Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Lincoln Park Dog Off Leash Issue
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October 10, 2012 at 3:47 pm #605148
wakefloodParticipantIn the upper park last night (10/9) around sunset, there were 15 or so people, ALL WITH THEIR DOGS OFF LEASH and running around. Is this an organized event? Are these the people pushing for an off-leash area in Lincoln Park? If yes, they need to talk to their fellow park users and not be breaking the law when many of their fellow dog owners obey it.
BTW, I got treated rudely by another owner jogging by with their off leash dog. So tired of the “rules don’t apply to me” attitudes…
OK, does anyone know about this off leash gathering?
October 10, 2012 at 4:43 pm #773517
WSratsinacageMemberSupposedly Animal Control was supposed to monitor this park after the goose was attacked last week. Lots of comments on that story from the main page. https://westseattleblog.com/2012/10/lincoln-park-resident-goose-attacked-by-dog-readers-report
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I filed a report with the city last week but still have not heard back.
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Not surprised you were treated rudely. Wouldn’t surprise me if the pet owners organized some sort of protest or maybe it was just a normal day at the park. File under sanctimonious.
October 10, 2012 at 5:08 pm #773518
wakefloodParticipantThanks, Rats. Yes, I filed a report as well with the city.
I don’t know what the fine is but if even if it’s only $75 that would have been over a $1000 for 15 minutes work right there. And they could pull in hundreds more every day with minimal effort.
It would be hugely helpful to have a lot more signage too.
I guess it’s going to take something even more dramatic for the message to take hold. Not sure what that will be BUT I sure would like to have some leashed dog owners confront these people. They obviously don’t think anyone else has standing to address them.
October 10, 2012 at 5:40 pm #773519
WSratsinacageMemberI agree it’s going to take something even more dramatic but I am not sure what that will be. Myself and others have already been bitten.
October 10, 2012 at 9:02 pm #773520
kgdlgParticipantFirst, I am totally guilty of allowing my dog off lease at certain times and in certain places at Lincoln. However, given recent events I doubt we will do this ever again. Even though it is once or twice a month, at most, it is not worth it and as has been pointed out here, is not allowed for very good reasons related to safety. There have been two incidents in addition to the goose that cause me to be really worried about dog behavior at Lincoln. We often hang out at the middle play ground (with our dog tied up while kid swings) and twice recently we have witnessed dog owners with very large and aggressive dogs allow them to wander into the playground while they completely did not pay attention. We teach our kid not to pet strange dogs but having dogs twice her size run up to her while playing is too dangerous. Owners werewolf walking at least 100 yards away not paying attention when this happened. Second, at the same playground last weekend an older woman with a large poodle extended her leash right up to our tied up dog, which he then attacked. I lept to my dog’s defense as she just shrugged and walked away. I will be honest, in both instances I cursed and complained in a less than civil manner. I need to get better at my reactions. Honestly, Lincoln is not a place to feel safe around dogs. Do people not watch Cesar? Get rid of your extend a leashes!!! Our dog will always be on leash and by our side here from now on, and even that doesn’t feel safe! Parks needs to spend at least a week ticketing bad behavior to change this dynamic.
October 10, 2012 at 9:30 pm #773521
wakefloodParticipantSorry to hear about your difficulties but it sure seems like the city could kill a few birds with one stone by ticketing firmly for a few weeks.
Here’s a link, if you didn’t already have it to report what you see. Maybe they need to see a large enough volume of complaints to do something about it?
The address of Lincoln Park is: 8011 Fauntleroy Ave SW 98136
October 10, 2012 at 11:02 pm #773522
SmytheMemberJust give the off leash dogs a hard kick, the owners will be angry but they think twice before going out next time.
October 10, 2012 at 11:22 pm #773523
JeanineParticipantSmythe…it’s not the dogs fault that its off leash.
October 10, 2012 at 11:55 pm #773524
wakefloodParticipantAgreed, Jeanine. I just wish the owners showed more sense than their pets…
I’m going to look up Animal Control’s number and put it into my phone and take pictures every time I can.
There’s a nice, big off leash park down Roxbury that tax dollars built. That’s what we all paid for, they should use it.
October 10, 2012 at 11:58 pm #773525
2 Much WhineParticipantWhen did it all change? Was it when the folks from the suburbs moved into the city? When I grew up we always had a dog, never had a leash. We let the dog out in the morning and called for it at dinner time. There were no discussions of off-leash dogs and dog poop usually sat on the lawn until it was time to mow. No need to direct vitriol at me, I got no dog in this race. I just see a change in attitude that has happened over the last 30 years and thought it was worth commenting about.
October 11, 2012 at 12:06 am #773526
wakefloodParticipantI grew up in the suburbs of Seattle and it started changing about 30 yrs. ago. In unincorporated Seattle you had to have the license but that was about it.
At some point, people started having issues with big and unruly dogs – pit bulls, rottweilers, etc. – and it started to become more common for leash laws to get on the books.
Add to that in the last ten or so years, people have been working hard to restore fish habitat in urban streams and one of the biggest pollutants is pet poop. Hence, the pick up laws.
I’ve had dogs (not currently) and I always figured it was my responsibility to follow the community’s wishes, hassle though it might have been at times. Another price we pay to figure out how to limit our already substantial impact on the environment and each other, I guess.
October 11, 2012 at 12:59 am #773527
kgdlgParticipantI don’t think the suburbs and Seattle can be compared. In a city this size, there are lots and lots of good reasons to make sure dogs are leashed. I grew up in a suburb with dobermans and they roamed freely about 30 years ago – different time and place. Hard to believe now this was ever allowed. But Seattle is six times the size of where I grew up and way more urban.
October 11, 2012 at 1:30 am #773528
service dog academyMemberAs a dog training professional, I would hazard a guess that opinions started to change as dogs habits were changed by humans. 30-40 years ago we had a change in dog husbandry. Dogs were not being locked inside their houses day in and day out, getting barely any exercise and barely any opportunities to socialize. 30-40 years ago dogs were running around town being dogs. If as a child you were locked up in your house all day, got out to just go to the bathroom or a quick walk and got minimal socialization you would be doing EXACTLY what most problem dogs do, react negatively to other dogs and people. So under-socialized, under-exercised problem dogs = need for leashes = need for off leash play areas = completely clueless individuals trying to socialize their reactive dogs in off leash parks (dont tell me this doesnt happen, I get emails about it ALL THE TIME) = the need to take your well behaved dog to get some off leash play where you are relatively sure other individuals might have control over their dogs. Makes perfect sense to me.
Mary McNeight, CPDT-KA, CCS, BGS
Director of Training and Behavior
Service Dog Academy – http://www.servicedogacademy.com
October 11, 2012 at 2:22 pm #773529
wakefloodParticipantSo that’s a fairly compelling explanation, Mary. What do we do about it? If people want to gather to more effectively socialize their dogs, aren’t they obligated to do it in a designated area? Like the off leash parks?
October 11, 2012 at 10:27 pm #773530
DBPMemberTrue-ish story:
I was at Lincoln Park a few weeks ago and within minutes of seeing a couple turn their pooch loose on the grass, I encountered a Seattle Parks employee driving down the path. I waved his truck over and said: “Hey! Somebody’s running their big dog around over on the ballfield. Can you talk to them?”
The guy cast a weary eye at me and said, “Yeah . . . but it’s pretty pointless.”
“Well, can’t you give ’em a ticket or something?”
“No.”
“Can’t you at least talk to ’em?”
“It won’t stop ’em.”
“Harumph! Well in that case . . . never mind.”
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I knew the guy was right, and I understood his sense of resignation. He could probably spend the better part of every workday lecturing folks about the leash law, but without ticketing power, he wouldn’t make much of a dent. In the meantime, he WOULD be getting cussed out for his trouble.
This Parks guy clearly wasn’t the Lone Ranger type. Interestingly enough, though, I did encounter this same dude later that morning, only this time he was a little more “enthusiastic.”
Â
“Sir,” he said, “I’m going to have to ask you not to urinate on the rhododendrons.”
“What! So you’re gonna give ME a lecture, but not the dog people?”
[ . . . ]Â
“Sir, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to empty that bottle, too.”
October 11, 2012 at 10:52 pm #773531
wakefloodParticipantHa! Nice story DBP.
But seriously, I don’t think it’s up to the Park folks to write tickets. However, it IS I believe the responsibility of the City/County Animal Control to do so. That’s who I directed my reports to online. The Park folks have enough on their plate just trying to keep the place as nice as they can. BUT the purpose of the Animal Control folks is to ENFORCE the animal laws and they could actually be generating REVENUE!!! for the City/County instead of only being a cost.
They probably don’t like having to wear the black hats much either but it’s part of their job. And it’s not like they’re sending folks to jail fer g*dsakes. Man/Woman up and do what the taxpayers pay you to do TYVM.
October 11, 2012 at 11:07 pm #773532
DBPMemberSuggestion: When you contact Parks, Animal Control, or whomever, why not send them links to some of the many off-leash-related threads on the Blog?
There’s this thread.
There’s my “Dogs run free . . .” thread of a couple weeks ago.
There’s the “Geese Attacked at LP” front page story.
Etc.
The reason for linking officials up with these threads is so they can see that there are quite a few folks who are fed up with off-leash dog walking at Lincoln Park. It’s not just one or two people. Why, there are over 100 comments on the Geese story alone. That’s significant.
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Re: Getting an off-leash area at LP
You know, I might have more sympathy for the folks who want another off-leash set aside at LP, except for one thing. No matter how many off-leash areas we set aside, it doesn’t seem to curb these damn scofflaws. If you’ll look at my earlier thread, you’ll see photos of a guy at Westcrest monopolizing a very large area RIGHT OUTSIDE THE OFF-LEASH ZONE.
At this point, I’m not inclined to set aside any more off-leash spots. Instead, I would say to dog owners (and to the City): Let’s see you cut down on the scoffery FIRST. Then we’ll talk about rewarding dog owners with more of our precious park space.
Haaa . . .
October 11, 2012 at 11:09 pm #773533
DBPMemberOctober 11, 2012 at 11:20 pm #773534
wakefloodParticipantI’ll add that to the next report, DBP. Thx. And yes, the only way these folks get the message is by making a big and noticeable example of as many of them as they can manage to catch.
Unfortunately, just trying to be a good neighbor and obey a law is just too much for some selfish folks. Sad.
October 11, 2012 at 11:31 pm #773535
WSratsinacageMemberI included a link in the report I filed last week after the goose was attacked.
October 11, 2012 at 11:35 pm #773536
WSratsinacageMemberwakeflood, check out the video linked in the dogs run free thread, LMAO funny.
October 11, 2012 at 11:42 pm #773537
wakefloodParticipantIs that thread in the “forum” section? Or is it part of the geese story from last week?
October 11, 2012 at 11:54 pm #773538
wakefloodParticipantThe search function on WSB isn’t finding it.
October 11, 2012 at 11:55 pm #773539
WSratsinacageMemberOctober 11, 2012 at 11:58 pm #773540
WSratsinacageMemberThis one is a recent thread started by a neighbor near Hiawatha who is so sick of picking up other dogs poop he installed cameras and called the cops.
https://westseattleblog.com/forum/topic/dont-pick-your-dogs-crap-get-your-picture-taken
When the search function starts working for you, there are lots of personal accounts on this blog of off leash violations and dogs attacking humans.
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