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Dog PAC's success depends on our members; we are a grassroots lobbying group, and our effectiveness results from the letters, phone calls, and emails sent by dog owners in defense of their rights and their way of life! Below is contact information that you can use to reach us with ideas and concerns, as well as links to key city and county officials |
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We urge you—never hesitate to let your elected officials know that you support off-leash recreation (and where you want it made legal). Every voice is heard in a town of this size, so yours really makes a difference! Some of the arguments to make, when appealing to your government officials on behalf of off-leash recreation: 1. Roughly 45% of U.S. households own dogs, and most of these engage in some form of recreation with their pets 2. Municipalities routinely provide facilities for other recreational uses, whether it be tennis, softball, or even golf, even though far fewer residents engage in that activity than in dog-walking 3. Santa Barbara currently only has one legal off-leash park out of a total of 55—even though some 45,000 households have a dog! Therefore fairness dictates that dog owners be given some share of the city’s recreational resources! 4. Off-leash areas (some call them “Dog Parks”) provide an important opportunity for community-building, drawing people together through shared interests 5. Studies show that dog ownership, and in particular exercise with a dog, provides substantial health benefits to dog owners 6. Off-leash exercise makes for better dog citizens: dogs that receive regular off-leash exercise tend to be quieter, better behaved, and better socialized around new dogs and people 7. Designation of legal off-leash spaces cuts down on “non-compliance” and conflict—dog walkers use legal areas, leaving other parks safer for “dog averse” users, while such designations also allow “dog averse” users to avoid off-leash areas by being aware of sites set aside for that use. E-mail updates: sign up for our free membership by e-mailing us via the link below or via our online membership form, and include your e-mail address. You will then receive e-mail alerts when key issues come up for a vote, or when public input is necessary to protect our rights as dog owners. This page will help you with contact information. To get involved, contact us at :
dogpacsb@yahoo.com Contact City Council Members: All can be reached by snail mail at Santa Barbara City Council, P.O. Box 1990, Santa Barbara CA 93102-1990, or by phone at 805-564-5318. Mayor Marty Blum MBlum@SantaBarbaraCA.gov Councilmember Dale Francisco (elected 11/6/07) County Board of Supervisors: All can be reached by snail mail at Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101. 1st District: Salud Carbajal, Vice Chair 2nd District: Janet Wolf 3rd District: Brooks Firestone, Chair 4th District: Joni Gray 5th District: Joseph Centeno |