Sunday, June 27, 2010
8 comments:
Please be sure that you are entering your comments on the appropriate page (Supporting Comments, Opposing Comments, or Compromise Ideas).
YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND THE AREA IN WHICH YOU LIVE (SEE LIST BELOW.)
Otherwise your comment may be deleted.
For the "comment as" box, the easiest thing to do is comment as "anonymous" (just include your name and address in the body of your comment).
Information about common comment posting problems is found at the top of the right hand link column.
Also, please e-mail us your comments at west.tsa.neighborhood.reps@gmail.com. That way, if there is a problem, you can contact you. You must do this if you want us to add you to the mailing list.
Comment areas:
- North Neighborhood -- North of Canyon, West of Broadway
- Central Neighborhood -- Between Table Mesa and Canyon. West
of Broadway
- South Neighborhood -- south of Trable Mesa and west of Broadway
- East Boulder -- east of Broadway
As "West of Broadway" Neighborhood Representatives we do not represent East Boulder interests. We will, however, make your comments available to other CCG representatives who are responsible for representing your interests. We also encourage you to contact your representatives directly. (See right hand column for links.)
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
As neighborhood residents who take our dogs on the trails in south Boulder almost daily in the summer, the first question we have is "What's the problem?" The concept of imposing restrictions on dogs presupposes that there is an issue caused by having them on the trails, but being out there with dogs day in and day out, we do not see the problems!?
ReplyDeleteWe do NOT see dogs bothering dogs, dogs bothering people, dogs romping through the open space, dogs leaving waste behind, dogs bothering wildlife, or any other dog problems that would lead one to conclude restrictions are necessary. We find the vast majority of other dog owners courteous and respectful and quite aware of the behavior that is expected of them and their dogs.
We have been counting recently in light of this issue, and approximately 80% of the people we see on the trail have dogs with them. So on who's behalf is it that we are proposing dog restrictions? We don't get it...?
We do occassionally see an uptight person without a dog who appears bothered when our dog comes up and licks their hand, tail wagging away. Or the hard core runners who are visibly annoyed by having to take one or two steps to one side to avoid a dog who wants to say hi. But imposing restrictions on the many dog loving people of Boulder so that these few uptight people don't get their undies in a bundle is a bad idea!
The current system works very well. The users of Boulder's trails obviously love their dogs and love taking them along, otherwise 80% of them wouldn't have dogs with them...
Marty & Diann Grosjean
3605 Silver Plume Lane
South Neighborhood
I would like to know where I can find the trail described above where all off-leash dogs are well behaved and their guardians are not leaving their dog's excrement (bagged or not) next to the trail. The last time I was on the Sanitas Valley trail by my house, a large off-leash dog jumped on my chest. I was fine, but an elderly person might not fare so well, nor my friend whose chest is wired back together after recent heart surgery at a young age and would like to enjoy our trails. I am a long-time dog guardian, so I understand how much people enjoy doing things with their dogs, however the city needs to provide a range of trail experiences for everyone, including the elderly and "uptight people" residents of Boulder who also contribute their share to Open Space funding.
ReplyDeleteJane Monson
721 Iris
In our southwest Boulder neighborhoods, we have no need to be upset by neighborhood leash laws, because our dogs can experience a taste of heaven every day, if we choose to take them up on the trails where they are “free”. It may take a walk or two through the open space before a new resident or a non-local understands when they nevertheless do need to leash their dogs. I hike with my dog nearly every day on the Shanahan trails, and it is EXTREMELY rare that I ever encounter an overly rambunctious dog, let alone an aggressive one. Therefore I do not think any additional dog restrictions are necessary on trails that are already open to off leash dogs with a Voice and Sight Control tag. (Maybe the person who hikes on the Sanitas trail should try the trails in our neighborhood! She is welcome!)
ReplyDeleteRegarding dog excrement left behind, considering the volume of dogs who walk, run and play in the Shanahan Ridge open space, it often amazes me how little of it you see. The dog-owning hikers up here are an incredibly considerate and well-behaved group.
Connie Hirsch
3558 Smuggler Way
South Neighborhood
I live on Shanahan Ridge with my dog. My neighbors & I estimate that there are more dog residents in this neighborhood than there are people residents. Obviously we (and most other people in Boulder, given the number of dog residents in this city) love our dogs. As others have already pointed out, rambunctious dogs and aggressive dogs are the rare exception, not the rule, on our hiking trails. Why do we need additional rules and restrictions and controls? If anything, we need MORE trails where off-leash dogs are welcome!
ReplyDelete1. Additional restrictions should not be placed on all dogs because of the poor behavior of the few "bad" dogs or guardians.
ReplyDeleteSomeone in our family hikes every day on various trails between Enchanted Mesa and Eldorado Springs. I can count on one hand the number of "bad dog incidents" we've had in over twenty years.
We have been lucky to live adjacent to open space since 1991. In nineteen years we have had three incidents with poorly behaved dogs. I repeat - 3 problems in 19 years! That is such a tiny number.
Do not legislate to the exception. Poorly behaved dogs, and/or their guardians, are the exception.
2. As dog "guardians" as we are called in Boulder, we are expected to provide a high standard of care for our canine dependents. Many breeds of dog need to run. Walking a dog on-leash does not provide the necessary exercise that such breeds need. Further restricting trails where dogs can run under voice and sight control makes it increasingly difficult for dog guardians to provide the standard of care their pets need.
Kathryn Foster
1333 wildwood Ct
South neighborhood
For the past 4 years, I’ve seen more and more dog restrictions being put into place on the OSMP trails. I’ve lived in Boulder for 25 years and do not understand what has motivated these continual restrictions. I did not have a dog until 5 years ago and encountered many dogs in the 20 years prior to that. I did not have a single incident or problem with a dog. I understand that there are negative encounters on the trails involving dogs; however, I believe the Voice and Sight Control program has been very successful in controlling negative encounters. I’ve been to many OSMP meetings as I’ve tried to understand why restrictions continue to be put in place. I’ve heard many explanations, but they have not been convincing. I believe there are a small percentage of people who do not want to encounter dogs on the trails at all and this is why the restrictions have been made.
ReplyDeleteThe Bear Canyon trail that was designated dogs on-leash only in the winter of 2007 was the first restriction to adversely affect my OSMP trail experience. This was the trail my dog and I ran on 3 days a week. This trail is essentially a road and it has never made sense to me that dogs had to be leashed on this trail. Since then, I continually run into trails with restrictions and find it very frustrating. I continue to have the question, “Why?” I do not think that the dogs are the problem. I believe enough is enough. OSMP is failing the majority and being led by vocal minority groups.
Soon after the Bear Canyon trail was designated as leash-only, I hiked to the top of it with my 11 year old son (to where the radio tower is located). My dog was off leash because I understood that this portion of the trail was Voice and Sight control. We were the only ones up there when a man approached us, claiming he was an OSMP volunteer, and was very insistent that our dog should be on leash. I did not agree with him, but felt threatened by this man, and did not argue. I did report this incident to OSMP. Since then, I’ve noticed a much more adversarial environment on the trails as dog owners and non-dog owners alike are critical and judgmental. What happened to the Boulder that I moved to 25 years ago?
I am very much against dog restrictions on the OSMP trails. At this time, there are too many restrictions and it is very confusing. I would like to see an effort to remove restrictions and continue to educated dog owners of proper Voice and Sight Control regulations.
Brenda Howell Garby
1510 Rockmont Cir
South Neighborhood
I am a responsible dog owner and rarely experience others not being so. Hiking with my dogs is a significant part of my enjoyment of the open space and interacting with my neighbors. I am opposed to that enjoyment being restricted any further.
ReplyDeleteI posted the above comment (accidently anonymously) and stand behind Brenda and Fidos. Enough is enough. Taking my dogs on the trails and engaging with my neighbors and their dogs is a huge part of my enjoyment of the trails.
ReplyDelete