Dog owners in North York are banding together in a bid to get the City of Toronto to build what they think is a much-needed off-leash park for dogs in their area.

The group, Yonge and Sheppard Dog Owners, has launched a petition on change.org to demonstrate to the city the need for enclosed off-leash zones in Glendora, Avondale and Avonshire parks. 

The petition currently has 152 signatures toward its goal of 200 and also calls for those who sign to write to John Filion, councillor for ward 23, in the hopes of gaining the councillor’s support as well.  

“There is no funding scheduled to support the development of new dog off-leash areas in the city,” said Matt Cutler, public relations manager for City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry & Recreation. 

“There are off-leash parks in Willowdale, but they aren’t easily accessible with our dogs,” said Monty Akerman, president of Yonge and Sheppard Dog Owners.

The closest off-leash park is 2.5 kilometres away, a one-hour round trip on foot, said Akerman.  

“When dogs socialize, they are less prone to incidents with other dogs as well as their owners, and because of that when people approach the dogs, they are at ease,” said Akerman. 

But their petition may have come too late.

“Budgeting for dogs off-leash areas ends in 2016, and the remaining funding has already been allocated to planned off-leash sites,” said Cutler. 

Despite this, the group will continue to lobby for a new park and still let their dogs off leash at the risk a whopping $240 ticket. 

“A few of us have received fines,” said Akerman. “Enforcement officers are crafty, some of them actually hide in the bushes.”