The City of Prince George will examine creating a series of dog parks through the city where dog owners will be allowed to exercise their dogs off-leash.

Currently there are three parks in the city — Moore's Meadow, Ginters and the green space along Domano Boulevard — where dogs may be exercised off leash, dog owner and advocate Dr. Annie Booth said. Those areas are part of a six-year trial project and are multi-use areas where dogs share space with horses, joggers, cyclists and occasionally illegal ATV users.

"A fast-moving target like a jogger or child on a bicycle or ATV may prove too tempting for some dogs," Booth said. "I personally have been screamed at by joggers who seemed unaware dogs would be present."

A petition supporting the creation of dog-only parks received 1,244 signatures, Booth said. In addition the city conducted a survey on the issue and received over 700 responses.

Studies have shown dog owners are mentally and physically healthier and more engaged in their community than non-dog owners, she said.

"The encouragement of good dog ownership is to the community's benefit," Booth said. "There are over 600 communities in North America which recognize the need for dog parks."

Kelowna has seven dog parks and Kamloops has 18, along with three dog beaches, she said.

"According to Statistics Canada, dog ownership in Canada is on the upswing," Booth said. "The dog park is not necessarily for the dogs... it's for the dog owners, who do vote and pay taxes."

Having a number of accessible parks throughout the city will increase access for seniors and others with reduced mobility.

"Seniors are very attached to Wilson Park because it's flat and accessible, but right now they're being ticketed. Seniors stay healthier owning dogs and being able to exercise them appropriately," Booth said.

Booth's sentiments were echoed by dog owners on city council.

"To work properly there needs to be a grid of dog parks across the city," Coun. Dave Wilbur said. "I'd like the report to include a strategy for multiple dog parks. Maybe not in every neighbourhood... but in every region of the city."

Coun. Garth Frizzell said Prince George is behind the trend in B.C.

"I tried to find (a list of) other communities in B.C. that have dog parks... and I couldn't count them, there was page, after page, after page."

City long-term planning manager Grant Bain said the city is already examining its parks strategy and dog parks were part of that review.

Coun. Cameron Stolz said he supports dog parks, but said off-leash areas should be separated from other use areas to prevent conflicts.

"I'd suggest a fenced area would be more appropriate."

How to fund those fences and other improvements will be the most challenging portion of implementing dog parks, he said.