by Lynne Miller
Love dogs, or don’t, tolerate dogs or don’t? ‘Dog Love’ ranges from strongly dislike, through tolerate, to love dogs more than people. You know where you mark your territory on this doggy scale.
I love dogs, some more than people. Having lived in OB my entire life I have watched dogs run free, unleashed, in the 40s and 50s, to today’s walks on tight leashes based on new laws. Still, Ocean Beach is dog-friendly partly because of local activism. Dogs and their humans have Dog Beach, a Dog Park, and not far away, Fiesta Island Dog Park. There are also many schoolyards that allow responsible owners to bring their dogs to play on the dirt and grass.
Things are about to change again. Every time the city gets involved in our lives you can almost guarantee new restrictions are being seeded–new laws that, if disobeyed, will place you in the doghouse!
Here is the latest bite into your dog’s freedom, and yours. Around the city of San Diego we will begin to see signs posted in schoolyards. While the wording is unknown, the intent has been stated. Bring your kids to school, and don’t bring your dogs to run on the turf after hours. If you disobey there are threats of tickets or perhaps a visit to doggy jail.
I understand that we cannot return to the life and style of the 1950s where dogs ran free to chase butterflies and birds. But I can remember the way it was.
When I was attending OB Elementary there was a Newport restaurant called Zekes. The Greens owned Zekes and the connected antique store. On my way home from a day at the beach I bought my 25-cent Hershey bar at Zekes or Paras Shop. The Greens lived close to us in the hills of Ocean Beach, and their pug dog was free to roam when they were at work. Pug, as we called him, began visiting our home daily, and the Green’s gave him to us.
In the 50s there were a whole lot of vacant lots where dogs roamed and kids played on their stick horses. It was a carefree time to grow up. Our Summer beach days were filled with body and board surfing, and laying in the hot sand until we jumped into the cold waves.
Word got out about this little beach town and it grew. More people, more cars, more dogs and cats, more rules. “More” is the condition of growth, and results, while possibly well-intended, add conditions, regulations, and laws, that bite by bite erode our freedoms.
What do we do? What we always do. We find creative ways to circumvent the new restrictions. I did not say break the laws, even though I know we all do break laws, daily, choice by choice. Texting while driving is against the law. Walking dogs off-leash is against the law. Keeping Christmas lights up after Feb 2nd is against the law in San Diego. In San Jose it is illegal to have two dogs or two cats. (Does that mean a person can house 4 cats and dogs?)
A broader question, that is good to ask of almost every new law and or enforcement. Who created the law, why, and for whom? I wonder who created the law that said it is illegal for a woman to drive a car in her housecoat? That is a San Diego law.
Good luck to dog owners. I know you sometimes avoid dog parks and beaches because owners who are not responsible bring their aggressive dogs to ‘play’ and you and your dog need to visit a vet. I also understand that irresponsible owners take their dogs to play at an elementary school and the kid who slides into second base is ‘safe’ except for her smelly hands.
So here’s to all you dog owners — and the creative solutions you employ to maximize freedom and minimize reasons to close the gates in schoolyards.
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