Dogs on Beaches
- by: Bill Cornelius
- recipient: Michael Flores, Vice President, California Dept of Fish and Game
Existing law(s) prohibiting unleashed dogs on state park beaches are cosmetic, biased against all dogs and their owners, and target inconsiderate owners only inadvertently.
This petition seeks to establish access for dogs to California State Beaches in Mendocino County (and elsewhere).
A required dog leash is a cosmetic fix for the benefit of easy legislation because an obedient dog shouldn't need a leash, and an inconsiderate dog owner will ignore the requirement if it's convenient (especially when it's sporadically enforced).
Suggested solutions are: specified days (for example odd or even), specified areas, like below the high-water line to protect wildlife and allow for natural waste disposal, which should be buried (or removed anyhow). (and/or) Specified times or during weather events that would discourage the faint of heart, like when it's cold & raining (but possibly not limited to areas below the high water mark during those times).
The point is that unleashed access should be available for dogs (and owners) to socialize without breaking the law.
