Off-Leash Pilot Program
All the reasons why off-leash at the beach will never work
State Rejects Off-leash Dog Area on Santa Monica Beach By Lookout Staff
November 21, 2011 -- Reiterating the same concerns they expressed in 2005, State officials last week shot down Santa Monica's latest effort to establish an off-leash area for dogs on the beach.
State officials said an off-leash area posed a risk to threatened species and sensitive ecosystems, possibly posed a safety threat, could interfere or displace recreational users and posed health issues related to dog feces and urine in the water and sand.
Click HERE for more...
November 21, 2011 -- Reiterating the same concerns they expressed in 2005, State officials last week shot down Santa Monica's latest effort to establish an off-leash area for dogs on the beach.
State officials said an off-leash area posed a risk to threatened species and sensitive ecosystems, possibly posed a safety threat, could interfere or displace recreational users and posed health issues related to dog feces and urine in the water and sand.
Click HERE for more...
San Clemente puts off plan for dog beach
March 7, 2012
The City Council on Tuesday night nixed a proposed one-year pilot program that would have allowed dogs to frolic off leash until 10 a.m. year-round on a stretch of sand between the Dije Court beach access and Mariposa Point.
Opponents said the city can't restrict which breeds could use a dog beach and that aggressive dogs could cause injuries to beachgoers and liability for the city.
Click HERE for more...
March 7, 2012
The City Council on Tuesday night nixed a proposed one-year pilot program that would have allowed dogs to frolic off leash until 10 a.m. year-round on a stretch of sand between the Dije Court beach access and Mariposa Point.
Opponents said the city can't restrict which breeds could use a dog beach and that aggressive dogs could cause injuries to beachgoers and liability for the city.
Click HERE for more...
Doggie Overload
March 30, 2012
Rancho Palos Verdes residents and city officials have voiced concern about the popularity of the city's dog beach pilot program, and their worries will increase along with spring and summer temperatures.
Approved February 21, the 12-month program allows dog owners to off-leash their furry companions at Rancho Palos Verdes Beach. Citing an unexpected response, officials told The Daily Breeze the program "appears to be beyond what is appropriate and sustainable for the site, especially given the apparent pent-up demand for this type of facility in the greater Los Angeles area."
In a report obtained by the publication, council members recommend cancelling the program, stating concern "that the regulations and improvements to the beach that would be needed to address all of the concerns that have been raised through the public outreach process would overtax the city's resources and would benefit a specific user group to the detriment of the environment and the greater public use and enjoyment of the beach." Major concerns include parking and enforcement issues.
Click HERE to read more
March 30, 2012
Rancho Palos Verdes residents and city officials have voiced concern about the popularity of the city's dog beach pilot program, and their worries will increase along with spring and summer temperatures.
Approved February 21, the 12-month program allows dog owners to off-leash their furry companions at Rancho Palos Verdes Beach. Citing an unexpected response, officials told The Daily Breeze the program "appears to be beyond what is appropriate and sustainable for the site, especially given the apparent pent-up demand for this type of facility in the greater Los Angeles area."
In a report obtained by the publication, council members recommend cancelling the program, stating concern "that the regulations and improvements to the beach that would be needed to address all of the concerns that have been raised through the public outreach process would overtax the city's resources and would benefit a specific user group to the detriment of the environment and the greater public use and enjoyment of the beach." Major concerns include parking and enforcement issues.
Click HERE to read more
Rancho Palos Verdes dog beach nixed
April 3, 2013
The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council late Tuesday killed a proposed year-long dog beach pilot program, citing environmental and financial concerns.
The program was approved on Feb. 21, but news of the proposed dog beach drew throngs of dog owners to the area, which in turn prompted complaints from area residents and businesses, including the Trump National Golf Club.
Several residents speaking at the meeting said the beach was "out of control." Heal the Bay and other opponents said the dogs were urinating and defecating in the local tide pools.
San Carlos Pilot Program in the Doghouse
“People keep pushing the boundaries when there’s no enforcement action,” he said. “If enough people aren’t going to follow the rules we’re going to have a much simpler rule which is never have a dog off a leash in any park ever.”
San Carlos Mayor, Mark Olbert
November 29, 2014
By Michelle Durand, Daily Journal
Click HERE to read this article to discover what happened in San Carlos in 2014 with a pilot program for off-leash dogs. All incidents reported are exactly the kinds of incidents that already exist at Santa Cruz County beaches and will only increase with a pilot program for suspending the County Leash ordinance and designating any County beach as a Dog Beach.
Incidents logged and reported by San Carlos' Parks & Recreation Director Boland included:
Director Boland said that with dedicated fenced dog parks, "Dog owners wouldn’t have to navigate complicated use regulations like changing windows of time and other users needn’t worry about animals chasing softballs as teams finish out games."
We agree. We ask the Board of Supervisors to look at the San Carlos situation as a good example of the many reasons why we should not dedicate a shared use public beach to a single-use (off-leash dogs).
By Michelle Durand, Daily Journal
Click HERE to read this article to discover what happened in San Carlos in 2014 with a pilot program for off-leash dogs. All incidents reported are exactly the kinds of incidents that already exist at Santa Cruz County beaches and will only increase with a pilot program for suspending the County Leash ordinance and designating any County beach as a Dog Beach.
Incidents logged and reported by San Carlos' Parks & Recreation Director Boland included:
- Dogs are free in undesignated areas.
- An unneutered cocker spaniel aggressively bit other dogs while encouraged by the owner who is themselves verbally abusive.
- Cars parking the wrong way on the street.
- Dogs frightening others and keeping them away from the park.
- A dog was attacked at Stadium Field.
- Owners not paying attention to the dogs.
- A woman threatening a dog and its owner after the animal stole her animals toys.
- A neighbor reported picking up “100 dog poops” on the trails.
- Another reported coning off an area at Highlands that was full of dog waste and being stepped in by kids.
- The same day another resident lining the field for soccer said six dogs roamed off leash and one peed on his tool bucket.
Director Boland said that with dedicated fenced dog parks, "Dog owners wouldn’t have to navigate complicated use regulations like changing windows of time and other users needn’t worry about animals chasing softballs as teams finish out games."
We agree. We ask the Board of Supervisors to look at the San Carlos situation as a good example of the many reasons why we should not dedicate a shared use public beach to a single-use (off-leash dogs).