As the new school year approaches, concerns continue over stray dogs near William Konkin Elementary (WKE) school. Despite ongoing efforts, the issue remains unresolved.

The Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake acknowledges that there is a concern with dogs being at large, Sheryl Worth, chief administrative officer, said. 

The problem was first identified back in April when residents took to social media about dog fights and wandering dogs at WKE, endangering the children on the playground and raising safety concerns.

One of the incident reported back then involved a group of dogs scrapping at William Konkin Elementary School, scaring the kids and resulting in them being taken indoors. Bylaw officers began patrolling the area and the municipality had begun talks with the school to address the issue.

Worthing said officials have reported difficulties in managing the stray dog issue effectively, partly due to safety concerns and limited staff resources. The bylaw officer usually tries to address issues without resorting to capture whenever possible.

However, Worthing also pointed out the bylaw officer is responsible for enforcing various bylaws, is not specifically designated to manage stray dogs.

"The officer can impound dogs if it鈥檚 safe and feasible, but their primary role does not include active dog-catching,"

Similarly, on-site safety at the school is not the responsibility of the Village Bylaw Officer. However, once the year school year starts the municipality intends to re-engage in dialogue with the School Division and the WKE Parent鈥檚 Advisory Committee (PAC), Worthing said. 

School District 91 Superintendent Mike Skinner said WKE staff monitors the playground and school property to ensure safety. 

"Our main concern is always the safety of our students, staff and school visitors," he said, adding, "the presence of dogs or other animals on school property during school hours can pose a risk to staff, students and visitors."
Skinner said WKE and its PAC are working with the Village on the issue of dogs wandering to the property. 

"Supervision on school grounds ensures that everyone is safe and we expect further meetings this September. Ultimately we want to get to a place that all dogs are secure at home to eliminate the concerns at the school, " he added.