Seal Sitters‘ Robin Lindsey shares that photo of Abe, a harbor-seal pup who visited West Seattle shores this weekend, with another plea to please respect the city law against dogs on beaches. She says Abe had a narrow escape from an off-leash dog at Lincoln Park. The full story is on the Seal Sitters “blubberblog” site.
I guess the dog owner was asked to leash his dog, and he didn’t. Idiot! Yes, some people think they are above the law and better that others. Hopefully, it’s a lesson learned, but, somehow, I doubt it !
Too bad someone didn’t photograph this “man” with a lab pup. I think a form of public shaming might be the only way to get through to people such as this.
People – put your effing dogs on a leash! I am so sick of people walking around with their dogs off-leash. It’s not just at the beaches but on the streets, everywhere.
DTK: My understanding is that it’s been tried (there was some photo blog somewhere or something) but didn’t really go anywhere.
I have to small dogs (less than 5 pounds) and I am sick and tired of these massive dogs bolting towards them because their owners can’t follow the law. It would take one small bite for my dogs to be seriously injured if not killed. Take eyour dogs to a dog park if you want them off leash.
I was at Lincoln Park yesterday and saw several dogs running around without their leash. There were 2 dogs in particular who were running around play fighting eachother and they knocked a toddler over and were jumping on people. The owner did nothing. Very frustrating.
SERIOUSLY!!! It’s not a choice, it’s the law.
I think Seattle’s budget problems could be solved if they just started ticketing people who don’t have their dog on a leash.
Hello Officers?!? Are you listening?
In addition to the city law against dogs on the beach, harassing marine mammals is a violation of federal law and carries some stiff penalties.
I witnessed this happen. The blubberblog was too kind in saying that the dog owner was apologetic. He was absolutely not.
The dog obviously smelled the seal and went right for it. This should be a huge reminder to keep dogs on a leash!!!
There are reasons for leash laws. Too bad there aren’t laws against arrogant a-holes who think they have an exemption from all rules due to their extra-specialness. I quit counting the number of times I’ve seen a “perfectly trained” off-leash dog taking off to chase something (a leashed dog, squirrel, etc.) and the owners are always completely stunned. I’ve had dogs all my life and they’re about as predictable as teenagers. If your dog needs to be off-leash in the city, get a place with a fenced yard or go to the off-leash park.
It’s infuriating! The dog owner wouldn’t co-operate, and then he’s apologetic? The arrogant sense of entitlement of some dog owners makes me angry. I’m hoping the seal pup will be okay…
To the people who use the parks and leave your dog off leash this is a total disrespect on so many levels.
It is the law, it helps to protect the wildlife, other people, the other animals enjoying the park etc.
At least this person saw first hand why we have the law, I hope they think twice when taking their dog off leash.
Here’s the penalty for dogs off leash. This information is on the city’s web site:
“Officers patrol in Seattle parks to ensure the safe and appropriate use of both the off-leash and on-leash areas. Fines for off-leash, license and scooping violations range from $50 to $150, and can be $500 at a beach.”
Also, you can file a complaint here:
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/contact/Form.asp
When I see a dog owner with a dog off leash I gently remind them it’s baby seal season and there have been some recent problems with dogs unintentionally harming wildlife. In general, people are pretty respectful of my concerns and will leash their dogs. Most people are not educated on this issue, but they appreciate that fact that I’ve mentioned this to them.
Rarely, I’ll approach someone and they’ll get annoyed with me but I don’t take it personally. I’m more interested in people controlling their domestic animals.
Was at Alki, southern path. A big long-haired golden retriever type of dog was on its back in the grass, its owner rubbing its belly.
I walked by with my dog, then the other one attacks my dog! The owner BARELY hard it on an old, crappy lead, which the dog had no problem getting out of.
Arrgh.
@DTK http://alkiwallofshame.blogspot.com/ I really wish this web site had taken off.
Stupid Seattle dog people. When will you learn.
And P.S. Pick up the crap.
“Officers patrol in Seattle parks…” — we frequent Lincoln Park and I have to say I don’t recall ever seeing anyone patrol on any of our visits.
More details on dogs being off leash, http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s1=18.12&s2=&S3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CODE1&d=CODE&p=1&u=%2F~public%2Fcode1.htm&r=1&Sect6=HITOFF&f=L3%3B1%3B18.12.080.SNUM.
.
A reminder to the people with small dogs that nip and bite at my Golden Retriever, my foot is bigger than your dog and I will protect my dog (who cowers behind me when your 5LB rat ‘attacks’ my 65LB Golden Retriever)
Beach naturalists will occasionally visit our beaches and hand pamphlets out to off leash offenders. The pamphlets explain the problems with off leash animals.
The West Seattle Blog is great place to discuss these issues but if you really want something done about it than be proactive! Become a beach naturalist (a volunteer program run through the Seattle Aquarium) and learn about your environment while educating the public. Connect with the “offenders” by engaging them in conversation. At the very least, contact your city! http://www.seattle.gov/parks/contact/Form.asp
My eyes are getting bad. I could have sworn this was a discussion about seal pups. Apparently it’s about dogs, leashes and off-leash parks. imagine that. Won’t somebody please mention feral cats, snakes at Nicklesville, Trader Joe’s and Clinton/Bush/Obama – then my life will be complete.
That alki wall of shame is amazing… and I actually recognize the lowman dogs as the same two I ended up calling animal control on for 1 too many violations running through my yard and on my porch.
let’s make that a most visited site!
I did contact the parks department about off leash problems in West Seattle. For our neighborhood, here in West Seattle, complaints can go to Donald Baxter donald.baxter@seattle.gov He’s in charge of the Parks Patrol Program at the Seattle Animal Shelter.
The official that responded to my inquiry also mentioned that getting a vehicle license plate number of a dog owner who brings their dog, even on a leash, onto a public beach (or onto an athletic field or into a children’s play area), or lets it off leash in any park, is helpful. Turn the information into Animal Shelter and they can run their information and contact them at their residence. Also, it’s especially helpful if you can let Animal Shelter know if there are specific times and days of the week where one is seeing more violations. If so, they can have their officers focus in on those times. The best way to contact the Seattle Animal Shelter dispatch center is to call 386-7387 ext 7.
Hope this information is helpful to all that are concerned.
I have seen more and more people lately at Lincoln Park with loose dogs. I think people are new sometimes and just assume the rules are the same here as where they were before. I saw a lady encouraging her dog to chase squirrels in the park a week ago. Maybe we need reminders up that the local life in our parks are not there to use a chew toys for their dogs. I have lived in other places where tragic things happen all because assumptions are made. Some people are rather arrogant though so maybe we should consider some fine enforcement for unleashed dogs. I certainly hope that man did not go along his way feeling ok about what his dog did.
2MW…it’s a story about a seal pup that was attacked by an off leash dog on the beach at Lincoln Park…a 2fer, if you will :)
If your feral cat of NV patron attacks a seal pup on the beach, I’m sure TR will do a story about that, too :D
My “PET” PEAVE!! Loose (#$(*&#&$ dogs in parks, everywhere! They aren’t cute! Around kids, or seals or beaches. Leash them or keep them home. I wish the city would start ticketing these owners – maybe they could make some money! I go to a lot of parks and I’d say a good 30% of dogs are “off-leash”.
L, please tell me there was a LOT Of verbal abuse directed at that dog owner. That makes me so angry.
“Respect the city law against dogs on beaches” … I completely agree on the leash issue, but am I reading this correctly that dogs aren’t allowed on beaches with a leash?
These would be baby seals, still nursing. Don’t know that they are up to salmon-consuming level yet.
cj, I came across what must have been that same lady yesterday. Her two (pointer?) dogs were stalking a squirrel. When she saw me come up, she started half-heartedly saying “stop” to her dogs–not very loudly. They ignored her (so much for voice control). I ran up and scared the squirrel up a tree. The minute the squirrel moved, the dogs ran for it. The lady praised them!… The squirrel did get away. It’s not that I’m so protective of squirrels–there are probably too many–but I really don’t like the idea of people deliberately training their dogs to chase wildlife in public parks. I hope the patrol catches this lady at it and throws the book at her.
Not only are leash laws to protect other animals/wildlife/humans, they’re also to protect your own dog! My dog has been attacked twice by off leash dogs (once on Camano Island and a second time while on a walk near the corner of Belvidere and Hanford). Is there a way to report off leash dogs that are not in parks? The owner of the second dog that attacked mine warned me about a half a second before my dog and i walked by that his dog was mean. He had his dog sitting off leash in the parking strip, while he was in his front lawn so there was not much i could do. Then he yelled swear words at me and told me to walk on a different block when i reminded him to put his dog ON A LEASH. I would love to know if there’s a way to report people like this who could care less about laws and the safety of other people/animals.
As for the seal, i’m so glad to hear the dog didn’t cause any physical harm.
Glad the seal is okay, but dang, I hate this stupid no on-leash dogs on the beach nonsense. What i LOVE, though are the amount of commenters on WSB that talk about us needing more police presence in WS but then also argue we should have off-leash dog patrols. Ha. Talk about messed up priorities.
I don’t want to start anything and believe me I HEART these sweet little creatures but perhaps if we had more off-leash alternates you would not see as many off leash dogs. Think about how many people you know that live with dogs….now think about how many people you know who play tennis on a regular basis??? We have 1 off leash dog park and how many tax payer funded tennis courts???
I, too, am surprised that there are not more off leash options for dogs in West Seattle.
I’d like to believe that, Foxy, but I live practically next door to Westcrest and still encounter off-leash dogs (at Riverview, on the street, at Westcrest but outside the off-leash area) on a regular basis.
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I’m in favor of more options myself, but letting pets run around and hassle wildlife doesn’t strike me as an effective advocacy method.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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