Category: Pet Friendly

The Sunshine Coast is a very pet-friendly place compared to many other vacation destinations in BC. There are many on-leash dog parks and dog-friendly walkways, a few off-leash parks, and many trails and backcountry areas without regulation.

There are at least 30 lodging providers listed on Bigpacific.com offering pet-friendly accommodations. Almost all require you call ahead to discuss the number and type of pets you intend to bring, go over 'house' rules, or specify special policies, such as no pets on furniture or kenneling at night.

The Coast offers a very good level of veterinary services, with offices in Gibsons, Sechelt and a mobile vet available as well.

There are a number of kennel options on the Coast as well, from standard mixed sleeping area & run style, to in-home pet-sitting. My dog goes to Castle Rock Kennels in Roberts Creek and particularly enjoys being matched up with dogs of like temperament for supervised free-run playtime in the large fenced grounds.

Pet supply stores can be found at the Gibsons IGA Plaza, and in Sechelt in the Pharmasave block.

Bigpacific.com Resources:

• Gibsons Off-Leash Dog-Friendly Trails
• Kinnickinick Park, Sechelt - Now leash only as dog owners did not look after poop on the trail. Still a great walk, but a crying shame we lost it for off-leash. Please be ultra-responsible about your pet. Take Trail Avenue northwest out of Sechelt. It will turn into Reef Road, and then turn left onto Shoal Way. You'll approach the Sechelt Golf Course and a sign for the Augusta Grill. Turn right, and drive past Kinnickinick Elementary School. There is an entrance to the park at the left on to Ripple Way, and it's a quiet way in. Otherwise, continue up Ripple Way to the end and you'll find the main entrance sign for the park just beside the closest baseball backdrop.
• All SCRD Parks are specified as on-leash only. However, most locals and visitors abide by unspoken rules of the trails: if the trails are uncrowded, and your dog is friendly and mixes well with other people and dogs, off-leash is okay until another hiker or animal is sighted, at which time your pet should be leashed until you have crossed paths on the trail.
• Most parks offer bags for disposal, but remember: it's your responsibility to look after your pet and clean up after it. Nothing gets Coasters grumpier and out of our easygoing ways than being taken advantage of and being left your 'gifts' to clean up. Use the bags or lose the privilege!