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City of Edmonton enforcement staff are launching a blitz to educate or fine dog owners who let their pets run off-leash on a central Edmonton bike path.

The effort targeting off-leash dogs on the shared-use path running alongside Westmount and into west Oliver is one of 276 special patrols the team carried out this year. It’s also one of the first to target the conflict between dog owners and cyclists.

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The shared-use path runs down a former rail right-of-way near 122 Street and 107 Avenue. It’s beside an off-leash area, partially separated by a chain-link fence.

“Dogs come up unexpectedly and get aggressive,” said cyclist and Westmount resident Adam Bentley, whose 311 complaint earlier this week prompted the crackdown. “They’re chasing, snarling, snapping at tires, fake charges … and sometimes the dogs just bolt.”

What are the rules?

Edmonton’s animal control team said dog owners are expected to leash their dogs outside off-leash areas, and still keep them under control even when off leash.