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BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com Brendan OSullivan doesn’t see why he should drive to Pickering, Richmond Hill or Markham so his fourâ€"yearâ€"old golden retriever Quinn can play in off-leash parks with other dogs. So he created the Stoufl‘ville Dog Owners Association in an effort to get like-minded dog lov- ers together to lobby council for a local ofiâ€"leash'dog park “They're good for the people, good for the dogs,” he said. “Dogs are happier, healthier and more sociable if they’re off-leash." . Last year, Whitchurch- Stouffville had 2,008 dogs regis- tered. Along with founding the asso- ciation, Mr. OSullivan has started an online petition to garner supâ€" port for the ofl-leash park So far there are 44 signatures. “I’m hoping to get more peo- ple involved and it just isn’t me," Mr. OSullivan said. An additional question on the petition is: “would this affect your vote in municipal elections?” All but three of the 44 peti- tioners said ‘yes’. “Every time I read the paper, they’re spending money for arts buildings, town halls, but not a nickel for dogs,” he said. Mr. OSullivan wants to part- ner with the town in much the Dollars for dogs? Canine club lobbies for leash-free park (SWWT-‘li'ibune ELECTION 2010 See DOG. page SOUND OFF, STOUFFVILLE! E-MAIL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR T0 .IMASON@YRMG.COM STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN If an indoor soccer pitch is going to be built within Whitchurch-Stoufl'ville, it will have to be done in partnership with the pri- vate sector. “If the private sector or others can lead on the construction of a we can partner on providing programs,” said Dave Cash, CAO for the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville at a recent council meeting. But, the town isn't saying no. “The town has or has not decided on any funding or not providing any funding," said MayorWayne Emmerson in an interview with The Sun-Tribune this week. The Whitchurch-Stoufiville Soccer Club relaunched its bid for an indoor soccer pitch at the March 23 council meeting and will be meeting with the mayor later this week to discuss the creation of a joint committee that would investigate various options to facilitate its creation. The club has 1,250 members. “It’s very important to this club, it's also very important to the community," said Klaas Westera, the club's secretary and head refâ€" Soccer club pitches for indoor field In 2006, the club, under the advice of council at the time, commissioned an indoor soccer pitch feasibility study, which became part of the town's 2008 leisure facility study. Private groups also interested in year-round facility The club’s study revealed there is indeed a 2 W? I]: A 6‘ EMERALD BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com Sec mnom, page H STOUFFVILLE mam”. (905) 64946.46