It was arguably their longest debate of the night, but Regina city council will see four off-leash dog parks begin being built in 2020.

Along with the two proposed for the former Regent par 3, there will also be parks established in Mount Pleasant Park and Harding Park in the city’s north and east ends respectively.

Off-leash dog parks advocate Connie Buchan (buck-an) said this will be a huge addition.

“Current dog parks are overused and are really showing their wear and tear,” said Buchan. “Dispersing some of those dogs and their owners will make for better community interactions.”

Buchan believes councillors acted quickly on this file because they were receiving calls from constituents about the lack of options for their dogs.

She said dog parks are something people really enjoy as a leisure activity.

“They want to see it for their dogs. They go to other cities and see what’s available there, and they want that in their own community.”

Council is also considering a $10 pet fee tacked on in the 2020 budget to help fund more dog parks. It is not yet determined on whether this will be on all pet licences or just for dogs.