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1. jtm
   Member Profile

   I just wanted to share with all of my fellow West Seattle dog owners that last night when I was walking by the 'unofficial' dog park on Genesee & 49th (old school field) there was a nice policeman IDing everyone with unleashed dogs. I'm not sure if he ticketed anyone - most likely he just gave warnings.

   Although personally I think the SPD needs to find better things to do with their time, he was just doing his job as this is NOT actually a dog park. My understanding is that the fines can be pretty hefty.

   I just wanted to send out the warning!

   Thanks!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

2. KBear
   Member Profile

   It's about time. Holding dog owners accountable to the law is a good use of police resources, in my opinion. If more dog owners were better citizens, it wouldn't be necessary.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

3. k
   Member Profile

   i would love if cats couldn't roam freely either. we have a few that have taken to using our yard as their personal bathroom. it's disgusting.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

4. jwws
   Member Profile

   

   k,

   A hard one to enforce but I found some well placed tabasco or cayenne pepper in the areas the cats frequent quickly put an end to my neighbor's cat using our garden as a litter box.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

5. k
   Member Profile

   thanks jwws! will try anything at this point!

   Posted 2 years ago #         

6. cjboffoli
   Member Profile

   

   Before suggesting how the SPD should best use their time, I'd first suggest that people obey the laws. If people would just act more responsibly the police department would have more time to focus on serious crimes.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

7. JoB
   Member Profile

   i am no longer "nice" to people i encounter who have their dogs off leash...

   i encountered several this morning at the big park on the sound just north of Ballard.

   i offered to unleash my dogs and let them "interact" with theirs...

   with Mochi going shiba crazy.. they got the point pretty quickly..

   all but one leased up. she had two dogs and one leash... that really tells you something.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

8. flowerpetal
   Member Profile

   

   If people were better citizens all around their might not be a need for police; which we know is ridiculous. So why would we expect dog owners to be better citizens than automobile drivers... for example.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

9. KBear
   Member Profile

   Well, when automobile drivers break the law, the police should go after them, too. I just think it's silly to say that the leash law isn't important enough for police to enforce. If it's important enough to have a law, people should expect that it will be enforced.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

10. flowerpetal
    Member Profile

    

    I totally agree with you; hope I didn't come across as disagreening.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

11. Wednesday
    Member Profile

    Wow, how rude and irresponsible for dog owners to blatently disregard THE LAW and run their dogs off-leash in a fenced in, old, run-down, unused and unmaintained field of a closed school. OMG, what were they thinking?! If only we were all droids with laws programmed into our brains so we didn't have the FREE CHOICE of whether to follow them, maybe then we'd live in a perfect world. This is so old.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

12. KBear
    Member Profile

    It's not just there. They run them all over the neighborhood, and at Ercolini Park, too. Which makes it hard for ME to enjoy a walk with my LEASHED dog, because she doesn't always respond well to being charged by aggressive off-leash dogs. Damn right it's rude and irresponsible. I hope they get more than warnings.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

13. datamuse
    Member Profile

    

    I've seriously lost track of the number of times I've been chased, charged, snarled at, and nipped by dogs roaming loose where they aren't supposed to be.

    Ah, Wednesday, if only there were a designated place in West Seattle where people could take their dogs to let them run around, play, and make friends with other dogs.

    Oh wait, there is.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

14. Wednesday
    Member Profile

    Yeah, in Highland Park, about 3 miles away (from AK junction area). It's great with the exception of the sticks and bark that's hard on my dog's paws and throat when he swallows it, and not to mention he always gets very dirty there. I go there all the time when I'm not walking my dog on-leash somewhere nicer and more pleasant like Lincoln. My dog is much more interested in chasing the ball than making friends with other dogs and is happy walking anywhere, even on-leash. I'm not "one of those people", but I do understand why they choose to do it and I also know there is a need for more off-leash areas, even small ones. and a beach!! The Genesee/Pathfinder field would be a perfect place for another official off-leash park in the heart of WS. I just wish there was a way to do it and keep the grass.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

15. service dog academy
    Member Profile

    

    maybe people wouldnt choose to go off leash if there was a SAFE off leash area for people to take their dogs. by SAFE i mean you have to have your dog screened prior to be able to play at the park and are required to pay attention to your dog rather than socializing. i cant tell you how many times my dog has been aggressed at for having a nice toy or not allowed to play with his toy because some owner wont throw a ball for their dog and they decide to chase mine instead. i dont come to the dog park to exercise YOUR dog but to exercise mine.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

16. BBGuest
    Member Profile

    

    Wednesday, you may want to visit Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island. It has a nice swimming area for the dogs. I went there today. It is a little tricky to find but lots of parking and a pretty short walk through leash only area to get there. Beautiful place.

    Unfortunately my two were charged on the way back to the car by two loose dogs. I guess it happens everywhere.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

17. Wednesday
    Member Profile

    We do. Luther Burbank and Magnuson are both great but also a long way to go.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

18. GAnative
    Member Profile

    

    The sign on the fence says NO PETS ALLOWED - NO DOGS, CATS OR POT BELLY PIGS (I love the pig part:))so while the dogs shouldn't be offleash they shouldn't be there at all.

    Yes the school is closed but the field is not "old, run-down, unused and unmaintained". The field is still used for little league and rec soccer games.

    Personally I don't let my kids play there because I'm sure the owners of those off leash dogs are running around after them scooping the poop. NOT!

    Posted 2 years ago #         

19. JoB
    Member Profile

    i hate to sound like a crabby old woman.. but since i didn't get much sleep last night i guess that pretty much describes me today...

    if you want your dog to run off leash.. buy or rent a home that has a fenced yard.... I know it costs more. I know it's harder to find places that want to rent to dogs. But i know it's possible because we pay a premium so our two pups can have the run of a yard.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

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