Dog eat dog world: Public consultation and planning on contested landscapes, a case study of dog parks and municipal government

Abstract

As public spaces shrink, many become contested landscapes as mutually incompatible users create conflicts. Dog parks are a controversial use in contested landscapes. This article presents a case study of a public engagement around dog parks in a Canadian city where the municipal government failed to resolve conflicts due to poor public engagement. A case is made for the benefits of dog ownership and as a legitimate use for public spaces, conferring substantive community benefits.