Off Leash Laws Debated
Jeannie Sprague-Bentley

The Coast News,
April 25, 2002

Encinitas - Mayor Christy Guerin met with the members of the Parks and Recreation Commission last week to discuss the future of dog parks and off-leash hours at the public parks in the city.

The meeting on April 16 was in response to growing concern from some area residents bout the commission's recent decision to recommend to the City Council off=leash hours at local parks in the city.

The commission voted 4-2 on March 19 to recommend to the City Council off-leash hours for Glen Park in Cardiff for a six-month trial period.

Guerin said she found out about the commission's decision to propose off-leash hours for dogs at Glen Park in Cardiff when she "read it in the paper the next morning."

If it had been approved by the council, the park would have been the third in the city to offer off-leash hours.

The city currently allows dogs to run unleashed at Orpheus Park in Leucadia and Encinitas Viewpoint Park near city Hall. But may dog owners say the hours are too inconvenient. The park allows dogs to be leash-free from 6 to 7:30 a.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m.

With the growth of the city ands smaller yards, owners say there are fewer places to go.

And last year, the Cardiff School Board voted to ban dogs at the George Berkich park that doubles as the playground for students of Cardiff Elementary.

Some parents of the students were concerned about their children playing with dogs and where owners did not clean up after their pets.

People and Dogs Zones (PADZ), an nonprofit group promoting dog "zones" and off-leash hours, has been working with both the city and the Parks and Recreation Commission for the past several months on finding places people can take their dogs.

Members of PADZ say they hope to educate dog owners about responsible dog ownership as well as to educate people about the benefits of having dog parks.

But those opposed to the leash-free area in public city parks say they are most concerned about children being in contact with unleashed dogs.

"I have had a huge response from other concerned citizens who share my view that off-leash dogs should not share space at the playground parks," said local resident Dana Jacobs, who has been organizing a group of concerned residents.

The commission had said they were planning to look into off-leash hours for; Cardiff Sports park, Haw View Park, Leucadia Oaks Park, Scott valley Park, and Sun Vista Park.

Knowledge of this sparked a huge response from many in the community worried about the mix of dogs and children, Jacobs said.

However, after the meeting with Guerin, the commission said they have a better understanding of what the city is looking for and will now pursue finding a lot for a fenced in dog park.

Although the council has set a goal to find a fenced in place for dogs or dog "zone," Guerin said the council does not necessarily endorse leash-free or off=leash hours at the city's public parks.