One person's quiet amble with their pet can be someone else's nightmare if the dog is unleashed.

While there may be times and places where it's possible to let Rover wander untethered, that's not the case in city parks except in designated off-leash areas.

Dog owners need to be cautious at all times. Even though they know their friendly lab is good with children, that doesn't mean they can let their dog wander up to sniff the next toddler they see. There is no way to predict what will happen and even if no harm is meant an unleashed dog, or one on a loose leash, can seem threatening.

If Coquitlam statistics can be translated to other communities, owning a dog is a huge part of the suburban lifestyle. In Coquitlam alone, the number of dog licences issued has doubled in four years and those statistics probably don't even reflect the actual number of dogs in the city.

With so many dogs around, it's even more important that people be responsible for their pets. Courtesy and common sense must rule to avoid conflicts, and dog owners would be wise to keep their pet close.

That wasn't the case, though, in Shoreline Park in Port Moody last week when a cyclist was toppled by an unleashed dog. The rider sustained serious injuries in the fall.

Luckily they were given a helping hand by a Good Samaritan, but what of the careless dog owner? Will they think twice before letting their dog run free in a public park? Port Moody has an off-leash dog park to avoid just those conflicts.

Off-leash parks aren't for everybody, and they certainly don't offer the kind of freedom many dog owners seek. But that could change as cities become more sensitive to pet owners and their needs. In Coquitlam for example, the city is building a large off-leash park and is seeking public input into the plan.

The idea is to build a park to accommodate the exercise needs of all kinds of dogs — small dogs, large dogs and even fast dogs that like to run an agility course.

Still, off-leash parks won't solve all the problems of dog/human conflicts.

In the end it's up to dog owners themselves to take responsibility for their pets and keep their animals leashed on public streets and parks.