Three Alki notes (and questions) from the first REAL day of spring

| Pets | Seen around town | West Seattle beaches

RAMP BACKUP: Heading westbound on The Bridge past the Harbor/Avalon exit around 6 pm, we noticed traffic was backed up all the way to the bridge deck itself, and it looked like gridlock along Harbor, even worse than summertime. Guessing the road narrowing at the pump-station project along Alki is a major factor.

FIRE PITS? Received e-mail from someone noting the fire pits are absent at Alki. We can’t find any indication online that they would be permanently gone, and can’t quite recall if there’s usually a seasonal removal. Any enlightenment?

REMINDER FOR PET OWNERS: Dani sends an important reminder, which she titled “Hot Cars = Hot Dogs,” after a close call in the Alki area. Read on:

I’m hoping you can remind your readers not to leave their four-legged friends in the car now that the weather is getting warm.

I live near Alki Beach where I think this might be a particularly bad problem. When people realize they are not allowed to have dogs on the beach they leave Fido in the car while they go have fun.

Today I saw some beach-goers leave two dogs in a car for three hours in direct sunlight while the sun was at its hottest. When I first passed by, the dogs were hyper and yapping but when I returned 3 hours later they seemed extremely exhausted.

Just as I was calling animal control the owners returned. I was able to explain them, with the help of an animal control officer, what a risk they were taking with their dogs’ lives by leaving them like this.

The owners seemed genuinely surprised and concerned for their dogs and immediately gave them water. The dogs looked dazed but I think they will be okay.

The law states that dogs must be left with proper ventilation and access to water. As the animal control officer explained to me, if your dog dies because you did not provide this it is a felony.

Please keep in mind that, on a hot day, having the window cracked still may not be enough. Just think to yourself: Would I want to be sitting in that car with a fur coat on right now?

To report any sort of animal cruelty call Seattle Animal Control at (206) 386-PETS (7387) and dial 7.

JanS April 12, 2008 (8:15 pm)

TR…I noticed a thing listed on the police/fire blotter a few days ago..”Illegal burn”…and it was at alki…maybe they’ve changed the rules? Wonder if anyone at the Parks Dept. might know….

WSB April 12, 2008 (8:30 pm)

If no one replies with something illuminating here, I will definitely be checking with them on Monday. Thanx!

Gina April 12, 2008 (8:35 pm)

And I bet the people thought that the dogs would have been too lonely if left at home.

Erik April 12, 2008 (9:01 pm)

I noticed the fire pits were yanked last year for winter also.

alkiguy April 13, 2008 (2:18 am)

I remember when I moved here last year winter wanting to use a fire pit and right about the time in March when it got warm enough to want to spend an evening on the beach, they were gone — I thought for good. Then they came back again in May (I can’t remember the exact time of the month). I figured it was a one-time thing but they disappeared in March again. I have no idea why, though.