Stick to the park: Train tracks are no place to walk a dog

Dog owners love their pets. And fall is the perfect time to get out and enjoy Canada’s natural beauty with “man’s best friend.” But whether you’re exploring your local conservation area, park, or other green space, it’s critical that you follow certain rules—including some rail safety basics.
 
“The number one rule is to stay off railway tracks. It’s extremely dangerous to walk on tracks—or even alongside them,” says Sarah Mayes, National Director of Operation Lifesaver. “But if you’re walking your dog anywhere in the vicinity of railway tracks, make sure you keep it on leash—so you can keep it safe.” ­
In August 2019, a 58-year-old man in Surrey, BC was hit by a train while trying to rescue his two dogs. The unleashed dogs ran onto the tracks just as a train was approaching. The man was clipped by the train as he tried to save them. The two dogs were uninjured in the incident, but the owner was taken to hospital with several serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Remember, railway tracks are private property, not public trails. Keep your dogs safe: keep them away from the tracks. If you want to let them roam off-leash, find a safe place well away from tracks.