Off-Leash Dogs: Why "My Dog Is Friendly" Doesn't Cut It

If you have a dog, you likely have had encounters on walks where an off-leash dog runs up to you or your dog. You may like dogs, but have been knocked over or felt unsafe with an off-leash dog running up to you in an area where dogs are mandated to be on leash. Perhaps you or someone you know is fearful of dogs and chooses parks and areas that are not for off-leash dogs. It should not matter the reason, if the area requires dogs to be on leash, they should be ON LEASH. No questions asked.

While we can continue to say people mean well, I think most communities have a disconnect about what is and isn't appropriate and safe. It's time for folks to get the memo and start thinking about those around them.

Follow The Leash Bylaws! Please!

Leash bylaws exist for a host of reasons:

• They protect the general public from dog bites

• They prevent dog fights

• They prevent dogs from becoming injured by vehicles and other hazards

• They protect sensitive ecosystems

• They protect wildlife and prevents conflicts

Wildlife deserve space from off-leash dogs.

What happens when people don't follow leash bylaws:

• Off leash dogs approaching leashed dogs can result in conflict; many on leash dogs and dogs in general do NOT want strange dogs approaching them. It does NOT matter if your dog is "good" or not! Those that are following the rules have the right to space.

• Liability issues. If you want to risk letting your dog off leash in non-designated areas and your dog is deemed at fault for a bite or a fight you could be looking at some serious legal consequences.

• Wildlife. If you live in an area where there are bears, off-leash dogs often create conflict for bears which more often than not results in bears being labelled "aggressive" and are destroyed. Off-leash dogs can significantly disturb and harm migrating shorebirds, especially during critical periods like migration and nesting.

• Ecosystem Damage. Off-leash dogs can trample vegetation, damage sensitive habitats, and disturb nesting sites

Sensitive habitats can be damaged by off-leash dogs

Unless you are in a designated off-leash area for dogs, please think about the world around you; everyone deserves space including wildlife, other dogs, people and sensitive environmental areas.