Any owner of a large running dog knows they really need to be able to do that, and in this weather it needs to be around water.
It is also true that for many people, including very young children, large dogs running free are a distinct threat.
The Sacramento solution seems to be the hope that someday an enterprising organization will purchase a nice chunk of land, enclose it with fencing, construct a small lake and picnic area for dog owners and running free dogs to enjoy.
It would probably be a moneymaker.
The long leash of the law
Owners who think their dogs need, and deserve, to run free often are breaking rules
By Cynthia Hubert - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, July 13, 2007
To get to the scene of the crime, follow the echoes of barking dogs.
Over the levee from Glen Hall Park, beyond the cheering softball players, past the sign that says "All Dogs Must Be On Leash," people and their canine companions, carrying chew toys and sodden tennis balls, have gathered along the American River to play.
As a searing sun dips below the horizon, they eye a stranger warily.
Park ranger? Overprotective mom? Agitator or ally?
You've got to look over your shoulder when you're breaking the law.
To leash or not to leash?
It's a question that provokes intense emotions in dog lovers and dog loathers alike.
In California and across the country, the issue is gaining more attention as open spaces are gobbled up by urban growth, leaving pet owners fewer spots to unleash their furry friends.
Many dog owners insist that their canine companions need and deserve places to run free, so they let them loose. Others complain that such canine freedom infringes on the space and safety of unsuspecting people and even other dogs.
"Dogs do need to run," says Randall Lockwood, an animal behaviorist and researcher with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "But we need a solution to accommodate both responsible dog owners and those who prefer not to be interrupted by dogs, or have their dogs interrupted by other dogs."
In Lockwood's mind, the solution is more fenced "dog parks," where pet owners can bring their animals to roam unleashed.
The parks have sprouted around the nation during the past decade, including in the Sacramento area, which has at least 10 of them with more in the works. Other than in these designated areas, allowing dogs off leash is illegal, and that seems reasonable, Lockwood says.
"What a dog needs is interaction and socialization and exercise," Lockwood says. "They can get that at a dog park."
