Thanks to Alki photographer David Hutchinson for the sighting. While Alki and other major city parks are NOT closed this weekend, the city’s new exhortation is to “Keep It Moving,” with accompanying signage (as shown here Thursday). That’s not so much of a challenge on a cooler, gray day like today, but if anyone needs prodding, officers from the SPD Mounted Patrol is on hand. The horses are actually based in West Seattle, on the east edge of Westcrest Park in Highland Park.
Funny that the person in the background is openly violating the ‘no dogs on the beach’ rule…wonder if they gave him a ticket??
They should but I doubt it. It’s why dogs on the beach is such a problem. Not enough enforcement or tickets. There are signs but they do no good.
Yes I agree, we need money for a new bridge, fining dogs in parks where they are not allowed is a good start!
It isn’t the dogs fault his owner hasn’t got a clue. How would you fine a dog anyway. Woof
or they could take some of that money out of the helping the homeless fund. The mayor has increased it by 10 million dollars every year for the last couple years.
Thank you. Pearl Jam keeps giving them money and last I heard about the huge amount almost 2 years ago I think the city ” hasn’t decided what to do with it ” . The problem is you can give a lot of those people apts but their so used to running the streets and being with their friends, they end up inviting them all over to stay. I’ve seen it so many times. It doesn’t fix their drug and mental health issues either. Anyhow thanks for mentioning the forgotten. My friend is homeless lost his job last month and there’s nothing I can do about it. Drives me crazy!
That’s the first thing I noticed in this photo – the entitled “rules don’t apply to me” jerk in the background. This is why we can’t have nice things. *sigh*
Wow, this guy just calmly walking his dog on a leash on the beach with no one else around, is sure taking a lashing here.
Maybe he isn’t a jerk. Maybe he isn’t aware of the rule or didn’t see the sign. Maybe he thought since no one else was around it wouldn’t bother anyone. And maybe he is the type of dog owner who always uses a leash in public and cleans up after his dog.
What I see happening in this picture is not infuriating to me. I hope they enjoyed a peaceful walk.
Banning dogs from the beach isn’t about people. It’s about the other animals that live on the beach that are threatened by the dog’s presence. It doesn’t matter if there are 100 or 0 people out there. The dog shouldn’t be there.
My point is that maybe he just wasn’t aware. He isn’t necessarily a jerk. We don’t have enough information to be judging so harshly.
And anyway, there is plenty of reason to be a bit distracted about dog rules right now… maybe he’s walking on the beach contemplating how he’s going to keep a roof over his head, or how he’s going to afford food for his dog next week. Try a more compassionate view.
If this was a picture of a dog off leash chasing wildlife in the water, or a dog pooping right next to children or something, well okay, but it’s literally a guy and his dog on a leash, and nothing else around him.
Having said this, I very much care about our wildlife and support this rule. Hopefully there can be a better solution to advertising and enforcing this rule.
I know right? I live on Alki and dog poop on the sand is the least of my worries in fact I don’t think I’ve ever seen any. Ever. Must be nice to have nothing else to worry about!
The dog and his owner are clearly causing HUGE problems and are an EXTREME nuisance, as evidenced by this picture.pretty sure the police are focusing on managing social distancing— a LIFE OR DEATH thing — instead of dog owners 🙄 You people need to get a grip.
You are the problem here. Why doesn’t he just follow the rules? If everyone just said screw it like this guy then we would have a problem. So one person is more important than everyone else? Of course he should get a ticket when a cop rolls by.
Yep. In a pandemic, police should focus on monitoring dog owners. Also, I am the problem 🙄
Yes, yes we should concentrate on beach dogs. That should be our big priority as opposed to saving lives. Wow.
Ticket? Ha we’d be lucky if the cops even acknowledged that he was doing something wrong. Rules that aren’t enforced are just punishment for people who do follow rules.
I was down there a few minutes ago and only had to scream at a couple of groups that were too close. People were mostly conforming to the rules.
It’s not your job or place to scream at your fellow residents. Had you screamed at me or my family you would’ve really had your hands full.
Bradley the internet tough guy wants us all to know that he will retaliate at any sign of disrespect, just like any normal, stable person would.
Agree that no one should be screaming at others.
However, heads up, Seattle Parks has deployed 60 ‘Social Distancing Ambassadors’ to monitor the parks and remind people to social distance and not gather in groups. So don’t be surprised if there are interventions.
When do you plan to be down there next? I’ll definitely come yell at your family if you are violating the rules.
I’ll be at the Statue of Liberty at 4pm with my daughter.I’ll be wearing a red tank top and a Seahawks cap. Looking forward to chatting with you.
I get that your frustration is coming from a place of wanting everyone to be healthy and safe, but part of keeping West Seattle nice is not screaming at people, or trying to publicly correct people. Let’s aspire to have West Seattle be a more friendly place than that.
Goodness, actually screaming at people? Perhaps consider staying at home if it’s sending you off the deep end like that. Or – consider joining the police force if you’re that concerned about monitoring other people. Although the training might discourage screaming.
Besides, screaming doesn’t help. I was at the store and this woman without a mask one walked right up to me (from behind so I didn’t see her coming until she passed me). I loudly said, “Excuse me!” and she looked at me like I had cussed. Then she did it again a little later. I realized she just didn’t care about breathing on people. and she was an older woman.
Drove along Alki and saw the mounted patrol.
To my excitement, I saw a lady who was walking with an umbrella and a clear shower curtain hanging. Ingenious!
I’m curious on who picks up the horse poop? I saw a couple piles on my afternoon walk.
I saw several piles of horse poop as well late this afternoon. I wonder who I need to call to get them ticketed for not picking up after their horses?
How about Scoop Law violators. Community Service time picking up horse poop & little offerings in plastic bags.
Rode our bikes on the trail early evening and was a bit disappointed to find massive piles of horse poop in the middle of the bike path. 🤨
Love it when the knowledgeable speak their wisdom. The heavenly delight of casting shame on the sinful. No doubt a side affect from your social media apps that’s slowly changed you..Maybe that’s a guy and his service animal that detects seizures or maybe he’s to alleviate PTSD he got protecting dumb sh*t, negative thinking, high and mighty PNWer’s in a desert that nobody cares about, unknowingly, only to fulfilling the ultimate goal of stealing oil for his country.
Service animals also not allowed on the beach. Also, what if aliens come grab him and his dog? Or what if a bolt of lightning strikes? The likelihood of this person being anything but selfish is low to say the least.
@ Alki – Service dogs (but not emotional support animals) are absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt allowed on the beach whenever the beach is open to the public. I agree that it is unlikely that this is a service dog, but if you’re going to advocate strict observance of rules, consider taking the time to learn what the rules actually are. https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
Is there really good signage all along the beach regarding dogs not being allowed there? I haven’t spent much time at Alki so honestly wondering what the signage is like.
I think some are likely just unaware that it’s not allowed and of the valid reasons related to the eco-system and wildlife, etc.
It’s none of those things. It’s simply a jerk that thinks he doesn’t have to follow the rules.
Good writing. I suggest more sex. I feel some serious frustration in this thread.
Not sure what’s going on here —full moon or what. But most of these comments read as entitled. Maybe it’s a service dog? Maybe the person was going to commit suicide from stress of the pandemic. Is it your job to scream at others? Yesterday I heard someone sitting from their balcony doing that as I was trying to enjoy the sea lions with my daughter. He was screaming at anyone in the bike lane to move. That made it miserable for anyone else around. Your anger is making unbearable for the rest of us just trying to survive and enjoy what we can.
The “we don’t have to follow the rules” culture of Seattle is what led to the West Seattle Bridge not getting fixed when it should’ve been. Broken windows theory. Dogs on the beach matter if they’re against the rules. And the rules are in place because people smarter than yourself put them there. Enjoy the police presence. I know I do.
Service animals would, of course, be permitted on the beach due to the ADA. They are allowed all of the places to whom they provide service to is allowed. That’s the point. Are you saying that disabled persons are not allowed on the beach, that they shouldn’t have access? If I am mistaken source this pile of dog #8%(. If the park isn’t closed why do we need to keep people moving along, which is it? This is a classic mixed message here, in Seattle.
The municipal code does not specify service dogs. It does specify seeing eye and hearing ear dogs. I don’t know if that is meant to be all encompassing and just was never updated, if that is standard legislative language, or if they are making distinctions between types of service dogs. In my experience there are a lot of service dogs (not emotional support dogs) that would be neither seeing eye or hearing ear dogs.
Bless our dear SPD, they’re out in amongst this pathogen every day. Patriots! SFD: Patriots! We have so many people on the frontlines from essential workers to health workers etc. I’m just so grateful.
There isn’t good signage about the no dogs on the beach rule. I think a lot of people think it means no off leash dogs on the beach. That’s what I thought when I first moved here. It would also be extremely difficult for a mounted patrol officer to ticket a person walking a dog. Many dogs would not be comfortable being approached by a horse, and I don’t think it would be safe for a police officer to get off his horse and leave it with his partner so that he could write a ticket. The dog could start barking and the horses, although I’m sure well-trained, could start reacting which could be a disaster with only one human holding the reins of two horses. Doesn’t seem worth the risk.
Thanks for sharing. If I saw a sign out of the corner of my eye that said ‘no dogs…’ and I didn’t have an awareness already that dogs on the beach can be an issue for wildlife, I might assume it said ‘no dogs off leash on the beach,’ without looking it at it closely, and would think we were fine. Generally, signs out in the world pertaining to dogs are about keeping them on-leash and picking up after them.
Maybe bigger or more explicit signage along the beach could help? Again, I haven’t seen the signs myself, but just wondering. If someone wants to post a picture here of the signage on Alki, would be good to see.
I’d like to give this guy the benefit of the doubt that he wasn’t knowingly breaking the rules, and if he was, that he made the decision based on there not being any other people or wildlife on that beach at the time, and not likely to cause any harm or frustration.
It’s always so infuriating when others break or bend a rule, but somehow totally excusable and understandable when we find ourselves making a mistake.
Even perfectionists aren’t perfect.
Or maybe folks, Just maybe, The policemen did their job and got the violator off the beach.Your judgements are all based on one picture…sigh
Beautiful horses, but gross that they’re not using catch-it poop bags. I certainly don’t care to cycle through a large pile of poop, organic or not.Also, to Anna’s statement, am guessing police patrol by horse is for show only?
Ps.. to add… “For show only” in this instance. In large crowds, I get the point. They can see over the crowds and radio ahead. Am glad to see the horses getting fresh air on a gorgeous day; just wish the PD would consider basic etiquette.
If you have a dog, it is *your responsibility* to know the rules about where they can and cannot go, etc. The ‘I didn’t know’ excuse is utter BS. You know you have a dog, you should pay attention to the rules that govern having the dog. End of story. I’m sure I could do a quick google search to figure out if my dog can be on the beach, and another quick one to find all the off leash options (I realize that there are only very few).
I’m sure you’ve never been in a situation to ever have broken a rule, ever.
Do you do a quick google search regarding rules before you go anywhere and everywhere?
I bet the majority of the people leaving comments in the blog have not seen daylight in weeks with overlapping psychiatric issues… Your misdirected anger is hysterical.. open the window and breath…. it’s sunny outside. It’s ok your mommy (jenny) said it’s ok to go outside..
Amen to Joe! I started this thread with my comment as the pic made me laugh out loud. It felt good to laugh and I truly thought others would pick up on the irony of the pic but NO everyone just flips out and begins to attack one another. Lighten up people!
Thanks for sharing this!
I bet a lot of people don’t take the time to stop and read through all these rules, unless they are specifically wondering about having campfires on the beach. My guess is a lot of the dog violators are simply unaware and not seeking out this info.
If this is an ongoing problem, maybe some new signage specific to dogs not being allowed would help. Like a sign with a circle with a line through it, and in the center a person walking a dog on a leash.
Also another sign that talks about respecting and protecting wildlife along Alki would be great, if that doesn’t exist already.
I live on Alki, and as much as everyone loves to complain about the dogs, I can’t begin to explain how much worse it is to head down to the beach on Monday mornings for a walk and see how much garbage is all over the place, sometimes just a few feet from the trash bin. It’s usually a lot. I spend quite a bit of time picking up the trash on my morning walk, and rarely if every do I see dog poop. It’s not just the dog owners violating the rules, it’s everyone, even one of you at some point may have accidentally dropped garbage on your way out of the park at one point- it happens. Protecting the wildlife comes in many different forms and is a responsibility for everyone, not just dog owners. Maybe direct the focus towards being more kind and compassionate, worrying more about yourself and less finger pointing / judgment? Would make things much more pleasant in my opinion.
Funny that everyone always complains about dogs on the beach but no one ever talks about what’s inside of the “Red Solo Cups” on the beach.
I wonder how many people above that are so mad at the dog (which could have been a service dog) are up in arms about all the red solo cups which are also listed as a “rule.”
Re: the sign – please note, that is an OLD stock photo. Note the bottom of the sign says “Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor” so at least 11 years old.
https://www.seattle.gov/cityarchives/seattle-facts/city-officials/mayors/mayors-1948-present
And the “Park Hours” shown on the sign are misleading. It’s showing the hours the beach is closed, but the wording of “Park Hours” would make one think it means open hours.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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