To Hershey's Dog-Mom

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

If you're taking your adorable chocolate lab out for a stroll on the bike-path on a lovely Sunday afternoon, please protect your dog and other people using the path and keep him on a leash.

I witnessed an almost-accident at close range as the dog ambled from one side of the path to another, forcing a bicyclist to slam on his brakes and stop hard to avoid hitting him.

He doesn't know any better, he's just a dog, doing what dogs do. You, on the other hand, should.

Comments

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

The dog owners who play with their dogs over by lexington park (end of highland road) every evening, well, most of them continue to let their dogs off leash, in a zone that is NOT an off leash recreational area, after being told several times by animal control officers that they can't do that.

Frankly, I'm not sure the dog owners care.

[nuns.livejournal.com]

I'm quite sure the owners DON'T care. A couple weeks ago, some lady with 5 (count them!) little terrier type dogs, none of them on leashes, called a straggler dog across the Minuteman right in front of my bike. I had to HAUL on the brakes to avoid squishing the poor thing, and when I politely observed that the leash law exists for a reason she swore at me and told me to grow up.

I really didn't know what to make of that comment. Is it immature to expect pet owners to care enough about their pets to take basic safety precautions on their behalf? Is it immature to expect people using public areas not to unnecessarily endanger other people using those areas?

Anyway, it was quite clear that she felt no compulsion to leash her dogs. This attitude is quite common on the Minuteman. Unleashed-dog walkers routinely swear at anyone who dares hint that it's dangerous to allow their dogs free reign in high-traffic areas.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Pretty sure that dog owners don't care.

Check out the Tufts fenced in area by the Powderhouse Rotary...the one with the "no dogs" signs all over it. It's a good place to find dogs, natch.

[georgy.livejournal.com]

I have yet to encounter this scenario, though I always do have a hearty appreciation for dog owners who, even with their leashed pups, make sure to gently steer them clear of me as an oncoming bicyclist.

I tend to get fairly annoyed at anyone who violates bike path etiquette. Many people, I feel, either ignorant or simply don't care.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Many people, I feel, either ignorant or simply don't care.

Both: don't care (my dog is a GOOD dog)
ignorant: the city changed the signs along the path, they no longer say that dogs MUST be on a leash - even though the law hasn't changed.

bike path etiquette

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and unfortunately, it shows up in all forms - I'm not trying to single out dog-owners as Teh Big Bad, because dog knows I've seen many, many other displays of piss-poor path etiquette (detailed in comments further down) by people, kids, and so on.

This was just such at close range that I was really horrified how near-miss it was.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

Dogs are awesome, and make me happy. A collision that would injure a dog would make me sad. Dog owners who keep their companions leashed so as to prevent my sadness make me happy.

[derekp.livejournal.com]

I think the problem is that many dog owners think their dog is so well behaved that he'll be fine. And frankly, they're probably right. But what they're failing to consider is that the cyclist/jogger/walker coming at them doesn't know that. Just put your dog on a leash - it isn't a dog path.

[nuns.livejournal.com]

The trouble is that very few people are objective in their assessment of their loved ones. They assume their dog is a good dog, naturally. And maybe it is. But the fact is, most of these people are basically incapable of assessing whether their dog will behave or misbehave.

Furthermore, the dog can't be held accountable in any meaningful way for its actions. Dogs chase stuff. It's one of the things dogs do. It's not fair to expect them NOT to chase stuff.

The owner has to be held accountable for anything that goes wrong with a dog that isn't leashed. Trouble is, that's not going to make a cyclist feel better about his/her injuries, incurred because some dog owner couldn't be bothered with a leash; nor will it make that cyclist feel better about having harmed a dog that was only doing what dogs do.

I think a lot of dog owners believe it is cruel not to let dogs run free. I guess there might even be a little merit to that idea, but there are dog parks and things in the area. There's one I ride my bike past every day, right near Union Square. If these areas are not adequate, then don't keep a dog in the city.

The cruel decision wasn't passing laws to prevent injury to dogs and the people near them. The cruel person isn't the maker of those laws, or the people who expect obedience to them. The cruel person is the dog owner who brought a dog to live in an area that s/he clearly does not believe has enough room for a dog to live in.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I know, I always feel bad for the dogs I see running around that area unleashed. I'm always worried that one of them is going to get hit by a cyclist, or get hurt in a fight with another dog, or run out into the parking lot across from Lexington park and get hit by a car, or get too close to the grill when we've got it out on the patio area near our apartment. If I feel like yelling at people to leash the dogs, it's NOT because I don't like dogs. It's because I DO like them.

Oh, and those leashes that expand to about 15 feet or more aren't really that useful as a restraint in an area like that. In fact, seeing those stretch across the bike path has frequently made me very nervous for any cyclists who might come through.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

those leashes should be flat out banned.

a.) they don't hold up to any dog that pulls even a little
b.) you have NO control over your dog as you cannot retract it unless the dog comes back to you
c.) i have seen the cords cut other people/animals/etc. it is REALLY sharp and dangerous when unrolling.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Oh, and those leashes that expand to about 15 feet or more aren't really that useful as a restraint

And they're illegal.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

those leashes that expand to about 15 feet

Yes. Short leashes are fab. Expandable leashes = instant tripwires of death; I'd rather an unleashed dog than those.

If I feel like yelling at people to leash the dogs, it's NOT because I don't like dogs. It's because I DO like them.

And yeah, that too! Your dogs are cute, people. I don't want to hit them. Please aid me in my quest.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Lexington park is also tricky due to the, well, park, which is heavily trafficked by toddlers and small children, some of whom are afraid of (or easily injured/overwhelmed by) dogs. My toddler adores dogs and we will go down that section of the path in hopes of seeing them, but not everyone is into being licked in the face. Definitely a section of path where sharing, and mutual awareness, is even more important than usual.

[nonnihil.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. Dogs at least usually know how to get out of the way; leashes don't. As a cyclist, I'd much rather see an unleashed dog than a dog on a long or stretchy leash.

[ron_newman]

Yeah, I worry that I'm going to ride into one of those leashes, with bad consequences for everyone: the dog, the owner, and me.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

It makes me sad, because I love dogs, and I'm moving to an area with a dog park. I'd hate for dogs to be restricted from the path - it's a great walking area - because of the actions of some bad dog owners. There are plenty of good owners I see walking their dogs on-leash.

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

I agree, it isn't a dog path. I LOVE dogs, but I honestly think that dogs shouldn't be allowed. Sometimes even on a leash they jump in the way. I'd like to be able to ride on a bike path on a bike and not feel like I have to pay so much attention to what might be jumping out at me. The occasional squirrel is one thing but quite a few dogs is another. I prefer to look straight ahead then so often toward the ground.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

the city used to treat the path as a park, and thus, dogs weren't allowed.

I don't agree with this, but, it seems that many of the dog owners who play with their dogs near lexington park think that the city doesn't plan on enforcing ANY laws about dogs there, now.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i live in a very dog friendly apt complex [we have a dog park, they even organize dog parties, etc] and residents still act like douchebags. there was one woman who would play dog with her black lab in the PARKING LOT at like ten at night. i must have called the office about half a dozen times to get her to leash that dog. another of my neighbors would let her dogs just fly out of the house, i don't think she even owned collars for them. this was a pain when you'd be accosted by two HUGE dogs on your way to work or something - sure they were super friendly but also getting their pawprints all over your work clothes >:|

my experience has been that lots of owners think "but my dog is so friendly, he won't do anything wrong!" and it's like well yeah, sure, but not everyone else and everyone else's dog is like that. if that dog came bounding over to my blind elderly dog he'd probably get snapped at, and if he ran out into the road he'd probably get hit by a car.

ugh.

/fumes

LEASH YOUR DAMN DOGS, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY PEOPLE

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Also, those of us who don't know your dog have to assume he *might* be ill-controlled and hazardous, which is awfully stressful.

I *do* think Somerville needs more spaces where dogs can run around unleashed and play with one another...dogs want to be happy, too! But it's hard to find the space.

[tikva.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a guide dog handler, unleashed dogs are potentially dangerous for me, and I wish folks would be responsible about them. Sure, my dog is trained not to respond to distractions, but she's still a DOG, and a random loose dog coming up to her WILL get her attention. My dog is trying to keep me from getting dead, and loose dogs make that more difficult for her. Plus, your dog may be very well-behaved with people, but it may react differently to my dog, who is wearing strange equipment and has very "alpha" body language. There IS an off-leash dog area in Somerville; it's in Union Square, and we use it all the time - believe me, I'm not unsympathetic to the need to run an energetic dog, but there are places for that.

IOW, IAWTP.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

exactly. i do not have a guide dog, rather i am my dog's guide ;)

so when dogs bound up to him and a lot of time they are puppies much larger than he is [a pug] and they bat him or try to play with him. luckily most times i can scoop him up in time but i have two dogs and if i'm carrying something else...well. he has snapped at a few dogs but had they been leashed and with an owner it wouldn't have happened.

it's why people to tell you to pay attention when you drive, it's not usually you they worry about, it's everyone else.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

I think this might be an issue for the City -- there really should be a clear sign that states all dogs must be on a leash.

I love dogs. I think they are the most wonderful animal in the world. Having volunteered with the ASPCA for three years in NYC, I can also handle most dogs. But that's not the case for everybody.

When you sit down and think about it, loose dogs in a semi-urban area pose a hazard and/or nuisance for:

• The dogs themselves
• Pedestrians
• Small children
• Cyclists
• The handicapped
• Service dogs
• Other dogs
• Even motorists

You would think that a person would consider at least one of these points, especially the fact that a loose dog is primarily a hazard to itself, but as with most things in life, stupid people ruin it for the rest of us.

I doubt the perpetrators are reading LJ, and silent rants will do very little. The City (via your Alderman) should be contacted so that signage is clear.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Last I checked there were signs on both sides of that stretch of bike path stating that dogs must be on lease.

[mderidder.livejournal.com]

A few weeks ago, I was walking my dog (on leash) down the path and ran into Officer Joe McCain. He was there at the request of Rebekah to ticket people with dogs off leash. He didn't find any, but he and I got to talking about the potential for a fenced dog park in the area that people let their dogs run around currently.

The area just down the path from Lexington Park is currently just trees and grass and has a bunch of footpaths pretty much created by dogs running back and forth.

I emailed Rebekah to suggest this and she pretty much shot me down saying that it is hard to find consensus with all the different park users and that people are very protective of the space.

Personally I think this is crap since, while the path itself is used, there are definitely areas of the path that are not really used and are wide/long enough for a fenced dog area.

I admit that I don't know if there are long-term plans for this space, but it seems as if you provide space for people to let their dogs run safely, they use it.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

it seems as if you provide space for people to let their dogs run safely, they use it.

Nunziato field.

And thank you for having your dog on a leash.

[buckturgidsen.livejournal.com]

Hey, there are also people on I-93 who continue to drive more than 55 MPH despite all of the speed limit signs, and despite being told several times by cops (human being control officers?) that they can't do that.

There are irresponsible people out there. Some drive recklessly. Some allow their dogs to run off-leash despite a lack of proper training or a history of dangerous behavior. Some chit-chat casually while their dogs sprint in front of oncoming bikes. Determining a safe highway speed that's appropriate given current conditions, and determining when it's appropriate/inappropriate to provide Rover some off-leash time are both subjective decisions. Not all people can be trusted to make subjective decisions responsibly, so you need a law to restrict irresponsible behavior. And laws need to be worded objectively. So our society has created hard-and-fast rules that restrict the behavior of everyone -- responsible and irresponsible alike. These rules are probably overly restrictive for 90% of people 90% of the time, and they tend to be enforced very selectively.

Personally, I don't think it's justifiable or useful to scold people just because they broke a law. Save your bile for people who behave irresponsibly. And maybe introspect for a moment and ask yourself whether you ever drive 38 in a 35 zone or (for non-car-people) violate other clearly posted laws.

Here is a startling admission: I am a chronic, unrepentant off-leash dog walker and I often walk my dog near Lexington Park. There are frankly very few options for places to let a dog off-leash in somerville and my dog needs a lot of exercise. Here's my policy: I try to walk him early in the morning when the bike path is empty, and if I need to walk him at 'rush hour' I do keep him leashed. I watch carefully for bikes and joggers and keep my dog out of their way. I leash him whenever he's approaching a dog he doesn't know, out of courtesy to the owner. I pick up after him every time. I don't allow him to get too rambunctious unless he is way out of the way of bike path traffic and other people. I wouldn't even consider letting him off-leash if he wasn't well-behaved and friendly with all people. Actually, he mostly minds his own business and sniffs inanimate objects along the side of the path. I have never had a run-in where he jumped in front of a bike or otherwise behaved dangerously toward people on the path. Honestly -- if you watched me walk my dog, I think you would be hard-pressed to explain how he is posing a threat to anyone.

So please -- go ahead and call people out for being irresponsible. Even mildly irresponsible. But I don't think people should make the blanket statement that it's ALWAYS irresponsible/unethical/dangerous to allow your dog off leash in an urban environment -- all dogs, all places, at all times, all situations.

Two other things:

@ nuns -- "Signs are good. Animal control officers patrolling the area and doling out tickets, and revoking dog licenses, are even better." What do you mean by "revoking dog licenses"? Are you saying that someone who's caught with a dog off-leash would have to either euthanize their pet or move from Somerville? Isn't that a little bit harsh? And aren't there more pressing items on the crime blotter? Say break-ins, rampant bike theft, etc?

@ all you cyclists -- with all this talk about slamming on the brakes, etc it might be worth pointing out that the bike path is a park, it's not a highway for bikes. As with any park, there are a lot of kids around and kids can be every bit as unpredictable as dogs. As a parent, I try to keep my toddlers away from the bike traffic, but mutual awareness is important. Most cyclists are great, but there are a few who act like they own the path and anything that causes them to slow down from 20 mph is an affront. I can definitely see how dogs sprinting out from behind a tree would be dangerous, but it's also dangerous to drive your bike so fast that accidents are only narrowly avoided.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

Personally, I don't think it's justifiable or useful to scold people just because they broke a law. Save your bile for people who behave irresponsibly. And maybe introspect for a moment and ask yourself whether you ever drive 38 in a 35 zone or (for non-car-people) violate other clearly posted laws.

It's perfectly justifiable to scold someone who has broken a law - specifically one that applies to safeguard both animal and human safety. Your example of a 4 mile-over infraction is laughable.

If you walk your dog near Lexington Park and are looking for off-leash fun, why not go down to Nunziato, which is just about a mile away?

But I don't think people should make the blanket statement that it's ALWAYS irresponsible/unethical/dangerous to allow your dog off leash in an urban environment -- all dogs, all places, at all times, all situations.

First off, I was commenting on a specific incident - which occurred in the afternoon during high traffic - in a specific location - the bike-path, where dogs are required by law to be on a leash. Dogs on the bike path should be on-leash. If you don't agree, work to get the law changed. But by flaunting the law, you give other dog owners a bad name, and encourage other owners to ignore the law and let their dogs - possibly less well behaved than your own - off-leash.

As I've observed in other comments, I've seen plenty of other examples of poor bike path etiquette - I've seen little kids get in the way, wandering around poorly supervised, people on roller-blades going crazy-fast dart between lanes without pause, runners running the WRONG WAY and random people just standing in the path not moving. The problem isn't the dogs, the problem is people's lack of respect for the rules of use.

The rider who nearly had an accident was not going excessively fast. The dog wandered over from the other side of the road, and he stopped about two feet short - but yes, leaning hard on his brakes because the dog came from off the path from behind a tree..

I love dogs. I want to get a dog as soon as I move into my new place not far off the bike path. But I recognize that my part as a responsible dog owner is to keep the dog on-leash, and visit the dog park for happy off-leash running around.

dogs should really be on leashes in public areas

[dystocia.livejournal.com]

Here's something I haven't seen brought up. I love dogs, and don't mind being approached by dogs should I be on the bike path. However, I have known people who are afraid of dogs, and the sight of a big friendly goofy lab, who I can tell by body language isn't about to do anything worse than jump up on me, really freaks said person out to the point where they might back up, start to run, etc, all activities that tend to say 'play!' to big goofy labs, which escalates the situation.

Just a thought; just because your dog is friendly/well behaved doesn't mean it won't be a trigger to someone who has been bitten or is otherwise afraid of dogs should the two meet on the path, or in other areas of the city. I feel like it's a basic courtesy to the people around you to have your dog on a leash.

Re: dogs should really be on leashes in public areas

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

go hang out by lexington park late afternoon any day, you'll see that the dog owners there (not all dog owners!) think it's basic courtesy for you to mind your own business, and don't tell them what they can and can't do with their dogs.

Somerville Animal Control

[grateful1311.livejournal.com]

Somerville Animal Control is aware of the on-going problem on the Community Path regarding of-leash dogs. Citizens who are having issues with off-leash dogs on the bike path should call either 311 or Somerville Animal Control (617-625-6600 ext 2190) during business hours and report this activity. (Animal Control hours are currently 9am-5pm Monday-Friday). They path is patroled everyday during on-duty hours by animal control and during off duty hours by the SPD when they have the manpower available. Unfortunately it seems as thought the bulk of the offenders are doing their off-leash walking during off hours and on the weekends. Hopefully in the very near future the patrols will get more frequent and during the hours when the off-leash walkers tend to be out & about.
Thank you all for your patience.

Re: Somerville Animal Control

[nuns.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this information, and for patrolling!