If you want to take your dog to a beach in Seattle, forget about it. Seattle City Ordinance 118724 forbids it. Not only is this law overreaching, few residents adhere to it. Go to any beach in the city and you will see plenty of dogs (99 percent of them leashed) joyfully stepping out with their owners.You'll see that slaphappy black lab charging onto the froth of the Sound in search of a soggy piece of driftwood. You'll see a charming standard poodle sniffing at the shells, at footprints from nights ago and simply exhilarated by the fragrance on the sea winds. These are dogs and their owners that defiantly and rightfully walk past the brown park signs pounded into the sand that read, "No dogs on beaches...$500 fine...."Of course, there are limitations. You can't take your cow or baboon out on the beach, and if your dog or animal is a danger or nuisance to the community, then that needs to be taken into consideration. As superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation, Tim Gallagher is granted the right to ban dogs or other pets from a beach or park if said animal is considered a nuisance.Rules are needed especially in light of the recent pit bull attack in South Seattle. It's difficult to say that if the fight training that these dogs have been afforded over the last few decades has finally seeped into their genes or that it's always been there. They may see similar fates as cougars spotted in suburban sprawl.There's no question that dogs ought to be leashed, especially around children. Even big, friendly dogs can bowl a kid over, or soak him or her to the bone with slobber.But a beach is a natural place where humans can commune with dogs and nature, and that ought not to be messed with. And even if nature calls, owners, who are particularly dutiful in Seattle, are typically at the ready to clean up the evidence. It is true that in 1997, City Council passed a off-leash pilot program. As a result there are several designated areas where dogs can romp freely. But that's just it, they are designated areas - like smoking sections 25 feet away from building entryways. It's just not the same.The original ordinance was created because of the danger dogs posed to people, because of the irresponsible actions of a few owners who then ruin it for the remaining 98 percent. But the ordinance threw out the dog with the doghouse. At the very least, the ordinance should be reconsidered, reevaluated. If we continue to control every little thing we do, to monitor every movement we make (like cameras do now at several intersections), what fun will life in Seattle be?[[In-content Ad]]
