Parksville is a small neigh-bourhood.

You don鈥檛 see horsing around in the city. But when someone ponies up an unusual situation, people are quick to whinny about it.

Dawn Topolnicki moved to Parksville a year ago to escape the stressful hustle and bustle of the big city. She said she has savoured the smalltown atmosphere of Parksville. That feeling was reinforced recently as it had her heart galloping at full throttle.

鈥淚t sure hit home when visiting the local liquor store,鈥� Topolnicki said. 鈥淚 came upon a singing cowboy riding this lovely horse. He parked the horse in an [accessible] spot and made his way into the store. The universe was telling me that we were not in the big city anymore.鈥�

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But it did raise the question of whether the steed was illegally parked or not.

According to the City of Parksville, it is not illegal as there is no law on animals parked in an accessible parking space.

鈥淣o bylaw so no ticket, no enforcement.鈥� said Deb Tardiff, the city鈥檚 manager of communications. 鈥淗aving said that, if the [unidentified] owner of the horse should choose to take their purchase from Wembley Mall to the Parksville Community Park for a gallop on the beach, there would be enforcement because the city鈥檚 bylaw does not allow horses on the beach鈥� assuming we can catch them. There is no fine, just prohibition.鈥�

Tardiff said she鈥檚 learned from the city鈥檚 bylaw compliance officer that it is also illegal for a horse to jaywalk.

鈥淭hey must cross at an actual crossing or intersection,鈥� she quipped. 鈥淭he fine for this and for not being properly tethered would be $50.鈥�

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