Last week I watched several people at the Pacifica City Council meeting speak in favor of allowing their dogs to run off-leash at the Sharp Park Beach, but to no apparent avail. Although I do not have any doggies at present, I appreciate the plight of owners and their dogs, when searching for an appropriate place to let their dogs run and play.
To that end, I believe that we should have easily ADA-accessible "dog parks" in various locations throughout Pacifica for dogs to run off-leash, at will. I've been told that there is now only one place in town that we have for dogs to run off-leash. It is in the north end of town on Esplanade Beach. But I also know that folks in our community, seniors especially, have said that Esplanade Beach is untenable for them, which is fundamentally inconsistent with the plan of the Coastal Commission to ensure access to the beaches for all.
Anyone who has any doubt as to the feasibility of dogs off-leash running freely on the other beaches in Pacifica needs to take a trip down south about 100 miles to the beaches in Carmel on any given Sunday. It is a dog lover's paradise. From my observations of the happy animals and happy owners down there, I have come to the conclusion that man and dogs off-leash can co-exist, in peace on mutual ground, without great havoc and danger. There appear to be rules and regulations, and they are strictly adhered to, for the benefit and comfort of all.
From observing this phenomenon, the thought came to my mind that we could do something similar here in Pacifica. If not opening up our other beaches to off-leash dogs, we could set up "dog parks" with a set of our own rules and regulations to achieve satisfactory results for all concerned.
For example, the following rules could be employed: The dogs must be properly licensed and vaccinated. They must be leashed prior to entering and upon leaving the off-leash areas and in transition corridors. The owners must be in verbal control of their dogs at all times and prevent aggressive behavior, biting, fighting or excessive barking.
Further regulations could ask that dog owners must always have a leash available. No dog is left unattended. Another very important issue would be to have owners clean up and dispose properly of feces. Owners are liable for damage or injury inflicted by their dogs. Dogs in heat are not allowed. No puppies less than 4 months (immature immune system) allowed. Owners must comply with all other park rules and regulations.
(If any of these rules and regulations sound familiar, they were specific recommendations prepared for Pacifica in September 2002 by our very own Animal Advisory Commission, in a report they prepared for the purpose of guiding Pacifica in establishing off-leash areas for dog exercise and interaction with other off-leash dogs.)
I also learned from observing the dogs interacting on the beaches of Carmel that dogs are very social animals and can interact warmly not only one another but also with human beings who are strangers. I believe that this just might be because of the freedom to run off-leash and meet other dogs and people, at will. This is only speculation on my part, but it is developed from my continuous observations.
In talking with owners of these animals running on the Carmel beaches, I found that they travel from all parts of the Bay Area to come to Carmel, just to let their dogs run and socialize. They are not just local residents. I don't know if this "doggie picnic" is only on Sundays, or if it's available on any other day of the week. I have observed it only on my Sunday trips.
Some dog owners and their dogs travel overnight and stay in Carmel at one of the many dog-friendly hotels in town. Although allowing dogs to run off-leash on the beaches wasn't instituted necessarily with the intent of increasing tourism, ironically it has done so (whether Carmel needed it or not). Just about every hotel in Carmel allows dogs. I know of only one that doesn't and that is the one that we stay in because it allows—guess what—cats. Carmel is a good example of a town flourishing because it's "going to the dogs."
Now with all this talk about dogs, you might not expect me to be a cat lover, but a cat lover I am indeed. And it was for the love of my cat that I recently found myself sitting in Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital reception area waiting to have a veterinarian see my sick cat on an emergency. While JR and I waited, I got into discussions with dog owners, mostly about their doggies, but the subject of a "dog park" came up and the subsequent frustrations of getting one.
As a matter of fact, they didn't seem to know that there might even be a possibility of having an easily accessible dog park anywhere in this town. Like other dog owners in Pacifica, they mostly walked their dogs in their own neighborhoods or somewhere convenient back "in the hills" or "up on the berm" above Sharp Park Golf Course.
As I was sitting there, I noticed a woman who had a magnificent Doberman and a huge walking stick almost five feet long, which she said she uses to fend off off-leash dogs from attacking her doggie on their daily walks. She said that aggressive dogs appear out of nowhere and bark, growl, or otherwise menace and harass both her and her dog as they walk the streets of their neighborhood.
It seems incongruous for a dog known to be somewhat "fierce" itself, by reputation, to have to be "protected" with a five-foot-long stick wielded by its master. It seemed that all the big dogs at the vet that day were both mild-tempered and quiet. It was the little dogs that were growling and threatening to "harm" the big dogs. The woman with the big stick said that she understood the need for dogs to run free, but she feels that it is a public safety issue, based on her own experience.
According to a Pacifica Animal Advisory Commission Report in 2002, Jane Dirks, in a paper presented at the 1996 conference of the American Anthropological Association in San Francisco, wrote this about public benefits of dog parks: "For ultimately, the 'Dog People' find in the 'Dog Park' a sanctuary, a space for healing. 'Dog People' exult in watching their animals run, feeling that an hour or two's romp with their dogs is essential to health, theirs and their dogs', and makes up for a week of sedentary working hours. 'Dog People' roam the trails of lower Frick Park (in Pittsburgh), alone or in groups, peeling away the stress and cognitions of the human world, cleansing themselves in the world of nature through the heedless antics of a happy dog."
Having said all this, I find that the encounter with that dog owner in the dog hospital that day has opened my eyes to the real need to establish practical ADA-accessible "dog parks" in our town. As for my kitty's opinion on this subject, he's in agreement with me that all dogs, whether be they barking and menacing or not, should have "dog parks," wherein they can run loose and free and chase the stress right out of their bodies and minds.
Perhaps, then, they might not be so wound up and aggressive as they can be at times, to friend or stranger, that they might meet upon the streets and beaches of Pacifica, but then, kitties possess such infinite wisdom.
As a matter of fact, you can ask any cat owner what his or her kitty thinks about being "leashed," and you will know that one exceptional moment in time when both dog and cat are on the same page.
BARBARA ARIETTA
Cat Owner and Dog Friendly
Dogs are not allowed off leash at Sharp Park because of numerous complaints already made by the golf course and golfers that dog owners let their dogs swim in the pond and roam around the course, which is trespassing, and also I've seen dogs run across the greens while people are playing. A few irresponsible owners ruin off-leash possibilities for the rest. Shame!
Posted by: david | July 04, 2008 at 08:21 AM
I agree, we should have dog parks. Enclosed so dogs may run free.
A few rules:
1) Dog feces must be picked up by owners-- not doing so should be an enforced, ticketable offense.
2) Any dog running area on a beach should not disturb breeding birds. At a minimum this would mean no dogs during breeding season.
The Western Snowy Plover: this species has threatened status on the federal Endangered Species list.
List of key causes of death to wild birds; letting dogs run in their breeding territory falls into the category of Loss of Habitat:
http://www.currykerlinger.com/birds.htm
Everything you want to know about the Western Snowy Plover, including a fun, short movie for kids! http://www.westernsnowyplover.org/
US Fish and Wildlife information about the WSP:
http://www.fws.gov/arcata/es/birds/WSP/plover.html
It's not man and dog that are odds-- after all, they are our best friend. It is when a dog destroys a wild bird's breeding habitat: that's the conflict we need to manage.
As a dog lover who runs other people's dogs as often as possible, I know there's an easy compromise. I often run the dogs-- but we never go where there may be breeding birds.
Posted by: Summer Rhodes | December 10, 2007 at 08:38 PM