I let my dog off leash..

[inactive]

Hey you guys-

I’m just gonna’ pipe in here for a quick second to give you the links of a couple of possible resources for you.

Citizens for Offleash Areas (commonly known as C.O.L.A.). http://www.coladog.org/

Also, the Westcrest Dog Park has a website on yahoo.groups but it’s not very active. You can, however, contact the Park Steward, Steve McElheney through it

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WestcrestOLA/

I’m not a member of COLA, but I’ve heard they are a pretty dedicated group of folks.

Good luck!

Share This

[Magpie]

Any mail carriers out there like to chime in? I was walking home a few weeks ago and the UPS guy was giving treats to an off leash dog who had just run out of a house with the door open. When I walked by, the dog charged me (I’m assuming because I didn’t have treats?) The owner came running out of the house and called his dog off (I did get a direct hit in with my shopping bag right in the open chops first and used a few expletives at the dog and his owner)..the guy didn’t even apologize. I don’t have a problem with off leash parks, think there should be more of them. I have a problem with off leash dogs in my neighborhood. I love dogs, I just don’t like bad owners…and I really hate dog owners who let their dogs poop in my front yard and don’t clean up. I do believe that most dog owners are good owners.

Share This

[flowerpetal]

Magpie, what an awful experience for you! I’m sure I would’ve at least called the police non-emergency number. People should not ever have to be frightened by someone’s dog whether it is agressive or friendly. I think it is not too late to call and make the report.

Share This

[beachdrivegirl]

So i am just going to clarify one thing (sorry I was on vacation or I may have chimed in earlier) but I did write the city numerous times and off park officials and groups throughout the city for over a six month period of time and the only thing I learned through the experience is that we are at least 10 years out to getting an additional off leash park because West Seattle already has Westcrest… Westcrest is as close to me as Seward Park so because of that I will continue to go to my secret fenced parks and continue with my ritual. If others would like to campaign for more off leash parks it would be much appreciated.

Share This

[JoB]

there are so many shades of gray…

beachdrivegirl walks her dog “off-leash” only at a fenced in park that is not designated for off leash dogs.. even though it is used for that by a group of people..

andrea and others walk their dogs off leash only in controlled areas…

some walk their dogs off leash but controlled by voice…

some walk their dogs off leash with little or no control…

the trouble with shades of gray is that those who walk their dogs off leash with little or no control use those who use more responsibility as their excuse….

Well.. they do it… everybody does it…

and there is a huge difference between dogs off leash in a fenced area… and dogs off leash and uncontrolled….

i have no quarrel with those who keep their dogs under control… as long as there are no problems.. which is a big risk everyone who walks their dog off leash takes…

but it breaks my heart to hear hubby come home from his morning walk with the pups and relate stories about my dogs on leash whimpering as they watch others chase balls and squirrels past them.

Share This

[RainyDay1235]

“The first rule of Fight Club is you do not talk about Fight Club”

Share This

[JimmyG]

Dood’s post @ 51 reminded me of my experience with a COLA member. Walking my elderly Golden on leash down the sidewalk and out of a yard comes a Rottweiler that plows into my old sweetie, knocks him over and starts going for the his throat. I was kicking the living crap out of that Rottie and the owner was trying to pull it off my dog.

My dog ends up bloody and the Rottie owner tries to put her dog into a “stay” right beside my dog instead of dragging it away and correcting it. I stood there and called animal control while she tried to tell me this was “the first time he’s ever done this” and I told her I didn’t give a crap. She then begged me not to call by saying she was a member of COLA. HA! That would have been hilarious if it wasn’t so lame.

Animal Control cited her, and they moved out of my ‘hood a few months later. Good riddance.

I don’t take my dogs to off leash parks for myriad reasons. Yet I wonder how the Rottie does at off leash areas–I’m sure he’s an absolute angel.

Share This

[apple]

I agree with MAMA.

I am shocked to see so many people are ok with dogs being unleashed.

I don’t like dogs in fact I am afraid of them since I was attacked when I was a little girl.

Ended up at the hospital and I still have the scar from that dog attack.

Yesterday, I was @ the Lincoln park and so many people are walking their dogs unleashed !

Some of the dogs were so big I was so scared.

I hope animal control will be more at Lincoln park giving tickets to people who are breaking the law because that is the only way those irresponsible people may stop unleashing their dogs.

Why do dog lovers always think that everyone loves dogs ?

I hate when dogs come close to me and try to greet with me.

I get freezed !

I don’t want any dog germ either !

Share This

[beachdrivegirl]

Did you even bother reading the entire thread or did you just find one post and decide to rant? Not all off-leash dogs owners are bad…that is to broad of a generalization. I think it is silly that we waste our tax dollars on Animal Contrl when we are cutting the funding of our law enforcement? Did you see on the blog when they talked about????

Share This

[JoB]

beachdrivegirl…

animal control is as necessary to public safety as anything else.

you are choosing to let your dog off leash in an enclosed area.. though not a sanctioned off leash area…

but there are too many who don’t make such good choices…

how safe will you feel walking your dog to your unofficial dog park if those who want to test their dog’s killer instincts are turned loose on the streets without the protection of animal control?

beyond that, who will help those dogs whose owners abuse them or abandon them if we decide animal control isn’t worthwhile?

Share This

[apple]

beachdrivegirl,

To answer to your question, Yes I did bothered to read the entire thread

We wouldn’t have to waste our tax money on animal control so much if there are only responsible dog owners !

The bottom line is , you cannot argue with law.

Share This

[beachdrivegirl]

JoB, My post to Apple was worded the way it was because Apple chose to start to be unreasonable on a reasonable thread that had people posting on both sides/positions.

And we must have some mighty law abiding citizens around here for as many times as I hear “its the law”…come on people give me a break…how many of you “its the law” individuals have ever sped, have ever not worn their seat belt, have maybe within the past week talked on their cell phone while driving, or cross the street while not in a side walk etc…i dont call 911 every time i see this happen so i think it is ridiculous that people are so animal control happy on here that was why i started this thread to begin with….

Share This

[beachdrivegirl]

Also out of curiousity, Apple, you ever honk your horn??? if so you broke the law!! You law breaker you I better call 911!!

Share This

[barb]

I’m not 100% sure that honking your horn is breaking the law

Share This

[Anonymous]

BDG – You make a good point. I’m sure everyone here has broken the law (however minute) at some point or another.

This leads us to the question of, what laws are more important than others, if any?

Is one law ok to break (sometimes) and others not?

Barb- I think using your horn unnecessarily is against the law (my guy got a ticket for it once).

Share This

[Kayleigh]

At the risk of adding to a Thread I Wish Would Die, can’t Animal Control ultimately take somebody’s dog away?

Which should happen if someone is abusing or neglecting the critter (duh.) But I would hate to have someone’s geriatric or gentle dog taken away just because it ran off-leash a couple times. Then what happens—the poor baby ends up in a shelter and likely gets put to sleep?

(asking)

Share This

[beachdrivegirl]

Honking the horn is illegal unless it is an emergency unless it has changed in the past year…the Times ran a piece about some “odd” laws the horn honking stuck in my head as well as one about a county around here (i forget which one) that had a law from the (1940’s ?) that it was illegal for more than i believe four women to live in one house together. (originally made to cut down on brothels; however, it has never been changed because people have just forgot about it….

Yes there is more to animal control Kayleigh, and that is one reason why I for one don’t think it should be abused by being called all the time because a dog is off leash. ( I really am trying to be reasonable here) And yes Animal Control is needed for dogs that are negected as well as dogs that are dangerous to society I was just making a drastic point because “some” people were being drastic. unfortunatley, i am very sarcastic at times and it is hard to come across on a blog. :)

Share This

[JoB]

it always boils down to personal responsibility, doesn’t it…

Share This

[Anonymous]

What?????????

Share This

[Magpie]

Oh, my..so, if I chose to break a law that doesn’t make sense to me personally, that’s ok?. I have to remember that next time I do it.

I always love the defensiveness of people who just want to do what they want to do. Personal responsibility includes following the law. But, once again, when this topic comes up (off leash dogs), emotions take over and there is much debate. Bottom line, no matter who you are, no matter how good or bad your dog is, you have no control over what could happen to you out on a walk..even the most perfect off leash dog can run in to traffic if it gets spooked..(or get attacked by another no so perfect off leash dog).

Share This

[Mama]

Right on, Apple and Magpie.

Interesting that whenever the discussion hits too close to home, people try to turn attention away from the issue and bring up horn honking, seat belt wearing, etc. You can start separate threads on those issues if you like, but stick to the topic on this thread please!

The dog leash law makes sense for the good of our community. Sorry if you don’t like it.

Either people somehow don’t know there is a law against off leash dogs in public areas, or they don’t care. I think it is mostly the latter. They choose to ignore the law, and ignore the effect that their actions can have on the rest of us. It is irresponsible and inconsiderate to say the least.

And even if there were more off leash areas, we would still have off leash dogs in public areas. Why? Because people never ever think that their dog could hurt anyone until it happens, and then it is too late…

Sadly, it is a futile effort to try to reason with unreasonable people, so the only solution is to report offenders to Animal Control and the authorities. Or carry a bat like I do.

Share This

[beachdrivegirl]

Oh please Mama, I started this thread, I know what they topic at hand is and if you all paid attention i go to fully fenced areas it would be amazing to me to see my dog scale a fence but then again i am talking with unreasonable people whom only want to see one end of the spectrum because they are such law-abiding citizens they are always right.

And Magpie, yes if you chose to break a law, that is your personally choice. If i choose to go 35 rather than 30 today on Admiral that is my personal choice. Feel free to cal 911 for me though because you are so “its the law” happy…

Share This

[Mama]

You’ve proven my point, beachgirl.

You bring up the speed limit on a blog about off leash dogs.

You never think your dog could ever infringe on anyone else’s rights. How many sad stories would it take to convince you otherwise?

And I repeat, it is a futile effort to try to reason with people like yourself. I’m done.

Share This

[Kayleigh]

Still waiting for an answer to my question: what happens to the dog when Animal Control is called?

Because it seems to me that if someone is advocating this solution, they should know the outcome of it.

Share This

[JoB]

beachdrivegirl…

you don’t really choose to let your dog off leash.

you choose to use a contained off leash area that is not approved.

there is a difference…

tho your actions are still illegal, they are responsible…

however.. there are people who take that one step or two steps or several steps further.

every morning hubby and dogs encounter off leash dogs in Lincoln park… which is not fenced.

I can’t walk my dogs in Lincoln park in the summer during the day because of the large number of off leash dogs… between kids and dogs it’s just too risky.

In fact, it’s pretty hard for me to find a park where i can walk my dogs safely during the day in the summer that isn’t pretty far out of town…

every day someone walks their unleashed dog past my house on California Av… you would think they would have more sense on a busy street.. but no.

people choose to have dogs in their yards without proper fences and dogs run out to the sidewalk and the street…

You choose to be responsible with your dog… but your post encourages people who are irresponsible.

You are not to blame for them.. but you could ask yourself whether you really want to be encouraging them.

to use your speeding analogy.. you are 5 miles over the speed limit… but some of those who have their dogs off leash are doing 60 in a school zone…

they are reckless…

Share This

[Author]

Posts