San Diego County has a serious problem regarding dogs. And it is a problem that affects all of us, whether we own dogs or not. In one month, November 14-December 11, our three Animal Control shelters took in a total of 1702 dogs, according to Lt. Danielle Spilker of the Department of Animal Control. Of these, 378 were adopted, 399 were reunited with their owners, and 862 were euthanized. While dogs find their way into animal shelters for a variety of reasons, the fact remains that huge numbers are lost or abandoned in this county annually.
This problem affects us all because of the enormous expense of catching and housing these dogs, providing veterinary care, and the administrative costs. It affects us all because of the danger of uncontrolled dogs in traffic. It affects us all because, as reported in the San Diego Union-Tribune, June 13, 1996, there are about 3000 dog bite reports in San Diego a year, and a further 3000 non-bite chases. And who pays for all the problems associated with dogs? We all do.
And the problems reach far beyond financial or safety considerations. Irresponsible owners allow their dogs to defecate on our sidewalks, schoolyards and public parks. They allow their dogs to breed indiscriminately. They never bother to train or socialize their dogs. In spite of continuing efforts by concerned individuals, most notably Bob Dale of NBC 7/39, the Humane Society, and City and County Animal Control agencies, too many people refuse to spay or neuter their dogs, to vaccinate them, to register them, or to train them. Responsible dog ownership takes time and effort, but, as we all know, many people are basically selfish. If dog owners are to invest that time and effort, they need a powerful incentive; there has to be something in it for them. That something might be a leash-free trail where dog and owner alike can go to enjoy beautiful scenery and the society of their fellows, both canine and human.
The fact is most dogs require more exercise than can be provided in a leashed walk. This is a particular problem for owners with more than one dog. Furthermore, the countywide leash law might actually be a disincentive towards encouraging owners to undertake the responsibilities of dog ownership. Why bother to train a dog that must always be restrained? Why even bother to take the dog out at all?
At the same time, committed, responsible dog owners are being fined for walking their dogs, off-leash, along trails where some have done so for more than twenty years: until recently, without action from the authorities. I refer to trails at Lake Hodges, on what was formerly considered wasteland, but is now incorporated into the San Dieguito River Park. By word of mouth, these trails have become a Mecca for people who have discovered the impossibility of providing sufficient exercise for their dogs if leashed. Ironically, none of these dogs, for which owners risk breaking the leash law, will ever roam the streets or produce unwanted puppies.
There are currently several grass-roots efforts around the county to persuade local politicians of the need for exercise areas for dogs. Groups in Rancho Bernardo and Escondido, for instance, are petitioning for just such areas. Clearly there is a real need for some sort of leash-free exercise facility, but there is significant opposition to dog parks because of the expense of purchasing land and erecting fences. And you cannot blame taxpayers, especially those who dislike dogs, for their reluctance to support such measures. Regardless of the ultimate success, or otherwise, of these campaigns, they are local solutions for local problems.
This is a countywide problem, and it demands a countywide response. Unfortunately, nobody seems to be looking at the big picture.
There is a solution to our dog problems that offers a win-win situation for all county residents. A trail, or trails, at the Bernardo Bay area of the San Dieguito River Park could be designated leash-free. This location is ideally situated, close to Interstate 15, in the heart of the county, with plenty of parking and easy trails. Within a park that extends to fifty miles, it must surely be possible to find a trail that is not too ecologically sensitive, and that does not adversely affect the picnic area or the Piedras Pintadas Interpretive Trail. This trail could be clearly signposted to warn people fearful of dogs to avoid this trail. Then--an this is absolutely crucial to the enterprise--the city and the county should use every means by which recreational information is disseminated to actively promote the trail: a place where you can enjoy stunning scenery and meet other dog lovers, while your dog gets the exercise it needs and socializes with other dogs. Perhaps a grand opening, with full media coverage, could spread the message throughout the county that well-behaved dogs are welcome here. It would be one more wonderful amenity that of which San Diego County could boast. And it could be achieved at minimal cost. By using an existing trail, the plan could be implemented with no capital expenditure beyond the cost of signs. Dog owners’ needs could be satisfied without alienating non-dog-owning taxpayers.
Where similar schemes have been implemented across the country, Animal Control agencies have reported significant benefits to their communities, according to the article, "Dog Parks: Can a place that lets Rover roam help your shelter," that appeared in the May-June 1998 issue of Animal Sheltering. Shelters in communities where such facilities exist claim that their dog parks actively encourage responsible dog ownership, while reducing instances of neighborhood conflicts related to dogs. Well-socialized dogs that receive sufficient exercise are less likely to develop behavior problems such as aggression or excessive barking. Providing dog owners with a place where they can go, legally and safely, to have fun with their pets and meet people with similar interests actually benefits people who dislike dogs by reducing the number of dogs being walked in neighborhoods. The Bowling Green (Ohio) Police Department finds their dog park helpful to community policing. Officers simply direct people they discover walking their dogs off-leash to the appropriate place. Prior to the opening of their dog park, the people of Bowling Green, like many in San Diego, often headed to their local public school grounds—surely the worst possible place to allow one’s dog to defecate, no matter how careful the cleanup. Marin (California) Humane Society has found the bulletin board in its dog park particularly useful for educating owners about dog-related issues; it is the most effective method of reaching hundreds of dog owners at once. The provision of such a convenient and enjoying way to exercise dogs prompts many owners to consider adopting an additional dog, which further benifits local shelters.
Bernardo Bay would be the ideal place to experiment with this new approach because so many dog owners already walk there regularly. People come from as far away as El Cajon, Ramona, Temecula and the Beach Cities. A bulletin board could be provided where agencies such as the Humane Society and Animal Control can provide information about dog behavior, training classes, the law and the environment. The large parking lot at Bernardo Bay might potentially be the ideal place to run training classes.
This is a wonderful opportunity for the City and the County of San Diego to work together to provide a valuable and much-needed amenity that could, in turn, significantly reduce the number of animals that find their way into our sorely over-stretched Animal Control facilities. What we desperately need is common sense.
The trails at Bernardo Bay lie in Councilwomen Barbara Warden’s constituency, so it is to her that we must look for leadership if common sense is to prevail. A countywide problem requires a countywide response, and Councilwoman Warden, as a member of both the San Diego City Council and the San Dieguito River Park, is uniquely placed to address the issue. Contact your own political and community leaders and ask them to urge Councilwoman Warden to take the initiative in solving a problem that affects us all. A petition is circulating asking her for a leash-free trail at Bernardo Bay. Anyone wishing to sign the petition can contact organizer Barbara Hurst via e-mail: [email protected] or by printing a copy from http://littleitaly.fortunecity.com/tintoretto/32/petition.htm