Dog etiquette (for humans)

By Lorraine Feather

I live in El Granada; my husband and I have two dogs.

Most of the people who live here and have dogs, are very considerate. They keep their dogs leashed while walking, and fenced in their yards. If a dog should break free and run up to us when we’re walking ours, they call the dog back immediately with an apology.

A minority of people seem unaware that there is a leash law, or maybe they think that because this is a semi-rural area, the rules don’t apply. They let their dogs run in the street, which not only endangers the dog but causes an uncomfortable situation for those of us who are out walking our dogs on leash. The leashed dog is obviously at a disadvantage anyway, being restrained, and may begin to snarl even if the other dog is initially friendly, which can cause an incident.

When a dog twice the size of mine comes charging out of someone’s yard and displays dominant behavior toward my dog, it’s unsettling to both of us; what really bothers me is the lack of responsibility exhibited by the owners, seeming in no hurry to call the dog back and even hostile at being asked to do so. Our female dog was the victim of an attack at the harbor that caused her considerable trauma and incurred several hundred dollars of vet bills. She is now understandably wary.

I have talked to countless dog owners whose pets have been attacked at the beach, at Quarry Park or on the street. When the above altercation happened at Pillar Point, the local authorities took a report but complained that they are overstressed due to budget cuts anyway and do not have the resources to be the Dog Police. They also mentioned something of which I hadn’t been aware, which is that a  leash should be 6 feet maximum, meaning that a long telescoping leash (which can easily wrap around a dog-walker and send him or her crashing to the ground) is not okay.

I think that a community such as ours would benefit from a grass-roots effort to enforce dog etiquette, maybe making up a simple flier with the statutes to remind people. It could be handed out when necessary, but also posted around town.