In this Issue:
- Dog News
- Advisory Board Member Welcome
- 2nd Doggie Doo Dah Day
- Behavioral/Social Aspects of Off-Leash Areas
- Announcements
Dog News
City Council Activity. On December 9th the City Council voted unanimously to recommend to the city's Ordinance Committee that changes be made to city ordinances that would allow dogs to be legally off-leash in Las Positas Friendship Park. In addition, the Council voted 4 to 3 to recommend that the Douglas Family Preserve remain an off-leash area for the time being, until the management plan for that property is finalized. Council members voting for this recommendation were Tom Roberts, Marty Blum, Gregg Hart, and Harriet Miller. Council members Helene Beaver, Elinor Langer, and Gil Garcia voted against the recommendation.
It is important to note that while it has been recommended that these two of Santa Barbara's 55 parks become leash-optional, the specifics of the ordinance will be determined in the Ordinance Committee. From there, the recommendation of this committee will be reconsidered by City Council, who will make the final determination on any ordinance changes. In addition, the leash status of the Douglas Family Preserve will ultimately be determined by the DFP management plan which is to be written within the next year. The City Council also voted to allow dogs off-leash during supervised dog training classes, shows, or exhibitions held in city parks, as long as such events are authorized by a park use permit issued by the Parks and Recreation Department.
In further discussion at the City Council meeting, council member Langer expressed that she was no longer interested in continuing to work on the Dog Subcommittee. Council member Roberts volunteered to take her position, believing the tasks of the subcommittee to be important. However, as recommended by Parks Director Richard Johns, dog matters will no longer be considered by the Special Subcommittee on Dogs - rather, dog issues will be reviewed by his office. Presumably, the Parks and Recreation Department will only intervene in dog issues involving city parks, though this remained unspecified at the meeting.
Dog PAC General Meeting. On December 3rd Dog PAC held an open meeting for its members, the purpose of which was to update everyone on the progress of the PAC and to solicit and discuss members' ideas. Approximately 65 people were able to attend the meeting. In the meeting, Dog PAC Board Members presented a history of Dog PAC and a progress report to date (we have more than 650 members!), described the contents of the position paper recently presented to the City Council Subcommittee on Dog Issues, discussed dog behavioral issues,and solicited opinions about and discussed the current status and future directions of Dog PAC.
Thank you to all who came and gave us their valuable ideas and support. To everyone - please continue to give us your feedback and ideas! Feel free to use the phone message line listed at the bottom of this newsletter to get ahold of us anytime! |
Welcome to the Dog PAC Advisory Board Members!
Dog PAC is proud to welcome the members of its Advisory Board. Advisory Board members are important to our mission of promoting responsible dog ownership and securing appropriate and sufficient resources for dog owners. Dog PAC Advisory Board members are: Lisl Aufderheide, Audrey Austin, Bo Bengtson, Don Burg, Georgia Edwards, Andrew Flanagin, Greg Haskell, Jim Higman, Sue Higman, Shirley Jansen, Maureen Lance, and Abby Shaw. On behalf of all Dog PAC members, welcome to the PAC and thank you for your help and support! Please contact us if you would like to be a member of the Advisory Board.
2nd Doggie Doo Dah Day!
On Saturday, January 31st Dog PAC is sponsoring its second "Doggie Doo Dah Day." Volunteers for the Doo Dah Day will scoop poop at the heavily dog-trafficked parks and beaches, and distribute poop bags to dog walkers. If you would like to volunteer for this important event, meet us at La Mesa Park (on Shoreline) at 10:00am. From there we will go to the different parks together. Dog PAC will provide bags and scoopers. Please come and help us make a good showing at this media-covered event. The rain date for the Doo Dah Day is Saturday, February 7th.
Dog PAC Member & Dog Social!
Mark your calendars! We are having a Dog PAC member and dog social at Las Positas Park on Saturday, February 14th. We're planning many dog-friendly events for you and your pooch! Watch your mailbox for more information on this fun-filled event!
Upcoming Meeting & Special Guest
In approximately 2 months Dog PAC will hold its annual meeting where we will elect our Board of Directors. If you would like to run for a position on the board, please send in your self-nomination. Also at this meeting, we will have a special guest - Ken Ayers, attorney for SFDog, whose group is currently battling in the Bay Area for dog rights. Watch upcoming newsletters for details and date.
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Dog PAC needs money! Your donations, in any amount, are always welcome and appreciated! Thank you to all who have contributed to the PAC! |
Behavioral/Social Aspects of Off-Leash Dog Areas
We thrill at the sight of dogs fetching sticks in the surf, catching frisbees, and racing after each other with wild abandon. Similarly, we entertain the hope that our kids will go Ivy League, or major league, or, at the very least, care for us in our infirmity! But, hey, heads up! Kids who wind-up at Yale (or visit us at the nursing home) and dogs who are good canine citizens have a lot in common: Hard work and sacrifice by their parents. A good "dog parent" needs to understand that dog owners are legally and morally responsible for the pet's behavior, everywhere and anywhere they go. Also, owners must understand that dogs have their own remarkable set of behaviors. We, the alien species, have much more to learn about canine interaction than they do about us. So what do we know about canine behavior that can help us mold a healthy, well-socialized dog into a genuine pleasure, off-lead or on? In a nutshell:Responsible owners socialize their puppies with other dogs, animals, and people from 7 weeks on. The canine brain integrates early experiences into "normalcy" from about 7 weeks to 15 weeks. Once your puppy is 4 months old, this window of opportunity closes - fast!
- Responsible owners take their puppy to "Puppy Kindergarten" classes to develop proper canine etiquette with other dogs. This experience is often frightening to the uninformed, as it involves lots of good growling and mounting behavior and horrible noises, but, remarkably, no damage to speak of. These behaviors are genetically orchestrated to enhance individual and pack survival, and are part of the complex ritual dogs must learn if they're ever to be let off-lead. Through observation and education owners become much more sensitive to canine nuances.
- Dogs are deeply territorial. They will fight over their own territory but neutral territory is all about fun to dogs. That's why well- socialized, UN-LEASHED dogs so love the beach/ park, and why they don't fight there. BUT: Beware of the (LEASHED) dog! What many people fail to understand is this: LEASHED dogs in an unleashed area are a no- no. The leashed dog is stripped of its behavioral rituals, and "bound" to defend its territory: the owner at the end of the lead. Unlike some human parents, good dog parents know that not everybody loves baby "Bingo." We know that we must hem him in when need be. We know that we must inoculate him, license him, and go to class. If he is poorly socialized, aggressive, weird - well, gosh darnnit, Bingo needs to stay home, or go to remedial classes. There are many excellent books on canine behavior, as well as local training classes and clubs who deal with dogs in our community. Off-lead status is a privilege, not a right.
With that in mind:
- Do not allow your dog, for whatever reason, to destroy the enjoyment of others.
- Pick up poop, your dog's - or others'!
- Train, train, train. Do fun things with your dog!
- When off-lead, do as the "off-lead" do! Accept the risk, let your (well-trained/socialized) dog handle things as they see fit, and intervene only when necessary.
- If you or your dog are not "up" for it, don't go! Currently, there are plenty (53!) other parks in Santa Barbara where you can legally walk your dog on a 6 ft. lead.
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