Life • News • In Briargate, Pine Creek, Rockrimmon, Peregrine and Mountain Shadows
gazettecommunitynews.com
February 17, 2016 • Volume XXIV, ISSUE 7
Off-leash and Illegal RAMPART AT WEST POINT
Local grads are having a bit of a reunion teaching at the U.S. Military Academy SEE PAGE 2
A BALANCING ACT
Pine Creek diver Mackenzie Blomquist placed among the top ten in last weekend’s state diving contest, just one of the activities she excels in. SEE PAGE 3
Pete Menta takes his dog Fuego for a walk in Garden of the Gods. Menta keeps Fuego on a leash in the city park “out of consideration for other people,” he said, “and for the safety of my dog.” The issue of having dogs off-leash is of growing concern in local open spaces. Photo by Susan Joy Paul
Hikers are fed up with off-leash dogs and their owners in parks BY SUSAN JOY PAUL
LAND SWAP TALK
Public access and permanent park zoning announced for possible Strawberry Fields trade. SEE PAGE 8
Send photos of neighborhood news, people and places to: pattye@gazettecommunitynews.com
When Debbie Vitulli took her dogs for a walk in Ute Valley Park, she wasn’t surprised to see an offleash dog running towards her on the trail. There are off-leash dogs in the park every day, despite the posted city ordinance. Vitulli asked the dog’s owner to please leash his dog, and he let loose with a barrage of insults and a stream of other profanities. “I always ask nicely,” Vitulli said. “I always say please. Sometimes they’re polite, but a lot of times
they just ignore me, call me names, or tell me where to go.” It’s illegal to have a dog off-leash in city parks, so even the polite dog owners are breaking the law. “There are signs at the trailhead, but no one pays attention,” Vitulli said. Off-leash dogs cause problems for hikers, bikers, and dog-walkers on the trail. Vitulli’s neighbor, Piñon Valley resident Karin White said, “Some people in the neighborhood, especially those with young children, are afraid to use the park anymore. Why do some people think
their rights can trample the rights of others who are abiding by the law?” People who have been attacked by dogs have a lot of anxiety when approached by an off-leash dog, and some people have allergic reactions to dogs that can be life-threatening. Others, taking their dogs for a walk on leash, have to worry about offleash dogs charging their dogs. A relaxing walk in the park can turn into an angst-filled outing, especially if they have to confront a dog owner and ask them to control their dog. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5