Words by Nalyn Tindall
Photos by Sammy Kogan
The squeaks of dog toys and excited barks echo throughout the many walls of Kerr Hall Quad, backed by joyous chatter from their accompanying owners. Each morning, local Torontonians flock to Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) where their pups can run and play with the others they’ve come to know.
While no official group has been organized by the university or online, a crew of familiar faces meet almost every morning in the heart of campus. Dogs of all breeds and sizes sprint across the grounds as their owners toss balls and sticks for them to chase. Everyone knows each other by name, and of course, by their dogs’ names too.
Vusal and Gulsam moved from Azerbaijan to Toronto eight months ago when they met their dog Loona and began creating a home in the city together. The energetic, five-year-old golden retriever jumps for toys and sprints across the field playing fetch. Their twice-a-day visits have become a routine for the family who now call the neighbourhood their home. Despite studying film at George Brown College, Vusal favours TMU when it comes to Loona’s needs. Used to modelling on her Instagram page @goldenloona, she’s no stranger to the camera thanks to her photographer father Gulsum.
Eight-year-old Kopper, a shepherd and beagle mix, visits the Kerr Hall Quad every day with his owner Fernando, often meeting their friends Mark and his five-and-a-half-year-old cockapoo George. The pair of pups are calm and relaxed, taking in the morning sun and fresh air that fills the space.
According to the National Library of Medicine, urban green spaces promote healthy living and well-being. They explain that green spaces provide “opportunities for physical activity, recovery from stress and attention fatigue and facilitation of social contact,” leading to beneficial physical and mental health outcomes.
The Natural History Museum explains that we need nature in our surroundings, stating that living in cities is damaging to our health but the addition of nature in these spaces can divert these effects.
“It’s like a giant big backyard, thank God we have this…it’s our playground,” says George, the owner of Aries and Apollo, a contrasting duo of terriers. While George tosses sticks for Aries—who loves to chase and chew the branches that litter the lawn—Apollo mingles with the dogs he’s grown accustomed to during their daily visits.
According to the City of Toronto, there are over 1,500 parks under their jurisdiction, made up of over 8,000 hectares of land. While the city recognizes over 70 off-leash dog parks, Kerr Hall Quad is not technically listed as one of them. However, many nearby residents explain this is their favourite place to bring their pets. While Allan Gardens is the closest off-leash dog park listed by the city, TMU offers a copious amount of protected green space—not accessible to traffic—and is protected by the four walls surrounding the quad, creating a safe space for dogs and owners alike.
Thomas the 13-year-old schnoodle is excitable and energetic despite his age. “It’s a safe place for them, it’s beautiful here,” says his owner Carlos. He explains that Kerr Hall is the best place in the area to bring your dog, especially in the winter as the walls block the cold wind. The dogs get along well and there are “no bullies,” explains his other owner Nashla. “We have a good community going on here, we see each other every day.”
Non-stop squeaking reverberates amongst the space thanks to Kaley, a seven-year-old cairn terrier. Coming prepared with a tin of treats, her owner Paul is popular amongst the other pets.
The City of Toronto’s “Green City: Why Nature Matters to Health” report states that “abundant, diverse and well maintained green spaces are important features of a healthy city.” The report goes on to recommend the prioritization of investment in green spaces. It also explains that “the rapid growth and increasing density of the downtown core is resulting in a growing need for park space where land is limited and expensive,” adding value to the green spaces which already exist in the city.
After a long journey from China, Duo-Duo arrived in Toronto three months ago. After a long flight spanning multiple layovers, the two-year-old—suspected to be a golden corgi—is still getting accustomed to Canadian soil. Formerly belonging to the grandmother of her owner Rosy, Duo-Duo is a nervous but excited puppy enjoying off-leash walks every day.
Caramel the 10-month-old cockapoo is extremely social and especially close with her fellow small dogs who populate the green. “I think they’re best friends,” says her owner Ling.
A study published in the Journal of Leisure Research argues there are both individual and community benefits of having dog parks including “health of dogs, sense of community and human-dog relationships.” The study explains that the benefits of a park depend on someone’s distance to the nearest dog park and the number of parks located near their residence.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Maple and her owner Olivia have been coming to the park for a year and a half. The King Charles cavalier and mini poodle mix is obsessed with her squeaky toy and looks forward to visiting campus every day. Olivia says, “I’ve actually met a lot of my best friends through this park…I feel like we have such a good dog park community that we’re all actually friends.”
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