. & Tarington Rd. N.E.

May 28 - Sue Higgins Park

June 4 - River Park

June 11 - Bowmont Park off-leash area, 5550 85 St. N.W.

June 18 - Nose Hill (Edgemont parking lot), Edgemont Blvd. and Shaganappi Tr. N.W.

July 23 - Edworthy Park off-leash area, 5539 Edworthy St. S.W.

July 30 - Nose Hill (Egdemont parking lot), Edgemont Blvd. and Shaganappi Tr. N.W.

August 6 - Sue Higgins Park

August 13 - Connaught Park off-leash area, 11 St. and 14 Ave. S.W.

August 20 - Braeside off-leash area, 14 St. & 110 Ave. S.W.

September 10 - Sandy Beach

September 17 - Bowmont Park off-leash area, 5550 85 St. N.W.

September 24 - Sue Higgins Park

October 15 - Dover off-leash area, 150 Gosling Way S.E.

October 22 - Auburn Bay off-leash area, 55 Auburn Bay Dr. S.E.

Just the facts - 5 things you should know

Pet waste left in our outdoor spaces isn’t just awful to look at, it’s dangerous. Here are five facts you may not know about doggy doo-doo:

1. It’s crawling with E. coli and other harmful bacteria, like salmonella, that can cause serious illness in humans.
2.  It often contains roundworm larvae which, if ingested by humans or pets, can lead to brain, eye and other organ damage.
3. It’s never a good fertilizer. Its high-nutrient content is toxic to lawns and will create “hot spots” causing the grass to burn and discolour.
4.  It attracts mice, coyotes and other wildlife into our parks and off-leash areas (they consider it a delicious snack).
5. It doesn’t absorb into the soil, so the risk of spreading its harmful effects can linger for years.

The dangers aren’t just outdoors. When you consider all the ways dog waste can be transmitted into your home – shoes, pets, strollers, etc. – you realize how easily you and your loved ones could be affected.

Visit calgary.ca/PUPPY for more information.

Submitted by Regan Wetsch, Parks

City launches new way to license your pet

Working together with pet owners we are making licensing your pet easier. This new, user-friendly, online Animal Services site has features such as the ability to sign-up for automatic renewal payments, which you told us you wanted.

Go paperless

Our new animal licensing site also allows you to:
• purchase or renew your pet license online;
• pay using Interac and credit card;
• order replacement pet tags online; and
• sign-up to go paperless.

With our new email notifications, never miss a pet licence renewal again. Just log onto the Animal Services site and then select the “Go paperless” button in your contact profile to turn on or off paper renewals and receive email reminders.

Licensing your pet

It’s important to remember that your pet’s license is their ticket home. Licensing your pet also supports our mission to create safe and healthy neighbourhoods. Our licensing fees are used to provide many services to Calgarians, including reuniting lost cats and dogs with owners, educating the public about responsible pet ownership, managing our cat and dog adoption programs and running our volunteer animal socialization programs.

Visit pets.calgary.ca to see the new site.

Submitted by Dustin Rogers, Calgary Community Standards

Free Dog Training: Building a strong relationship between pet and owner

Could your dog benefit from recall training? Could you use a few tips from a professional dog trainer? On Saturday, Oct. 17 join a certified professional dog trainer at the Falconridge off-leash area and learn tips and techniques that will help you and your dog show off their best behaviour when in public.

There will be four 45-minute sessions starting at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Certified professional dog trainers, courtesy of our partnership with the Calgary Humane Society, will demonstrate training methods that help improve the human/animal bond. Proper training helps owners by giving them the know-how to minimize their dog’s bad behaviour and encourage appropriate behaviour. Good animal behaviour requires commitment to building strong relationship between pet and owner.

Along with training, pet owners will also be able to chat with off-leash ambassador volunteers, Animal & Bylaw Services staff and will even be able to renew their animal licence.

This event is one of several offered through the year as part of our Off-leash Ambassador program, which is a community-based program providing a volunteer-led approach to promote and educate citizens about the Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw.

The City is committed to working with and supporting Calgarians and their pets and this event is an example of this commitment.

Visit our website for more information on the Off-leash Ambassador program and responsible pet ownership.

Here's how you can help prevent dog bites

Every spring and summer, the City of Calgary sees a spike in the number of dog bite incidents – with the majority of the roughly 200 reported dog bite incidents each year taking place in the warm months.

“Safety is our top priority. We see so many dog bites every summer that could have been prevented and many time it's children who are bitten because they are so trusting,” says Alvin Murray, Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS) North Operation Manager.

“Teaching ourselves and our children how to stay safe is the best way to prevent a dog bite.”

ABS has a few tips to help ensure people and pets interact in a safe and responsible way. Many of these tips also apply within your own home and with your own pets. ABS is also seeing an increase in dog bites to children in their own homes.

Safety around dogs

• Always stay away from stray dogs even if you think you know the dog. 
• Never try to break up a fight between two animals even if one is your own. 
• Never tease a dog, or do anything that may hurt it. 
• Never take away a dog's food or bone, or pull a toy from his mouth. 
• Never disturb a dog that's sleeping or eating. 
• Never approach a dog that's with her puppies. 
• Stay away from a dog that has been tied up and left alone in a public place. 
• Always keep your face away from dogs. 
• Never run away from a dog that scares you. Instead, stand like a tree by making your hands into fists and placing them under your chin. Stand still, do not speak to the dog, and look at the ground. Never stare into the dog's eyes. Doing these things will show the dog that you are not a threat.

Meeting a dog

• Always ask the owner's permission to pet the dog first. 
• If the owner gives you permission to pet the dog, let the dog sniff your hand, being sure not to place your hand in its face.
• Pet the dog gently under the chin. Do not pet the dog on its head, as not all dogs like to be touched on the top of their heads.

Dog owners

• Neuter your male dog. Unneutered dogs may be more aggressive than neutered dogs. 
• Control your dog at all times. 
• Do not encourage aggressive behaviour by playing rough or pulling toys or bones from your dog's mouth. 
• Properly socialize your dog. 
• Keep your dog out of situations you know may cause problems.

For more information on how to prevent dog bites and other important information on animal-related services in Calgary visit calgary.ca/animalservices.