New Year's Resolution: Obey County Leash Laws

David Morgan January 4, 2013 at 01:57 am

Shore birds feed, or now in most cases, try to feed, just before and after low tide. Low tides occur at different times of day, so it is impossible to schedule set times to allow anyone to allow their dog to run off leash. It's unenforceable. You'll hear the same excuses the parking wardens hear. "I didn't see the sign", "I didn't understand the sign". "I didn't realize what time it was". and "I thought that I would get a warning first".. During permit hours/days there are approx 200 parking tickets issued in the beach area. Animal Control Services don't have the resources to issue that many tickets in a day and the scofflaw will flaunt that, just as they do now.

DaphneDoRight January 4, 2013 at 03:13 am

I will take this argument seriously when they stop letting humans enjoy the beach as well. Dogs are not the only animal that disturb the native wildlife. Take the boats away from the shore, the people off the beach, then we would not have the dog problem. Erect a nice big fence that restricts all non native species... I mean, why stop with dogs?!
When you are out there enjoying "enjoying the beach" like it or not, you are leaving your footprint. Without taking it to the extreme, your point is moot.

Jean January 4, 2013 at 01:11 pm

I have witnessed shorebirds with humans on the beach at the same time. The birds are fine unless the humans chase them. I have witnessed humans with dogs on leash and birds co-existing. The birds see canines as predators and when those predators are chasing one another, or chasing after a ball thrown by a human or chasing after the birds, the birds flee.
There is no reason to vere away from the basic concern about off-leash dogs on the beach by dismissing the effect that is real when dogs are leashed and walking with their humans.

Pat Dowling January 4, 2013 at 02:10 pm

Couldn't agree more, Daphne. Dogs, humans, and birds have coexisted for millenia, and from what I can see, our shore birds are doing just fine. When you get right down to it, people like Mr. Lewis basically just hate dogs. They want everything under control 24/7, with only humans allowed to partake of the joys of being free in nature.

Michael A. Lewis January 4, 2013 at 02:24 pm

The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service would disagree about the status of shore birds. The Western Snowy Plover breeds and nests on Santa Cruz County shores and is listed as an endangered species, due to habitat loss from human development.
No one but I may say what I hate or love, nor what I want or don't want. Allowing domestic animals to disrupt wildlife habitat on the beach is not "the joys of being free in nature." It is irresponsible behavior of the part of humans who take no care for the natural world.

Cathy P. January 4, 2013 at 02:54 pm

@Pat Dowling: you know you've lost the argument when you have to resort to saying something juvenile like "...people like Mr. Lewis basically hate dogs." This isn't about hating dogs or keeping them off the beaches, it's simply about obeying existing leash laws.
@Michael A. Lewis: I agree with you 100% and also with "Humans are not the only species on Earth. We only act like it."

David Morgan January 4, 2013 at 03:04 pm

DaphneDoRight
The use of boats is regulated in the Monterey Bay Sanctuary. Jet skis are banned and the use of other types of boats are subjected to pollution and safety regulations with random inspections. The initial requirement for dogs to be on leashes was for public safety. That ordinance was passed more than 40 years ago. Now there is more public awareness about the environment and wild life habitats. A few years ago there were very few off leash dogs on the beaches, they were at a tolerable level, but recently it has spiraled out of control and needs to be curbed. The current ordinance provides for sharing the beach, that includes on leash dogs. Unfortunately a minority do not consider that their dog being on a leash is sharing and would rather have activity on the beach which a prudent person would avoid. If dog owners had any respect for their pet they would not want to expose their dog to the risk of an attack.

David Morgan January 4, 2013 at 03:18 pm

Pat Dowling.
You may have a well behaved dog, but you can't trust every dog around yours. Wait to you have a vet bill for over $500 and that's a modest bill. If you are lucky you'll get a positive identification of the offending dog's owner. My fiends' have not been so lucky. In two cases no one took ownership of the offending dog although in both cases the owners were within 150 ft of the incident. In the third case an owner apologized and offered to pay the vet bill and provided a phony phone number. It was lucky for the injured dog that it's owner had the financial wherewithal to pay the bill. You should talk to someone that works at a veterinary hospital and see how common it is for owners to have their pets euthanized because they can't afford the treatment. When I took my injured dog to the vet, he told me that the last place a person should take a dog is to the beach.

David Morgan January 4, 2013 at 03:45 pm

I love dogs and am in support of the leash laws and Mr Lewis's attempts to protect the environment Your statement about "people like Mr Lewis basically just hate dogs" is wrong about me and could just as well be wrong about Mr Lewis. You nor I, do not know how he feels about dogs. If people like him did not exist to defend it, in the future nature as we know it might not exist. It is already changing drastically. The beaches are treasures and should be defended

DaphneDoRight January 4, 2013 at 10:44 pm

I have witnessed shorebirds flee from skim boarders, joggers, and unruly children as well. As far as boats go, are they helping the wildlife in the area? Oh, no? well that can only mean one thing then... like I said before, unless one is to take the approach that puts the concern above all else, mitigating the external environmental pressures selectively is just drawing in shades of grey. We need a boat ban, a fence, and an end to anything that could hurt or scare a snowy plover.
And David, be careful when you start judging the character of people. It's not prudent.

DaphneDoRight January 4, 2013 at 10:54 pm

Cathy, this is not only about obeying the existing leash laws. I remember the hue and cry Micheal raised when the specter of changing those leash laws to something looser had been raised. Based on what I remember reading in the comments on this issue over the past few years, I would have to side with Pat... not to say that he hates them, but would love it if they never left the farm and places where they were working dogs. He does not enjoy them out and about in the city of Santa Cruz.

Michael A. Lewis January 4, 2013 at 11:50 pm

This discussion is about Santa Cruz County leash laws.
Santa Cruz County has no laws against skimmers, joggers nor unruly children. Santa Cruz County does have laws prohibiting dogs off-leash. Those who let their dogs run off-leash on County beaches are breaking the law.

Michael A. Lewis January 4, 2013 at 11:54 pm

No one but myself may say what I hate or love, what I enjoy or do not enjoy.
This discussion in this thread is about existing Santa Cruz County leash laws that make it illegal to allow dogs to run off-leash anywhere in Santa Cruz County. Those who let their dogs run loose on County beaches are lawbreakers, subject to fines and public obloquy.

Brad Kava (Editor) January 5, 2013 at 12:26 am

I'm in the middle here: I think my dog has the same rights as dolphins or whales not to be on a leash. But she doesn't harass shorebirds or people. She just swims and fetches sticks and really needs to run free to be free. But I put my money where my mouth is. I've paid $300 in fines for the right.

Brad Kava (Editor) January 5, 2013 at 12:27 am

PS: if she did harass people or animals I would put her on a leash. Dogs can't swiim on a leash and she loves to swim.

Jozseph Schultz January 5, 2013 at 01:28 am

i'm with Brad. People have been running their dogs at Lighthouse Field and Its Beach for at least 50 years. Native Americans had dogs too. The explosion of feral cat population in our county has impacted the wildlife far more than the dogs. Maybe we should require cats to be on leash as well.

Pat Dowling January 5, 2013 at 01:26 pm

Couldn't have said it better myself. Cats (whom I adore) do indeed have a much greater "negative" impact on the environment. The number of birds killed by cats is staggering, yet I don't hear any hue and cry in the community about tethering our feisty felines. Like Brad says, if your dog has a propensity for chasing wildlife on the beaches instead of just playing with the other dogs, taking a dip in the ocean, etc., then be responsible and leash your pet. God knows we are becoming more and more entangled by rules and laws forbidding this and forbidding that with each passing day.

Michael A. Lewis January 5, 2013 at 02:01 pm

Dolphins and whales are not domesticated animals. Humans are not responsible for the behavior of dolphins and whales. Humans are responsible for the behavior of domesticated dogs. County leash laws regulate the behavior of humans with regard to their dogs.
Paying a fine does not give one the right to break the law. Fines are punishment for lawbreaking and incentive to obey the law.

Jean January 5, 2013 at 02:03 pm

I think you paid $300 in fines for the wrong.

Michael A. Lewis January 5, 2013 at 02:13 pm

This discussion is about dogs off-leash, not about feral cats.
50 years ago, Santa Cruz County population was 66,219. Today the population of the county is 264,228, 200,000 more people and a proportionate increase in dogs running off-leash. If everyone did the right thing, there would be no need for rules and regulations. Sadly, many people decide their personal needs and desires are more important than the needs and desires of the community. Leash laws are written and enforced in response to attacks by unleashed dogs on people, other dogs, other domesticated animals and wildlife.

Jean January 5, 2013 at 02:19 pm

If the leash ordinance was passed for the protection of humans and dogs, why would one suppose that it would be amended to not protect humans, dogs at the shores of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary?
Are we being asked that the shoreline become an official sacrifice area to allow a single use, that is off-leash dogs? Somehow I do not see our Supervisors allowing such a blatant reversal of concern for the safety of humans and dogs, as well as the environment. If one wants one's dog to run free, there are many opportunities throughout the County, where single-use, enclosed dog play areas are provided and I do see the Supervisors voting to increase that number of fenced dog play areas in the months ahead. The dogs can run free. Their humans can socialize too. The beach can continue to be a safe place for everyone.

Cathy Pascale January 5, 2013 at 04:12 pm

I am so glad I left Santa Cruz and moved to Oregon!
There is always enough 'data' to support ANY position. I rememeber walking the long shorliines of the beach around Sea Cliff. The birds were playing...dive bombing my DOG. Both having fun. Everyone walking; jogging and dogs playing, OFF LEASH. Where the heck is a dog supposed to go to run and play any more? Sad.

David Morgan January 6, 2013 at 12:17 am

Cathy Pascale,
Now, it's not as you remember it. People, including me, ignored off leash dogs. They were mellow and no one that I know advocated enforcing leash laws; in fact we got upset if a neighborhood dog got picked up. But now it's out of control due to lack of enforcement. ACS has stepped up enforcement in the last eleven months. That's why you hear all the whining. They went through a period of about two months were they were just warning and educating people. But now it's ticket time. Dogs can run free, socialize and play with other dogs in the off leash dog parks and bother no one. They are a joy to watch.

DaphneDoRight January 6, 2013 at 01:56 am

that is right Cathy, as you can clearly see in the photo above, Brad's dog is clearly out of control and bothering everyone.

Cathy Pascale January 6, 2013 at 02:15 am

I also remember all the dogs running and playing at the Park across from the Lighthouse and they were trying to close that down. It was a beautiful place to roam with your pets and it was ever so rare that any dog got into a fight with another dog. I bet that's gone too?
I lived in Santa Cruz for 25 years. I've been in Oregon for seven years now and I have not missed anything about SC nor have I been back once. Really sad. Just too many people there now.

Jozseph Schultz January 6, 2013 at 04:38 am

Clearly, very large numbers of otherwise law-abiding people think the leash laws are a mistake. Legal channels for changing these laws were followed for years, at great expense in time and money, to no avail. Many people LOVE dogs running free. My aged mother, among other health care professionals, credits her dog walks with adding years to her life. It certainly kept my marriage together.
If you think your being bothered by dogs and your thinking off-leash dogs are risky and your laws passed without due process--often by administrative fiat--are going to stop an activity which is for many people a core enjoyment in life........then you've been smoking too much of that stuff that is now effectively legal because too many people--including the police---were enjoying it in defiance of the law to keep it illegal. Of course, the police love leash laws, because enforcing them is lots safer than fighting gangs or domestic violence.

Michael A. Lewis January 6, 2013 at 01:50 pm

It is legal for anyone to take their dogs for walks on local beaches on-leash. No one is calling for a ban on all dogs on beaches.
In fact, it is not clear that "very large numbers of otherwise law-abiding people think the leash laws are a mistake." There are maybe fifty people who regularly allow their dogs to run off-leash on local beaches. This is a tiny minority of the 266,000 people who live in Santa Cruz County. These fifty people have an inordinate impact on coastal habitat, virtually removing bird life from the beaches when they are present. This is more than a local concern. Beaches are sensitive habitat under the jurisdiction of state and federal regulatory agencies. It is not just the purview of the County Board of Supervisors. Any action taken at the county level will initiate state and federal response. The health and viability of sensitive species' habitat takes precedence over individual human preferences.

Michael A. Lewis January 6, 2013 at 01:52 pm

Yes, there are many more people, and many more dogs. That's why leash law enforcement is so critical for the health and safety of all, people, dogs and wildlife.

Jean January 6, 2013 at 11:31 pm

There are plenty of places for dogs to "run and play" in Santa Cruz, off leash. For instance, the Scotts Valley Dog Park, the Polo Grounds Dog Park, the Chanticleer Avenue off-leash Dog Park, the Frederick Street Off-leash Dog Area, to name a few. In addition, the County will soon consider establishing some other parks for creating single-use dog play off-leash areas.
By the way, the birds were not playing with your dog. That dive-bombing behavior was a protective act, as the birds view canines as predators. The birds were not "having fun;" they were jeopardized and stressed by the presence of the dog.

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