You'd be paranoid too if you had a gaping hole about two inches wide from a dog bite and had to go to ER to have it sewn up. Especially after the dog owner laughed!

I am not a dog hater, but am leary of so many owners who say their dog is special and it doesn't need a leash. Just hope you have the insurance to back it up!

Thank you to all the dog owners who are responsible!



I

lab guy-

lol. you're a riot.

Regarding small dog vs large dog off-leash areas. Have you been to Marymoor and noticed that most dogs get along there, big or small? This is because there is plenty of space and wide open areas to escape, so dogs don't feel threatened. Putting dogs into the "cage" of an Seattle off-leash park is a recipe for aggressive behavior.

The rules are in place to enforce a priority over park space. It is impossible for government to "allow" dogs anywhere (because of all the paranoid dog haters and the irresponsible dog owners). So when kids are playing in the field, then no dogs allowed. If a park gets too much poo, then enforcement increases up as it should. If you think about how many dogs there are in the city there is no possible way the off leash dog parks can accommodate all. The limited parks that are designated off-leash areas attract the worst offenders, and so they accomplish the opposite intention. Bottom line is that if you a responsible dog owner, there are certain areas and times of day you can take your dog off leash where the signs say otherwise. You will not have any rights under law and if there is a conflict then you lose by default, but that is the way it should be. Keep your dog under control, pick up poop, and be considerate of others. In other words, use COMMON SENSE.

And for all you dog haters, get a grip. Laws are in place to drive certain behaviors, not to enforce every little infraction to stroke your righteousness.

My dog is getting chemotherapy treatments for cancer and therefore he's not allowed to go to dog parks which often harbor germs. He lives to play fetch and so for his remaining months I take him to play at the fields at the Ballard Community Center when it is not in use. We're almost always there early in the morning or late at night when it is practically empty. I don't think that we are bothering anyone and suggest a more reasonable solution of allowing community parks to allow off-leash during certain hours of the day when they are not in use by others, such as before 9am and after 8pm. If there was an particular time it was allowed, I would abide by this rule and I think that others needing to exercise their dogs would too.

I am a parent of two kids under age 3, as well as owner of 2 large dogs. Therefore, I can see both sides. I grew up in the 70s in Seattle, when dogs roamed freely. Our family dogs were large and were never on leash. They hung out on the front porch and chased nothing more than their own tail. Avoiding the Dobie down the street was somewhat of a game. There are dog owners here today that cling to that ideal. I do understand that the city has changed. Traffic is faster and steadier and the new generation of Seattlites seem to have frayed nerves when it comes to dogs. Gone are the good ol days when 12 yr old kids delivered papers at 6am with their trusted muttt as sole protector (imagine that today!!) I dont allow my dogs loose but the sad thing is how scared people get even with them on leash. I am 6'3 220# and can handle my dogs, yet many of our new urbanites look as though their balls will be bitten off with one sideways move. It's all rather funny to me, and I will abide by the laws for the safety of others as well as my pets, but this issue (like the disappearance of trick or treating on Halloween) is clearly a sign of the paranoid times.

Dogs should be able to roam city streets without leashes like elsewhere in the world. I love dogs, they're delicious! So please join us at Golden Gardens this weekend for a beach barbeque. Ruff!

This is just about the most disheartening thing I have ever read in MyBallard. I agree with ...

"After reading comments on several posts, including this one….it makes me not so proud to live in Ballard. There are a lot of mean…really mean…. people in this town. I need to walk away from MyBallard for a while…it just makes for a very heavy heart."

maybe we should put owners to sleep too.

Whether a dog is on a leash or off and it bites someone the owner is liable. It doesn't matter how nice or smart or well trained your dog is.

My neigbor was bitten by a dog on an extended leash. The owner was walking three dogs on extended leashes and talking on a cell phone. She had no control of her dogs. The owner received a fine and the dog went to quarantine.

Another one of my neighbors was working in their back yard when an unleashed pit bull ran into his yard and attacked his dog and him. My neighbor has nerve damage in his arm and couldn't work for several months. The dog was put to sleep. The owner faces felony charges and a major lawsuit.

I was bitten by an unleashed dog just walking down the street. The owner just opened her door and let the dog out and it followed me down the street and bit me. The woman lost her homeowners insurance, had to put the dog in quarantine and pay a fine. I heard recently that the dog was put down, because the owner just let it out and it bit someone else.

All of the owners of these dogs made bad decisions for their dogs and the dogs paid the price. I know there are some bad dogs, but it just seems like some dog owners just don't have a clue.

Maybe someone already posted this link which gives a little more info on why dogs are not allowed at the beach parks:

http://www.citizenrain.com/2009/03/update-why-d...

loyalreader--from the parking lot, walking west, are the ponds with duckies. A few of the posts above mention the duck ponds at the "north" end. I was trying to say (not that any of it matters, really) that the ponds are at the west end of GG, not the north end. Continue walking, yes, a little more west and then north: that is where the rocks are that I think reasonable was talking about.

LY West End of GG???!!! The west end of GG is the water!!!

Hm.m..Hey! How about a law that allows one to shoot stray dogs or dogs so out of range of their master's control that they may as well be strays? C'mon, not everyone on board with this?
Uh..what about those ding bat parents that let ANY dog come up to their children and 'let them be friendly', leashed or not? 75% of dog bites to kids are to the face.
Don't get me wrong, dogs have a place. Just leash your pet.

PhinneyLiving, Um, not really. It's not considered an off leash area past the fenced in area. And there has been occasional enforcement there.
The upside is that the trail is a muddy dead end that few people use, the only wildlife is squirrels (and drunks), so it's not as bad as letting your dog loose in a regular park.

Good to know SPG - thanks for the full information. I didn't realize that we could let our dogs off-leash in that area - my dog will LOVE this!! Thanks for the tip!

resonable...OK, maybe you are actually talking about the north end, other people were mentioning the ponds in reference to the north end (which are at the west end). Sorry.

reasonable--not that I take my dog there...I don't. But, you all are talking about the west end of GG, where the ponds are. Dogs are allowed on leash there anyway, as it isn't actually the beach.

I think the person who would like to sit on the rocks with her (his? forgot) dog at the north end of GG means just that, the north end of the beach. Walk waaaay past the ponds, out to the beach, turn right (north) and head up the beach a piece to the rocks. More beach in low tide.

@ #11: the northern part of golden gardens is actually a marine reserve, an area set aside to protect the native species who actually belong in that ecosystem. domestic dogs, last time i checked, were not a part of this ecosystem, and therefore, have no place there. aside from the obvious poop problems, i have seen dogs in this area chasing water fowl and rooting around in the tide pools, disturbing the animals who do actually belong there. and, if you're such a dog lover consider this: i have also seen dogs leaving bloody prints on the beach because their careless owners thought that they "didn't mind" the barnacle covered rocks.

"Jodi, hang in there I am with you. We have every right to defend ourselves. "

How many times do I have to point out that Jodi was not defending himself, but attacking? The woman that got pepper sprayed by Jodi didn't attack him, but just told him to calm down while she put her dog back on leash. Jodi went there to pepper spray dogs to make a point and "take back the woods from you" or some other crusade he was waging in his mind. When the dog wouldn't get close enough to get sprayed, he sprayed the dog's owner. This was nothing to do with defending himself and everything to do with some nutcase trying to prove a point.
The Jodi/Joey overreaction and aggression isn't any kind of defense, it's an offensive, aggressive, and illegal act. Hopefully Jodi resurfaces long enough for the police to catch up with him.

Jodi, hang in there I am with you. We have every right to defend ourselves. And yeah, there are a lot of mean people on here and they all have mean dogs tooo

So glad our tax dollars are being spent to pay animal control officers to ticket what are 99% non dangerous and happy dogs running off leash! I would rather the funds be used to hire more cops since it is much scarier for me dealing with the 2 legged types I run into. Or maybe they could do a better job of busting the many puppy mills here in our state. Seems the recent ones were reported many times but alas no officers even checked it out. No doubt they were busy ticketing off leash dogs. When exactly did people and especially kids become so afraid of dogs for goodness sake! I get that this is a city and yes one read about the rare pit bull insidents but honestly folks your fellow homo sapiens are much more to be feared then a dog. I guesss kids pick it up from thier parents. When I was growing up we kids loved dogs, everyone had a dog and kids and dogs played at the beach or in the parks. Really bottom line there is alot of truely awful and scary stuff in city living and the off leash dog is probally the last of your worries.

SPG

Thanks for the insight on this wonderful Ballardian. We can only aspire to his behavior, one and all. (*SARCASM*)

PhinneyLiving said: "I LOVE dogs!!! But I do support Jodi in her defensive reaction."

Here's the problem...it's not a defensive reaction. It's an open threat to preemptively attack any dog that crosses Jodi/Joey's path.
A little while back in the woods past the off leash park above Golden Gardens Jodi/Joey came across a woman who had let her medium sized friendly dog off leash. The dog walked towards Jodi/Joey to give a sniff but Jodi/Joey started yelling at the woman to "control your dog" which she did by calling the dog. The woman then said that Jodi/Joey should calm down when Jodi/Joey pepper sprayed the woman, not the dog, in the face. Jodi/Joey ran off into the woods to hide when the police were called. The SPD that responded couldn't care less about the dog being off leash but were very interested in arresting Jodi/Joey for assaulting the woman and looked around for him until they got called to another higher priority emergency. Before leaving they did say that he could still be charged for assault when he is identified.
The woman's boyfriend came to the park to pick her up and spotted Jodi/Joey and pushed him off the trail through the brush where tough guy Jodi/Joey ran off rather than fight another guy. Jodi/Joey hasn't been back to jogging that area which is probably wise since there are a lot more people looking for him than can be dealt with by a single can of pepper spray.
This is the back story to who Jodi/Joey is and what really happened. Make more sense now?

"....and the award for most posts this year on My Ballard.com goes too the dogs (so to speak)!"

Called this the minute the subject hit!

But I digress, carry on...

Hey Joey,

Dude, just relax. You're one of the more obnoxious people on this thread. Kicking a dog in the face, hard - such a constructive response.

I LOVE dogs!!! But I do support Jodi in her defensive reaction. To avoid defensive reactions, i leash my dog - my very friendly dog, that would never hurt anyone. Not everyone appreciates this however, thus the leash. But mainly, i don't want to lose him.

What a great expediture of resources in this time of plenty. Well behaved dogs off leash don't bother anyone, except the uptight.

I shoot pigeons.

I'd support the off-leash dog parks if the Vet bill was not more expensive than the ticket for having my dog off a leash. Clean up the dog parks (a.k.a. Giardia) with the cash you get from ticketing and maybe we'd go to the dog park!

People need to get a grip...use commonsense if children/adults are playing keep dogs on leash, if not, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

After reading comments on several posts, including this one....it makes me not so proud to live in Ballard. There are a lot of mean...really mean.... people in this town. I need to walk away from MyBallard for a while...it just makes for a very heavy heart.

joey=jodi

"Joey // Mar 4, 2009 at 1:40 pm

You are all right. I am a whack job and I’ll leave this forum now…"

Imposter. Nice try d bag.

Yay Ballard! We rock in this particular dog comment area...Phinney/Greenwood blog had this posted 3 days before this one at Ballard. They only have 29 comments. We have 140 and counting!

BTW, where DID that press release come from? This was queried by aceh in the very first comment.

If you're a dog lover your efforts might be better served over at this link.

http://www.queenanneview.com/2009/03/03/fundrai...

Jodi...I, too, READ your comments, I was merely stating what my post was about in relation to everyone else talking about dogs chasing birds, kids and pooping everywhere on the beach...and believe it or not, it was not just for your benefit.

The second part of the post was directed at you. No, you didn't insinuate that my dog was off leash, and I never stated that you did. What I meant is that I have a higher regard for a dog than you, if you are willing to take pepper spray to any one that crosses your path off leash. That would be why the SECOND paragraph is preceded by your name.

Admitting a problem is the first step to getting help. Good luck to you.

You are all right. I am a whack job and I'll leave this forum now...

Joey, If it's a growling dog trying to bite you they might side with you, but if you make a pronouncement that you will kick the next dog that "harasses" you it's a different story. If you're being attacked that's one thing, but kicking a curious dog that tries to sniff at you? I think you'll get some animal cruelty charges from the court which carry a much stiffer penalty than a leash law ticket.
I realize you're just talking tough on the internet but you're not helping to bring anyone to some king of common ground on this.
I'm not so naive to think that everyone is going to be comfortable with a dog off leash, but your position of just hating every dog in the world isn't tenable either.

Oh dear, now we are talking about punching and kicking dogs? This is just too much to bear.

This echo chamber needs to be shut down, please disable the comments on this thread.

To the person that wanted to know where I had my sources for how many more dogs than children it was posted in the New York times a couple years ago. The is the only post that I could find about it

http://www.mamazine.com/Pages/feature54.html

"What would you do if someone punched you in the face, hard? What do you think the dog or owner will do? As much as you might think you’re a tough guy on the internet, there’s always someone tougher in real life."

The court would side with me if I was defending myself against an unleashed, out of control dog.

Hope this helps.

Valcim said: "...teach your child how to properly approach a dog. Ask for permission to pet the dog, put your hand out to let the dog smell - don’t let your child come running up, arms waving ready to pet and go straight for the top of the head. "

This is great advice and too many people don't know it. Puppies especially will nip at your hand if you try to put it over their head as that's how they play with other puppies. It usually won't really hurt, but puppy teeth can be sharp!

Joey said: "The next unleashed dog that starts harrassing me while I jog is getting kicked in the face, hard."

Settle down psychoII. What would you do if someone punched you in the face, hard? What do you think the dog or owner will do? As much as you might think you're a tough guy on the internet, there's always someone tougher in real life.

angelatini

never once did i insinuate that you dog was off leash. i READ what you said.

valcim

excellent point. it works two ways and thanks for pointing out the human side of approaching an animal.

Great point Amy! I'd vote for that law. Maybe we can introduce more coyotes to take down all the cats roaming around.

Ok, this law is fine and dandy, so now how about creating some law that keeps cats confined to an area? Their feces is way worse for your health than dogs and I always find cat poo in our yard where our kids play.

@121
You take your deceased dog with you to the beach? Does he chase all the deceased ducks?

I'm at work.

Slow days, lately... but thanks so much for your assessment, Ted.

silence kit, you could probably use some exercise. looks like you spend way too much time on here.

yak...ya can't threaten a dead dog. hahaha

But I can't imagine any dog owner would be too happy to see someone break out the pepper spray at their animal, me included.

I actually thought that this thread was pretty good as far as civil discourse is concerned....

at least until this morning.

help help my dog is being threatened on the internet

I'm just going to walk around kicking dogs, children, the elderly, joggers, cyclists, vegetarians, vegans, minorities, and whatever else I may come across!

Wow...I started the whole beach part of this thread. What I was referring to was my DECEASED dog coming onto the beach a few feet and sitting next to me while I leaned on a log. He was 12 years old. I think I heard him bark 3 times in his entire life, and the only wildlife that interested him was squirrels. I didn't want to get a ticket for merely sitting a few feet from the "line" drawn by police.

And Jodi, my dog was never off leash, but I can tell you one thing...if you ever maced or pepper sprayed a dog I owned...you'd end up with far worse injuries yourself.

Joggers in Seattle are the most obnoxious and arrogant people around. No one cares if you are apparently keeping yourself in shape.

Then next jogger who bounds out in front of my car while I'm driving is going to be sporting a Mercedes emblem tattoo on their a**

okay, psychotic might have been appropriate.

The next unleashed dog that starts harrassing me while I jog is getting kicked in the face, hard.

Dog owners in Seattle are the most obnoxious and arrogant people around. No one cares if you apparently trained your dog. We don't want to be bothered by your stupid mutt. Follow the law and keep them on a leash, you are not above the law.

And scoop their poop off my effing sidewalk!

i am not referring to everyone on this blog by the way. psychotic might be a bit harsh.. i think i was just thinking of jodi on that one.

silence.kit- i agree wholeheartedly with your assertion that people on this blog are uptight. i would go so far as saying paranoid and a bit psychotic. I love ballard but would never refer someone who wanted to move to ballard to check out this website. i think the representation on myballard and ballard itself are much different then one would think. (and this is not a snipe at the geekyswedes as i love all the information they provide. i am really just referring to the commenting). Not until participating in this site have i have felt negatively toward my neighborhood and i fight the feeling of paranoia and negativity when i read this thing.. but something keeps bringing me back.. maybe sick fascination with human behavior via the net (anonymity)???

I am a reponsible owner and my smaller, friendly dog is leashed and I always pick up after him. I don't hate kids, but would truly appreciate it, since I have taken the time to make sure that my dog won't bite your child, that you teach your child how to properly approach a dog. Ask for permission to pet the dog, put your hand out to let the dog smell - don't let your child come running up, arms waving ready to pet and go straight for the top of the head. Even my well behaved dog becomes freaked out under that scenario.

myballard really brings out the best in people.

Jodi, you sound like you're barely human, but I'll reply anyway.

Actually, wait, I won't, because I can't decipher the puzzle that is your post. It's not a very coherent thought, and those two comments of mine weren't in the same sentence so I'm forced to ask, do you know what a sentence is? Are you confusing it with a paragraph?

I like Ballard. It has many things to offer and these people I'm referring to, these people that, as I stated bluntly, suck, well, I don't interact with them anywhere, but here. Let's just say I'm thankful. There's a younger crowd in this town that is much more palatable and not so up-tight.

silence.kit

in this country, your free to move if you don't like where you live. the people in ballard do not suck they're just passionate about certain subjects. you're included.

"A lot of people in Ballard suck"

and in the same sentence

"but to actually see the opinions of the citizens voiced here without a filter has been pretty pathetic"

pretty hypocritical to me, but yes, you don't believe in the leash law. proves my point. thanks!!!

@105

Thanks for keeping a eye out while you walk your dog!

Someone asked "who cares if I let my dog run at the north end of GG?" I do, because I like seeing the ducks in the ponds there. If there are lots of off leash dogs, the ducks will stay away and I will miss seeing them. It's not really an issue of harming the ducks, whether they are "wild" or not.

The park rules do provide benefits for some people, like me - they do not exist solely to make certain people unhappy. Right now the rules favor the people who like to see the ducks over the people who'd like their dog off leash. Presumably that can change if there is sufficient support for a change.

@animallvr

I don't own a dog. Sorry about your kid's face, but what were the circumstances? Did the dog go up to him/her or did they approach the dog?

jodi, you really need to rethink your violent streak here. Attacking someone's dog that walks past you is going to get you seriously hurt. Most dog owners really love their dogs and will defend them as if you were attacking their children.
As far as macing people goes, anyone who's been through Army basic training has been tear gassed with a lot nastier stuff than you can get in a can and is trained to deal with it and to keep attacking. I've been pepper sprayed and though it wasn't pleasant it didn't stop me from charging my attacker and taking him down. He wound up wearing the rest of his can of pepper spray, a bunch of bruises, and a pair of handcuffs. Don't think that your little can of pepper spray is some magic wand that will make any dog or person you don't like just go away.

Oh, and yes it was very cute when you sprayed that woman in the face at Golden Gardens because her dog wanted to sniff you. Psycho.

Between this thread and others, you know what I realized? A lot of people in Ballard suck. Now I know this is true everywhere, but to actually see the opinions of the citizens voiced here without a filter has been pretty pathetic. It's amazing what people will concern themselves with. Many of you sound like 85 year old former soccer moms with nothing better to do than worry about a *gasp* dog that has gone off-leash. Get a life.

Jodi, you sure are a horrible human being. What kind of life do you lead? Do you live in fear that the next Corgi you pass could be the end of you? Who could ever love you?

Ok, let's get real. Four years ago, Nickels announced the same thing, that Animal Control was going to hire more enforcement and crack down on off-leash dogs and non-licensed animals in the city. He hired 12 or 13 more enforcement officers. Hmmm. That's 12 or 13 more votes, plus their families...plus pleasing all the folks who, as we can read, don't appreciate off leash dogs. So, the reality is, not only is the City cracking down on law breakers, but it's also accumulating votes for an unpopular mayor. He is up for re-election this year.

The other reality is no one is without "sin." Let's see: raise your hand if you have never exceeded the speed limit in your car? Or if you have never ridden a bike without a helmet (it's the law in King County), or if you always stop for pedestrians standing at the corner? Or if you have never had several beers then gotten into your car? Or always turn on your lights when driving in the rain? Or licensed your indoor cat? Or pulled into a passenger load and parked for "just a few minutes?" Let's lighten up just a tish folks, we all find ways to push the limits.

As for dogs doing damage to "wildlife," studies have shown that non-indoor cats actually do more harm than dogs. Dogs mimic predators, which actually is a good thing for wildlife, particularly urban wildlife which do not have many predators, other than the cats. Cats actually catch and kill birds, most dogs don't.

Last, we should be thankful for the dog walkers. I can not tell you how many times I have called 9-11 when walking my dog (on leash) to tell about drug deals in GG Park, a body at Discovery, the pimp beating a hooker at the Shilshole boat launch...and the many many speeding cars down 24th NW.

"Children are not known to run up to strangers and jump on them or bite them. "

You haven't met my kids.

"Children do not usually defecate on the ground."

We have vagrants for that.

If Dogs Run Free, what's the big deal? Jeez people are uptight around here. Smoke a joint. I love having dogs run up to me and the amazing thing, in 40+ years of life, I've never been bitten once.

Seems to me that all the bragging about refusing to follow the law is going to provoke a lot more offleashness to be reported, won't it?

As a Dog groomer I can report that for the majority of those who are willing to pay 30-50 dollars to have their dog washed, they are for the most part really neglected or under socialized.
I would put my vote Pro Leash, dogs no matter how well trained always react like the animals they are when excited or nervous, owners need to be aware of their pets and their pet's actions/reactions.

if they charge and are a threat, you betcha! it's never happened though. so i don't agree w/your statement "They are much more likely to attack than a dog."

Ok Jodi -

So you are just a mean a** b**** who should be slapped with an animal cruelty conviction and thrown in prison with the rest of the violent aggressive as****

Any person on this thread preaching animal cruelty should know it carries a much harsher penalty than letting your dog run off leash at a park.

So if it is your argument that "these irresponsible dog owners" are breaking the law ...you need to check yourselves and take a good hard look at who the real bad people are.

Is it the dog owner giving her dog some much needed exercise or the person with some crazy phobia of dogs violently attacking them and threatening violence against the dog owner? Hmmm....

Oh and Jodi - do you pepper spray random people who come near you? They are much more likely to attack than a dog.

This whole thing doesn't really seem all that complicated. We should all agree on these 3 points:
1. Dog parks are for dogs, not toddlers.
2. Ball fields are for sports, not dogs.
3. Pick up your poop.

The only one that could be debated is whether you need to leash your dog if your out in the woods and I'd say that one depends on the dog.

jodi said: "i use pepper spray and it works wonders! nary a problem and it gets a reaction from the owners that know i’m coming. it’s ashame the dogs don’t get it."

You sound like a maladjusted Charles Bronson wannabe.

Was that you spraying mace at Golden Gardens a little while back? I thought you should know that the people involved and the Seattle Police are still looking for you and consider it an open case. I think the charges are something like aggravated assault with a weapon. The SPD that showed up couldn't care less about the dogs off leash but were very interested in catching you.

I LOVE that my comment is "awaiting moderation"...it's getting hot in here!!

Thanks, Geekyswedes for providing this forum...all of it!

Well, I have kids AND a dog...I must say that in taking my dog out I find and pick up a lot of broken glass, beer cans and the occasional hypo left behind by the homeless hanging out at our local park.

Obviously this is a polarizing issue.

But, hey, check it out:

http://www.shoredog.org/

new dogparks in Shoreline, one at Richmond Beach--in the off hours. Check the website for details.

Also, for Paul:

from:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw...

"Nothing argues like success, and in evolutionary terms, success is measured in such big, solid numbers. In that sense, dogs are ahead of the game in this town. Seattle has more dogs than children. Their species is being perpetuated better than ours.

There are about 125,000 dogs in Seattle, going by both the Seattle Animal Shelter's estimate and an independent analysis by The Seattle Times.

In the 2000 census, there were fewer than 90,000 children in Seattle."

@82-

"Drive to a dog park people!!!!" i think that sums it up for a lot of people. why should we have to drive to a dog park? we're paying for the sh*te school your lazy kid is attending.

that being said, we leash our dog 90% of the time and always clean up after her. some rules, though, are overly draconian.

we love taking her to the off-leash parks, but nothing is better than watching her run like the wind when we head down to the oregon coast.

additionally, all this fear of dog biting is a tad dramatic.

And yeah, keep your dogs out of the north end of Golden Gardens. It is not okay for your dog to be there messing with the wildlife or barking up against the cliff so that it echoes all over the park. Leave the ducks in peace.
btw, love dogs. used to have one till the kids grew up and the pets died. now i love not having responsibility and will wait till i'm ready for an ankle biter

Had a neighbor w/7 dogs once. They came into my fenced side yard every night to knock over the garbage can. Til I put that bbq rib in a rat trap on top of the can. Whew! Ya shoulda heard the yelpin. All the neighbor hood dogs sure did hear it! Never had a problem again in that neighborhood. ha ha.

yes, the idiots whining about how they wont obey the law cuz they are so special and their dog is special and their dog dsnt s**t or bite or knock people down..... i just might have something in my pocket worse than pepper spray or a rat trap.

I wasn't going to share this but all this back and forth is wearisome. Keeping your dog leashed is not only a benefit to others but to your own dog as well.

My neighbor never leashed his dog because "she's a good pup - she's friendly and comes when called" Neighbor's wife was walking home down the street, sees husband and dog and calls for her dog, Yup - that dog did come when called - right in front of a car rounding the corner. I was there, I heard the dog scream, I saw the young man driving the car burst into tears when he realized what had happened. Yes, the woman was a idiot and I don't think much better of her husband.

Moral of the story - please leash your dog; you don't know who the idiot will be.

For people reading these comments and this article, do you feel differently about playfields vs. natural parks?

For example...do you feel differently about the rules when in regards to the areas around BCC vs. Discovery/Carkeek parks? Do you think the issues and rules should be the same at each place or do you think they should be different?

@88 I like your thinking, and it brings up a good point on owner responsibility. I've been to 3 different dog parks, dozens of times, and not once have I ever stepped in poo in the dog area.

Maybe dog owners (at least at the dog park) are more courteous than some on this blog give us credit for.

ballard dog owner-

it's been effective so far. the dogs i've encountered don't even give it a second thought to come at me again. i don't plan on changing especially after reading some of these posts. as i said, i don't know if the dog is curious or what. it's not a chance i'm willing to take.

A crackdown is not a good long-term solution to the problem. Most people who let their dogs off-leash will just try to be sneakier about it, and those who do stop unleashing their dogs will just start again once the crackdown ends.

With regards to the field at Ballard Community Center, I would like to see the entire athletic field fenced off, and dogs be allowed to run off-leash during restricted hours - for example, early in the morning before kids start arriving at Adams, and later in the evening when all of the sports activities have wrapped up for the day. If it turned out that dog owners were leaving behind poop and holes in the field, then by all means revoke off-leash privileges and start fining people.

The people I know who let their dogs off-leash at the community center athletic field do a good job of policing themselves when it comes to things like poop pickup, stopping dogs from digging, and even shunning owners who bring dogs that are not well-suited for off-leash group play.

I'm not saying that there aren't irresponsible dog owners out there. Just pointing out that probably a lot of people who live in this area would like the best of both worlds - a safe place for both dogs and people to play in the neighborhood. Judging by the number of folks who let their dogs run free despite the hefty fines that they risk being stuck with, the City's ten or so dog parks aren't an adequate solution to the problem of how to exercise dogs in urban areas.

More local play areas for dogs might help alleviate some of the problems associated with dog parks - lots of unfamiliar dogs in one area, and all sorts of issues associated with a lack of owner responsibility, ie leaving poop behind and not monitoring the animals' behavior. My guess is that if dog owners had access to local parks, they would take pretty good care of the fields. And since they wouldn't have to travel far, it would be mostly local residents - people who could get to know each other, get to know the other dogs, and establish some sort of routine.

: ) Mickey you watch WAY too much TV.

"The hackles are up on their dog, showing their dog is uncomfortable for some reason."

Scout -- This actually doesn't always mean that a dog is uncomfortable. It often happens when dogs are excited too, such as meeting a new dog. People usually think it signals possible aggression, but not always.



About the whole ticket thing....thank goodness. This is long overdue. You (various dog owners) might think it is unfair that you cannot run your dogs in ballfields, on beaches, or in natural parks. I know -- your dog always minds perfectly, so there is no reason this should apply to you. We live in a society where we're making laws based on what is good for the majority of people (or we hope the laws are being made that way). You are provided with multiple off-leash areas to run your dog and if that doesn't work, then you need to find a acceptable alternative (which does NOT include ignoring the law). These rules are there for a reason. They are protecting children, marine mammals, fish, adults, seniors, other dogs, and other wild animals found in natural parks.

Stop thinking your dog is perfect. Stop being selfish and follow the rules.

-- dog owner with 2 on-leash, off-beach pooches

MT - It's the law. Bummer for you.

And I pity the person whose dog injures a musician in the hands or arms. Major lawsuit worth more than just a few thousand dollars, especially if the musician happens to play in the Seattle Symphony.

People, grow some balls. If the off chance that you could get bitten by a dog really scares you that much, go see a therapist. You must know nothing about dogs and their behavior. They watch your body language and listen to your tone of voice. What you are forgetting is that you are stronger and have more control.

I walk my dogs off leash and I'm most definitely going to.

I don't hate dogs. I hate your dog's poo on our students' shoes EVERY day after recess at West Woodland Elementary. Kids play on that field. It's for kids, not your dog, and there are signs clearly posted at every entry to the playground that it is not an off leash playground for your pet. I know your dogs need to exercise and it's relaxing after a hard days work to throw a ball to Fido, but don't do it at my school because whether you are responsible or not, your dog's poo comes into our classrooms at an annoyingly unbelievable rate and we have to spend instructional time dealing with it, and our custodian spends half an hour every morning "walking the field" to eliminate poo from dogs that shouldn't be there in the first place. Drive to a dog park people!!!!

Hey Maria - Any dog that bites and does real damage will be a losing propostion to its owner. If I were the dog owner, I wouldn't want to take that chance. But arrogant people who think they are above the law may not be able to comprehend the obvious.

I am happy to see that they are finally cracking down on unleashed dogs, and hope that they include Adams ball field. My beloved dog recently passed away, too. We passed the ball field twice a day on our walks. Countless times, unleashed dogs ran through the fence and up to us. Twice, she was attacked. When I wanted to let her run, we went to the dog park in upper Golden Gardens or at Magnusen park (to swim). We pay for beautiful off leash parks where our dogs can run free--safely. Use them. Respect our community parks that post no offleash dogs.

Also--another heads up re: offleash parks--dogs must be licensed and current on shots.

i just got back from exercising my dog off-leash on an empty city playfield.

i smoked a joint while he was running around.

i shudder to think of all the childrens' lives i've ruined.

"If it does I will be more than happy to haul your arrogant ass into court and sue you for everything you’ve got."

Mickey the chance of you getting a settlement of a few thousand over the medical bills is slim to none.

Our 20 week old Aussie is being trained to good behavior (we owners are being trained as well, learning how to continue good doggy behavior).

Too often (even at the Ballard Farmer's Market) dogs are on a retractable leash that allows their dog to run up to our pup.

We stand in front of our dog, asking they restrain their dog because ours is a puppy and just learning doggy signals. The usual response in Ballard is "Sorry. Didn't mean to". The "He/she is really a friendly dog and just wants to say Hi", doesn't cut it. The hackles are up on their dog, showing their dog is uncomfortable for some reason.

Dog parks? Had to quit going with our last Aussie, as far too many unmannered and aggressive behaviored dogs were running wild with no owners control. It is dirty, unsanitary, uncontrolled and scary for dogs not into running crazy amongst strange dogs, children and uninterested owners.

Perhaps the division fence should be to separate big and small wild dogs from big and small voice/signal controlled dogs.

Our pup isn't perfect, but we are continually training her to have a purpose other than running, digging, nipping, jumping, etc.

Off leash? Yes. Water Play? Yes. But it is not the dog's fault for attacking/running out of control/leaving poop/ peeing on your newly established lawn/harassing other dogs and teensy children. It is the owners.

Wake up law breaker bloggers. Work together to influence the regulations.

i love dogs

@Jodi

If a dog is truly aggressive, pepper spray may make it more aggressive and could end up making the situation much worse for you. If its just a friendly dog saying hi then your a jerk.

Try Direct Stop. Its a much smarter deterrent to be used on dogs - people not so much- but dogs yes.

One thing I didn't see mentioned here is the public health issue. Dogs that are offleash usually aren't picking up after themselves, if you know what I mean. Granted, most of those dogs are well cared for, wormed regularly, and are parasite free. But there are always a small handful that are carrying a nice parasite load in their gut ready to share with the next dog that comes along. And many of these parasites are communicable to humans-hence the human health risk. Also unscooped poop spikes fecal coliform bacteria in local waterways-including on and around beaches. These bacterial blooms strip oxygen out of the water and lead to fish kills, something our fragile system here really dooesn't need. So it's really not a nanny state issue so much as it is a health and environmental one. I guess collecting the fees is just a bonus for the city. Personally, I'm just glad that there's someone out there to enforce these rules, even if people don't always see why they may be necessary.

Whoops--that should be @68. That was me being really stupid. :)

Also, @69: I can't figure out if you're being really clever, or really stupid. Either way: kudos.

If you're offended by the sight of an off-leash dog, the obvious solution according to LostAbbott (post 17) is to wind up and give the dog a hearty kick in the head.

Sure, there's a law against kicking uncontrolled animals. But if you think that law is stupid, go ahead and break it.

I kid. But in all seriousness: dog owners, you're not above the law. If you make the decision to own an animal while living in a city, it's your duty to abide by the community's restrictions on that animal. There's no wiggle room here, and your particular critter is *not* exempt.

--Someone who has found more than a few piles of someone else's dog's shit in his lawn

"For those of you who hate children and think your animals are superior to little human beings, please move to a deserted island. We don’t need anymore childhaters."

I don't think anyone expressed hatred for children, or claimed superiority for dogs. Obviously a sensitive subject, huh.

That being said it might be easier if all the breeders just moved to the suburbs and left the rest of us alone with our homeless and wild packs of dogs......

"There are more dogs than children in this city"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Are you seriously typing that with a straight face? If so, please site your sources. I think all the overcrowded schools in Seattle would beg to differ.

@59, I totally agree as I was raised with the belief that only certain laws apply to me too.

Why should we have to leash our dogs? Isn't it more important that we are happy than for you to be 'so inconvenienced' as to have to go somewhere else? If you don't like being in a park with dogs running around, go to another park!

As dog owners we understand unconditional love. Our dogs never complain and (usually) follow our commands. But people are so demanding and always put their needs first! Think of someone else for a change. We should be able to unleash our dogs wherever we want since this is about our happiness.

@59 gets it. You others are so selfish!

Thank you, Mickey!!

For those of you who refuse to follow the law and leash your dogs, I sincerely hope yours doesn't bite me. If it does I will be more than happy to haul your arrogant ass into court and sue you for everything you've got.

For those of you who hate children and think your animals are superior to little human beings, please move to a deserted island. We don't need anymore childhaters.

DF--

"These are people who are totally clueless when it comes to dog behavior. I suspect many of these clueless owners are the one’s who are complaining about this law."

bingo!!!!

Nidwaldner,

Children are known to run up to strangers and grab them or touch them. Children usually spread fecal matter to things they touch. The perceived righteousness you have because you reproduced is truly disgusting.

I smile at every kid I see, I like them but they are a huge spreader of communicable disease, thus they are equatable.

Jules/Gordy--I'm with you.

I have a large breed rescue dog and she is contantly approached by other off-leash dogs whether at the park or just walking on the street. I'm so tired of other owners getting upset with ME when I tell them to get their dog because mine may get aggressive.

These are people who are totally clueless when it comes to dog behavior. I suspect many of these clueless owners are the one's who are complaining about this law.

I will get a ticket every week to off leash my dog. It is worth the risk. Just hope he doesn't bite you!

@59

"This allows for a much happier existence for my dog, wife, and I"

You don't sound very happy...

@58 My post on the subject @ 39 was not to draw a comparison of the two, but rather a distinction, that the two wild at play should be segregated!

Again, my Dog is always on a leash and I pull her tight in the presence of children.

Again, and again, Dog's off leash in the city is not good at all.

I was raised with the belief that only certain laws apply to me, so naturally, you'll see me at the park with my dog off leash. This allows for a much happier existence for my dog, wife, and I than if we were constantly attached to both ends fo a leash. I know what the law is and conciously choose not to follow it. I am more than happy to pay the fine if ticketed. I hope my friendly lawlessness does not disrupt those of you that are busy passing the weight of the scary world on to your children.

I cannot believe the posts comparing children to dogs. Children are not known to run up to strangers and jump on them or bite them. Children do not usually defecate on the ground. The animosity towards children in this city is truly disgusting.

@56 Children are a higher priority than dogs as they should be, but there is still room for more dog parks. They should be designed like the one at North Acres. Instead of a large area where the dogs pack together, it is a series of paths that allow for running room while naturally discouraging dogs from all congregating in one area.

There are more dogs than children in this city and the dog parks are gross and filled with Guardia. Honestly, I pay just the same amount of taxes for parks, but I only access to a small amount of parks. I go to parks meetings and request more dog parks, but I am told that we will be getting more ball fiends or tennis courts.
It’s true that I seem ill-behaved dogs all the time, but I also see ill-behaved children far more often.

Jules-we also have two large breed dogs and totally agree with what you said. I was at Ballard Camera today and they said All the Best is supposed to open any time now.

@51.. I was one of those people that was bit by a dog that was "a family dog", a "friendly dog". I was running and was approached by 3-4 dogs at once. Thankfully my hubby was there and was fighting them off, but the smallest one came up and bit me as I was running away. I had to go to the hospital, etc. etc.

As time went on, all I asked is that they pay the expenses that I had to pay out of pocket. They threw a stink, got all high and mighty abut their dogs, and decided to call their home owners insurance to have some back-up "in case I decided to sue". My intention was to never sue them.

Anyway, the insurance co. involvement led to the dog owners losing their home owners insurance and forcing them to take out a larger liability for their dogs. I also got a large settlement from the arrangement (not by sing them), much more than had they just paid me the amount at first.

Their dog supposively(sp?) was a "dog that would never hurt anyone, a friendly dog". Dog owners: you never know what your dog could do, what other dog, person, child can do or say that will provoke the dog. It could be the smallest thing.

A leash on these dogs (or a fence for that part!) would of prevented this. And please, if you are asked to put your dog on a leash, please don't get offended... you never know how that person feels about dogs and we don't know your dog, it's for the safety of us and your dog.

For those of you who don't see the problem with letting your dogs run free in parks or on the beach then I guess you wouldn't have a problem with children running around and playing in the dog-only offleash dog parks in the city. Or maybe some kids or adults would like to use dog-only areas for launching small rockets and flying radio controlled model planes next to your dog. Oh, do you think your dog might have a problem with that? The city has already done quite a lot to extend certain park areas to dog owners for the express purpose of allowing them to play unleashed. The issue with the beach is that dogs chase the waterfowl and may even harm them, it's not a poop issue as far as I know. How is keeping your dog on a leash a problem? I think it would actually avoid a lot of problems and keep your dog safer as well. The leash laws are there for a purpose which is to keep everyone safe, they are not there to penalize dogs or dog owners.

thanks ernie!

My husband used to be a lawyer for an insurance company. Every client he defended had a dog "that would never hurt anyone." Now they were facing lawsuits for injuries their dog inflicted on a person. Legally, you are strictly liable for the actions of your dog. If you wouldn't worry about a fine from the city, you should worry about a lawsuit that would take away your assets, your house or garnish your future wages.

By the way for all the dog owners that think its ok to use a non-dog park for their dog, when "no one else is there." What if I want to play there & you are there? I'm not going to send my toddler to play on the field when your dog is running off leash. So many times we walk past the BCC play fields because dogs are there so my kid can't play. I don't take my kid to the dog park, please don't bring your dog to the playfields!

Yeah for the city for finally enforcing this. I hope they make alot of money doing it!

when a dog comes running at me say if i'm out running.

i have no idea what it's intent is and i don't wait to find out.

@ 48 Use pepper spray when approached by dogs, or to let people know you are coming?

i use pepper spray and it works wonders! nary a problem and it gets a reaction from the owners that know i'm coming. it's ashame the dogs don't get it.

Jules,

I just drove by and as I was admiring how good the building looks now I noticed that the sign said they were opening in "March"

silence kit.

explain that to my kid that has a dog bit scar on their face from a dog owner like yourself w/the same selfish rebel attitude. you disgust me!

As for dogs on beaches, while I don't know the official response from the city, I would guess that it has to do with the aquatic life. If there are dogs on beaches, especially splashing in the water, they'd run off the waterfowl or marine mammals that occasionally make their way into the tidelands (beyond what the human presence does). The city may have other reasons.

btw, does anyone know the date for "All The Best" to open on Market? thank you.

i am an owner, as some of you know, of 2 very large breed dogs. We follow the rules, laws, etc... in the city but prefer to load up, jump in the car, and head to the mountains to romp when we can! they love swimming in the streams, playing on the trails, etc...just being "a dog".

my 2 pet peeves however, are, poop. i pick up large amounts of poop everyday and consider this part of being a dog owner. pretty simple. easy. and considerate, sometimes i even pick up others' dog poop to be nice. because it makes me sick to see it.

my other peeve is the" running up to my dogs dog"that is off leash and randomly comes running up on my Rottweilers. Mine are always on leash and it has been happening so much now that i just look at the other owner and tell them, "whatever my dogs do, however they react, is simply bc your dog is off leash. (it is very intimidating to dogs when some are on leash and others are off leash, they instantly get defensive.) and we continue to walk on by, or through, them. i just want the off leash owner to know that if my dog tears his dog up it was not bc my dogs were off leash. i know it is still my dog that will get into trouble, but definatley not my dog as the originator of the aggression.
(although due to her breed she will be the bad guy here)
dogs laws have many sides. as with most things that are argued here, it is common sense. if you CHOOSE to own a dog and be a good owner, there are things that you do and do not do. personally, we are dog park snobs. i do not like dog specific parks for many many reasons but my main reason is there are way too many people who have dogs that do not know the first thing about owning a dog plus if the dog parks are not kept up there is a high chance of disease, etc...as so many of them are sharing the same space.

happy dog owning! my dogs really make me happy and i dig them very much. really sorry some of you have had bad dog experiences.

woof! woof!

Unfortunately, like a lot of things in life, we have to cater to the lowest common denominator. I'm sure everyone on this blog has a well-trained dog and and we all always carry poopbags. I do too.

Come on folks - lets be realistic. We see people everyday who can't be bothered to teach their children manners, much less work with their dogs to train them. So like it or not, I'm in support of this law.

Yeah flattened by that Bus from portland bringing in the homeless

To the smugly defiant posters above who proudly proclaim they will continue to allow their dogs to run off leash: don't complain when your mutt is flattened by a car or truck. Couldn't happen to your dog? Wrong, it happens every day in Seattle. Don't bother putting up your lost dog fliers either, nobody cares ...

Also, I like the idea of off leash areas, but they don't really work, and have stopped using them.

Most people ignore their dog and don't issue corrections to aggressive behavior. Of course, in a group setting with new comers and people/dogs often leaving there is a constant shuffle of who wants to be top dog. To some extent this is natural, but when left to their own, as many are, it gets out of control.

Also, there are people who just don't get that its DOG space! They bring in toddlers to play with toys of their own. I'll never forget the look some grandma gave me because my dog hassled her little tot over a toy that squeaked and whistled. I got control of my dog, but I was not appreciative of the look she gave me, or of her 3 or 4 year olds presence. These parks exist to give animals breed for physical activity a chance to burn off some energy so their natural instincts are not so obnoxious at home.

I'll put my dog on a leash when you put your cat on a leash. Until then, catch me, fine me, I'll do it again.

I hope the homeless meth addicted crack pooches are still allowed off leash

Everyone, particularly stupid people who don't train their dog well, thinks THEIR dog will always behave when off-leash. Amazingly, this is not the case, and the city has decided to err on the side of safety and sanitation and insist that dogs be kept on-leash except in designated areas, and that owners pick up all of their dog's poop.

Maybe what they should do is raise the fine to $500, which is then distributed to everyone with a hundred yards of the offending dog. $500 is the sort of fine that no-one wants to risk, and immediate public redistribution cuts out the "They're only doing this to RAISE REVENUE!!!" whiners.

I forgot there was a small dog area at Golden Gardens. I think I had the same experience there, it was empty so I let him run with the big boys. Maybe I'll go check it out again, though.

You are right about Magnuson, its a great park... and pretty much the only one worth going to in my view. But its a hassle to get there, especially on the weekend. Oh, well... it's usually Greenlake on the leash for us these days.

Hooray for the crackdown! Finally!!!

@24 is exactly the kind of dog owner that makes *actually enforcing* the laws about dogs necessary. Their position is that “the law is dumb and should not apply to ME, my dog is fine”. Well, the car prowlers thinks that the law should not apply to them. You’re both wrong.

If you think that the laws are wrong then start a petition of something. Until then, follow the rules or pay the fine -because whether you know it or not your off-leash dog IS a problem –you just have your head somewhere too un-sunlit to realize it. Here's and idea: how about respecting other people's right to enjoy public spaces according to the laws.

PS. you can’t eat your treat until I say your name.

I've seen a harbor seal pup killed by an offleash dog at Golden Gardens, and unleashed dogs going after spawning salmon in Carkeek. That's what pushed me in favor of leash laws on beaches.

I'm not sentimental about it, I would just prefer things like that happen less often. And hey, if you have sarcasm or anti-environmentalist venom welling up in you, save it and just take a walk with your dog.

Boxcar,

Although not at all convenient to ballard, Magnuson Park has a really great small dog area, there are usually (on the weekends) 10 to 30 little ankle biters running around having a great time, our dog loves it and she is pretty shy.

Golden Gardens has a small dog area now too, but nobody really uses it so we just run with the big dogs there.

I think this is great. I always have my dog on a leash. Nothing spooks her more than a dog (off leash) that runs up to her and gets in her face.

Last two weeks, I've tracked poop from some other dog into my house cause some fool won't pick it up. I'd love to smear some of my dogs poh on their carpet. Far more appropriate than a fine!

As for letting my dog swim. I break this rule, when no one else is around, so we don't bother anyone. Shes always on a big training lead, and I usually swim with her. She is a water dog, and has to get her dose of dips! Whats the point of webbed feet, if you can not swim?

I see both sides of this debate, and 99% of the time I follow the law, and leash my dog. When a larger, unleashed dog approaches my smaller dog, conflict usually follows. Dogs seem to be more territorial and untrusting of other dogs when leashed. I guess I'd prefer it if people leashed their dogs when other people or dogs are nearby.

But can we get some dog areas for smaller dogs? My dog has been bullied and attacked so often at the dog parks, I just can't go to them anymore. Now it seems it has made him the aggressive one. Just divide the existing parks with one fence, and let the Rotts and German Shepherds sized dogs play on one side, and the terriers and mini sized dogs on the other?

Dogs on playfields leave behind ruts, holes and piles, which pose a hazard long after the doggies have gone home. Try playing soccer or any other sport in that environment.

Concerning the north end of Golden Gardens -- there are some of us that appreciate seeing the waterfowl that hang out in the ponds and near the beach. Unleashed dogs and waterfowl don't mix well.

sezdog // Feb 28, 2009 at 12:01 pm

I posted most of this comment on the phinneywood blog, but wanted to add that gooner's note that a lot of dogs absolutely hate off-leash dogs approaching them when they themselves are unleash. It puts them in a vulnerable position.

I have a dog and I’m really glad they’re cracking down on people violating the leash laws. Seattle has some of the best off-leash parks in the country, so I really feel like there’s not much excuse. I do wish there was a salt water beach area though.

Allowing your dog off-leash in an unfenced area puts your dog at risk. All those people who lose their dogs because it ran off? I’m willing to bet they thought it’d be fine in an unfenced area. You open yourself up for liability if anything happens to another person or dog. The court won’t order that you be euthanized. It’ll be your dog. As for beaches, there’s the Marine Mammal Protection Act. And unless the seal very young, your dog could seriously lose a fight with a one. Pinnipeds can lunge quickly and have some impressive teeth.

Some people are phobic of dogs and have the right to expect dogs to be on leash outside of dog parks. I witnessed one poor guy become almost hysterical when someone had their dog off-leash and it approached him. His absolute terror just made the dog more interested and the owner couldn’t recall the dog. If it had been on a leash it never would have happened.

On the flipside, an off-leash dog park is exactly that—a dog park. It’s not a place for you to jog, ride your bike, play ball, allow your children to run around shrieking or crying, picnic, or wear clothes you don’t want to get dirty.

I was pretty agnostic about the subject until two days ago when my mother-in-law was walking near one of the off-leash areas. A dog owner, who was clearly intending on using the off-leash area, turned her dog loose at the street. It proceeded to run a full speed towards the entrance to the off-leash area, it just so happened that my mother-in-law was in the path and she was mowed down by the dog receiving minor scrapes as she feel to the ground. This would be a good time to add that she is in her 70s and is recovering from cancer surgery she had a few weeks ago.

My point here is that dogs are animals and unless they are on a leash or somehow contained you (the owner) is not in full control of your animal. This dog appeared to be a great dog with a loving owner and had no intention of hurting anyone but dogs don’t understand physics, they don’t contemplate the results of their actions. That’s the owners responsibility and clearly this owner made a very poor decision that could have cost her dearly.

The owner was somewhat apologetic although my mother-in-law was not in much of a mood for chit chat. This incident could have scared her off from walking in the parks, fortunately she has chosen to arm herself with her cell phone and animal control phone numbers.

I am a dog owner, who keeps my dogs on leash.

1. I would really rather the police be stopping the break ins, car prowls, ticketing the speeding jack a**es around ballard high (mostly the students, and a couple of teachers), etc. I don't love the out of control dogs, but would rather see the money put to better use.
2. seriously, why cant we use the north end of golden gardens, or even somewhere with access to greenlake. As of now there is nowhere to go to let your dog swim that doesn't involve quite a drive. :(

@17 I agree this law is stupid and should be broken. There is no reason my dog shouldn't be exercised at the Ballard community center play field when there aren't children or others using the park for sports.

People always make a big deal about poop and aggressive dogs whenever dog topics come up but the reality is there are a s**t load of dogs in Seattle and few problems.

Most dog owning Seattlites are environmentally conscious and therefore are diligent about picking up after their dogs. Dogs are a social animal and unless trained otherwise or treated poorly the vast majority of dogs are friendly. If you are constantly in fear of being attacked by a dog your fears are unfounded. You are much more likely to be a victim of violence by another human.

To the mom complaining about poop around the Ballard community center - you are making that up to press your point, it is simply not true.

We should follow city's like Portland, San Fransisco and Bellingham which allow dogs off leash in parks at designated times of the day - most often early morning and late evening when others aren't normally using the park.

If your argument is that everyone should be able to use the parks...you are D**n right. I too should be able to recreate in the parks that I pay taxes for and when there is a big open field that no one is using I should and I will run my dogs there.

I don't really understand why so many dog owners think these rules don't apply to their dog, because it is trained or special or whatever. I have had numerous friends bitten by off leash dogs whose owners thought the very same thing and of course they said there dog was nice and never bit anyone before. Well you know what, for the safety of all us I want to thank those dog owners that do leash their dogs!

As a dog owner, I fully support this initiative. The truth is that most dogs are NOT obedient enough to not run up to people or another dog when they are off leash. I love my dog, but news flash dog owners - not everyone has to love your dog! Some people are afraid or just are not into having an encounter no matter how friendly it looks to us. Also, as has been mentioned, this can create an issue with other dogs who are on leashes.

The point is - we live in the CITY where the people and animal density requires us to follow more restrictive rules. If you want to have your dog roam free, move out of the city.

We visited San Francisco with our dog a few years back. The law there was a dog must be under control, whether leash control or voice control, and the owner must be carrying a leash, in case it becomes necessary to use it to control the dog. Otherwise, have at it! We met lots of dogs and dog owners and it all seemed to be working quiet peacefully.

Like angelatini, I just wish leashed dogs were allowed on the beaches in Seattle. I pick up his poo - so what's the problem? I don't understand this law - kind of makes me want to move to Oregon.

As for the off-leash issue in general...it's kind of a dumb law. Owners should be penalized for having unruly dogs off-leash, not picking up after them, etc. - but not for just having them off-leash. Penalize for the undesired outcome, not for the "fear" of an undesired outcome. If a dog runs up to a runner - the owner should be fined. If the dog is happy to calmly jog alongside the owner, why shouldn't he be allowed offleash.

thanks for the heads-up, swedes!

...but you'll still find me cracking a beer and playing fetch with the pooch at gilman playfield every night when the days get long again...

living the life of an outlaw, i suppose.

I posted on the phinney blog on this same issue.. but there has been many times when I "used" to go to discovery park to go running the loop trail. But after one to many encounters with off leash dogs, nearly knocking me off the trail (even in those lovely steep embankments areas) I have had to stop. The owner of said dogs no where in sight cause the dog is so far ahead, randomly chasing people. And with me being slightly terrified of dogs, it didnt help any.

And gosh forbid if you say anything to the dog owner. You get called all sorts of rude things. Heck more than half the owners of the dogs that ran me off trail didnt even apologize.

When the las is stupid you break it. I am sure all of you complainers here speed on a regular basis. Or have set off fireworks in the city limits not of the 4th. OR maybe have crossed the street not in a crosswalk? Yeah. Stupid laws are there to keep the stupid people in control.

If you have trained your dog well, socialized him with other dogs and pay a little bit of attention they can be perfectly fine, of leash anywhere, hell I sometimes walk my dog down the street off the leash, but he is always at my heel when I do so. At the park I let him run free because he will leave other dogs alone when I tell him and come when I call.

It is not that hard to train your dog in this manner and they even have schools so that you can get your dog trained. As far as i am concerned these laws are for people who don't train their dogs and can't control them. I don't fit there so I ignore the laws.

At what point do we practice tolerance? Should we start issuing tickets to the parents in the neighborhood park when their kid runs into the street after a ball? What are you teaching your child when you verbally accost someone with an off-leash dog?

Good neighbors look out for each other....they DON'T go for the jugular.

Now if we could just do something about the folks who let their chickens run free. Send your off-leash dogs to my hood, there are plenty of free roaming chickens to eat.

revenue generation

I am a dog owner and find this a positive thing.

Now if they could just deal with the people living IN the bathrooms at Gilman Playground.

Angelatini: I also think leashed dogs should be allowed, they are probably less of a health risk then all the un-vaccinated kids that these tin-foil hat type moms have out there.

It's kind of ironic, but as a dog owner this is great news to me! Well, maybe not so ironic since I'm a dog owner who obeys the law ...

Angelatini, I agree with you about the beach. I understand not allowing dogs at Golden Gardens in the sandy area where all the kids play (although, I wonder about all those gaping diapers ... how is THAT better for the environment than my dog's scooped-up-and-tossed-away droppings?) ... but, why can't we let our dogs play on the northern end of the beach, further away from the crowds and ROCKY. The dogs don't mind the rocks, but the babies and sunbathers sure don't seem to want to hang out there. Why can't WE use it?

Has anyone noticed that right next to the sign that says that dogs aren't allowed on the BCC fields there is a poop scoop bag dispenser?

They are obviously being realistic about the whole issue.

We walk by there (on leash) all the time in the early morning and there are often people playing catch with their dogs in those fields. I have never seen a problem, and if they pick up their poop, who really cares.

Obviously if there were other people around trying to play on the fields then it would be totally rude to let you dog run amok.

gooner has a good point though, don't let your off leash dog run right up to a dog on leash as a freak-out could easily follow.

I don't think there is any 'over-reaction' in asking people to obey laws right next to a school.
when I tell little johnny to leave our dog on the while other people are blatantly fetching right next to me, he's going to think all laws are optional.
unfortunately there are also way too many people who do not clean up after their dogs--again, right next to the school.

@7 Because it's against city ordinances, so don't do it, 'mkay? It's really that simple.

Why the hell are some people on this blog so damn uptight? What is wrong with having a dog off the leash in a fricking park?

"Thank you for teaching my children that rules do not need to be followed, and when approached concerning you lack of judgement, foul words are your norm."

Do you think you might be overreacting, just a little? Good God, you might actually have to do some parenting and tell them that the rules should be followed and those people are behaving incorrectly! Is that so hard?

As a dog owner, I fully support this move by the city. If you want to let your dog run free, live in the country.

i am all for this... and yes, animallvr, i totally agree with you. i walk through there with my dog, onleash, and a lot dogs that are on a leash HATE IT when a dog that is off leash comes up to them. they are restricted while the other dog isn't. for many dogs, mine included, it makes them nervous and sometimes aggressive. it isn't fair to those of us that are responsible dog owners, and it doesn't matter if the off leash dog is the nicest dog in the world.

I still don't understand not allowing dogs on the beach. My dog recently passed away, so it's clearly not an issue for me now. I am a responsible dog owner who always kept my dog on leash and cleaned up after him, but he loved the sand and trotting in the water. I was always deathly afraid of some massive ticket just for letting him have some puppy joy. I just can't see the reason.

This is great news! The parks are for everyone. Keeping dogs on leashes helps make this possible.

I am so fed up with irresponsible dog owners letting their mutts run free at the athletic fields behind the Ballard Community Center. It is CLEARLY posted that dogs are not allowed on the playfields, yet every day I see the obvious illiterate not only demonstrating their ignorance but their lack of restraint, disregard for other playfield patrons and disobedience to civil law. Thank you for teaching my children that rules do not need to be followed, and when approached concerning you lack of judgement, foul words are your norm. PLEASE, Seattle Parks Department, monitor the Ballard Community Center playfields!

Can you post a link to the press release? I haven't been able to find it online.