‘Most of our dog walking is on-leash walks so we go to beautiful places in Barrie,’ says the professional walker
Sherry O’Leary doesn’t have to look high and low for places to go to the many dogs she cares for. Barrie, he said, has a great selection from its off-leash parks to its many woods where both pets and their owners or walkers can enjoy the outdoors.
“Most of our dog walking is on-leash walking so we go to great places in Barrie,” says the owner of Out N About Pet Care, which provides pet-friendly care and services to walk the dog through a network of pedestrians throughout the area.
O’Leary started the business 10 years ago part-time and turned it into a year-round service that employs him and his partner, James Laxton, full-time with a staff of eight.
Many of those trails, however, are multi-use, so O’Leary and his walkers follow a protocol to stay safe and be respectful of others they may encounter. That starts with using a leash.
And recognizing that not everyone is comfortable around dogs, he and his staff often step out of the way, if possible, to let other people pass. Barrie’s waterfront trails are, of course, a big draw for walkers because of their well-maintained walking paths and abundant green space.
One of his favorites is The Gables, off Tollendal Mill Road on the south shore of Kempenfelt Bay. It’s a nice wooded trail that leads to the waterfront where dogs can get their paws wet. O’Leary and the walkers carry water for the dogs to drink when they take a break or stop to take in the view.
Innisfil’s off-leash dog beach also excites him and he wants to see something similar in Barrie.
Barrie’s Waterfront Strategic Plan Update 2023 recommends that the city conduct a feasibility study to explore dog water access points, including time of day/week/year options and provide dog refuse bags at waste stations. That means the idea has at least been floated in Barrie.
Meanwhile, additional off-leash parks are being considered, said Kevin Bradley, Barrie’s parks planning manager.
“The city is assessing locations for potential additional sites,” he said.
Dogs are welcome on a leash in any park in Barrie but are prohibited on beach areas in waterfront parks.
O’Leary enjoys two off-leash recreation areas that Barrie has developed so far.
The Sunnidale off-leash park is fully fenced and located off Coulter Street in the park’s woods, providing plenty of shade. The south-end park off Bayview Drive has a fully fenced play area complemented by a trail area that is not fully fenced. Although there is a trash can next to the park, he suspects that if it were more accessible, it would be better used.
Other area parks enjoyed by area residents and their dogs include:
- Warnica Trail to Wilkins Beach which offers a walk through mostly shaded forest and opens onto a mostly secluded part of the lake.
- The Oro-Medonte Rail Trail runs from Barrie to Orillia, mostly along a multi-use trail.
- Springwater Provincial Park in Midhurst has several trails to choose from.
- The Hickling Tract in Springwater Township is a little-used trail.
- The West Creek Trail Loop and the Simcoe County Forest Dyer Tract are on the western edge of Barrie on County Road 27.
“We just want to be kind to the animals we bring in,” O’Leary said. “In general, your dog should be supervised.”
