The City of St. John’s urges residents not to use outdoor recreation facilities as a place for their pets to roam. Councilor Jamie Korab says there has been an increase in reports of residents allowing their dogs to run off leash in areas such as ball fields. He says pet owners are not cleaning up after their pets, increasing the risk of various health risks. Dogs shed a number of harmful bacteria such as Ecoli and Salmonella, as well as a number of parasites that can cause kidney problems and intestinal diseases. Korab says pet waste often contains larvae that can cause damage to the lungs, heart and brain. He says that even after the droppings are gone, the pests can remain there for years, which also harms the environment as it will burn through the grass. She asks residents to use one of the nine dog parks located throughout the city and clean up after their pets.
