I do not allow pets on my hikes. 

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Unless stated otherwise on the posted event, pets will not accompany us on any of my group events.   

Although I love animals, there are various reasons why I’ve made that decision.

• Pets can sometimes become an unsafe distraction to other hikers.  Many hiking trails can be very dangerous and if a pet gets away from their handler, they can put other hikers at risk.

• Since I am unable to limit the number, and type, of pets invited, there is a chance a few too many would show up.  This has happened in the past.

• We are a hiking group, and since a fear of dogs occurs in 7-9 percent of the population, I think it best to restrict attendance to adult human hikers.

• As soon as I allow pets on my hikes, I have assumed responsibility for the behaviour and action of those pets.    

• Oftentimes a pet’s behavior can change when in an unknown environment with strange people surrounding them.  I have experienced a situation where a well-behaved dog became very aggressive when other dogs were nearby. 

• Encountering forest wildlife can trigger unanticipated reactions in pets.