JoB
Walfredo…
i don’t think the rules in our society are so much set by those who are offended the most as by those who are most irresponsible…
my current dogs won’t ever be off leash dogs.. probably not even in an off leash park… but my last dog was so well trained that i could leave a hamburger on the dashboard and walk away and she wouldn’t touch it… and she was often off leash.
I did choose off times when the area was uninhabited… and out of the way places… so i was responsible… but every time i walk the dogs i have now i think about what might have happened had she approached dogs like these…
I run into responsible dog owners who are walking their dogs off leash in the park in the same out of the way places i go and who immediately either call them to their side or put them on leash when i call out that my dogs aren’t dog friendly..
but far more often i run into those who think they have the right to have their dogs off leash.. legal or not.. and who have little or no control over those dogs.
I am not offended, i am endangered… as are those owners and their dogs.
I too wish every park had at least a small dog enclosure where dogs could meet and greet off leash. i think everyone would be happier…
i think there should be at least an area at the beach where leashed dogs are welcome. it is a long drive to shoreline or a long ferry ride to the peninsula to let my pups chase waves… and dogs do love to chase waves.
i also think dogs should be allowed to be part of family picnicks if leashed… but there are many parks where my dogs can’t even get out of the car… and lately i stopped at one where they couldn’t even be in the car in the parking lot:(
if everyone was responsible.. there would be more dog parks because the owners would pick up after their dogs and monitor their play… dogs could be on beaches because owners would pick up after them and keep them from chasing wildlife… but some people just aren’t responsible…
I would never call 911 unless i was in immediate danger.. but i would call animal control about unattended dogs or owners who constantly violate leash laws and don’t have their dogs under control because those owners badly need to be educated…
The biggest problem with irresponsible owners is that the laws have no teeth…
Violators should have to attend education classes and take their dogs to puppy school.
repeat offenders.. especially of abandonment and abuse.. should be prohibited from owning animals…
if there were consequences, people would think twice about making the commitment to own an animal… and i think everyone would be happier and safer for that.