Letter to the Editor: Fromm on Off-Leash Dogs

We’ve all had the experience. We’re out walking in a public place like a park or on a path. It could be daylight or night. And for some reason we become uncomfortable, spooked perhaps, or maybe afraid. We tell ourselves we are being silly, but the next time we travel the same route, we feel the same way again.  So we start avoiding that particular public place, perhaps stop using it entirely. Whatever caused our discomfort or our fear has robbed us of our ability and our right to use a space meant for everyone.  Perhaps it was deep shadows. Perhaps it was unsavory characters. What I’d like to discuss is when it is dogs off-leash.

Although the City of Alexandria provides specific areas for dogs to run and play off-leash, there are owners that treat almost any open space as a place to let their dogs run free. They’ll say that theirs is a good dog—well-behaved, obedient, would never harm a fly. But how many of you have had that worrisome moment when a loose dog comes running up to you and the owner calls out from some distance away, “Don’t worry, he won’t hurt you.”?

In the park behind my house, I’ve seen dogs running over 100 feet in front of or lagging 100 feet behind their owners. Dogs going where ever they wanted while their owner was engaged talking on a cell phone. Dogs chasing the wildlife such as scaring a hawk away from the prey it worked so hard to catch. Pairs of dogs excitedly chasing and wrestling each other over top of ground nesting wildlife. Often the dogs don’t respond to their owner’s calls because they are more interested in the sights and sounds and smells of nature, or because they just are not that well-trained.

When the owners are told their dog should be on leash, the responses range from irate to mildly apologetic. Some seek to assuage you by saying that they didn’t know, but you’ll see their dog off-leash again. Most say their dog is not hurting anything. He’s a good dog. Some say it is none of my business, that I am not the police.

And that is missing the point! True, I am not the police. I am also not your mother.

The park and other public spaces are for everyone to use. When they are signed “Dogs must be on-lease” then people that are afraid of dogs (One in 10 Americans according to a 2001 Gallop poll) have the reasonable expectation that the dogs will be under control. The mother with her baby in a stroller has the same expectation. The parents that let their children play in the park have the same expectation, as do the joggers and bikers.  And everyone that does keep their dog on-leash, be it owner, dog walker, or veterinary staff, have the same reasonable expectation.

Since it is difficult for the city to enforce leash laws everywhere, then people who are afraid or concerned for their safety or their dog’s safety will just avoid these public areas that are supposed to be for everyone.

And areas that are intended to attract wildlife are also adversely impacted because the wildlife sees a dog as a predator. Some species like squirrels and common birds can tolerate dogs, but many won’t. Thus wildlife areas that are for everyone to enjoy are diminished. For example, a scientific article published in “Biology Letters” in 2007 entitled “Four-legged friend or foe? Dog walking displaces native birds from natural areas,” reported that dog walking in woodland leads to a 35 percent reduction in bird diversity and 41 percent reduction in abundance.

I would like to think that people who don’t obey the leash laws have just not given their actions sufficient thought as to the consequences. But given the irate responses I have gotten over the years, I have come to believe that many are just inconsiderate, irresponsible and selfish. Harsh words and difficult obstacles to overcome, but it wasn’t that long ago that most owners didn’t “scoop-the-poop.” People can change.

I recommend the following actions: enforcement/reporting, peer-pressure and gratitude.

Enforcement requires that the city use staff resources and that won’t happen without there being a documented problem. Thus, people have to report when dogs are off-leash in areas where they should not be. The phone number for reporting to Animal Control is 703-746-4774. Or you can use the “Call.Click.Connect.” link on the city’s website. Type “animal complaint” into the search box. Be certain to include time of day so the limited city enforcement resources know when the best time is.

Peer-pressure requires that responsible dog owners must take irresponsible dog owners to task. There is nothing like a good example, especially when it is directly communicated by a peer.

And finally, gratitude should be expressed to dog owners that keep their dogs on leash, allowing everyone to enjoy the public spaces.

Sincerely,

David Fromm