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
WOODMEN EDITION • WEDNESDAY, FEB 17, 2016
5
LEASH LAWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Last fall, Vitulli and White had enough. They met with city officials Mark Smith of the Police Department, Kurt Schroeder and Scott Abbott of the parks department, deputy chief of staff Bret Waters, natural resource specialist Melissa McCormick, and program coordinator Tilah Larson as well as Dan Woods from Friends of Ute Valley Park. The women asked city representatives to certify parks department staff to write citations to owners of unleashed dogs. According to White and Vitulli, Denver has a similar process that has proven effective. They were notified last week that police chief Pete Carey and parks director Karen Palus made the joint decision to not move forward with their request. That responsibility will remain with the Humane Society and the police department. “We get between 23,000 and 24,000 calls a year, so we do
not have the resources to proactively patrol trails and ticket offenders,” said Joe Stafford, director of animal law enforcement with the Humane Society. Beyond the threat to people and other dogs, Stafford noted the damage to the environment. “Off-leash dogs leave excrement on the ground, affect water quality, spread noxious weeds, and threaten wildlife.” He said dog owners should also consider the risk to their own dogs. “When we have to rescue a dog that’s been hit by a car, or take a dog because it attacked somebody, we can’t unring that bell,” he said. “The dog has to suffer, and it’s too late for the dog owner to start caring about the leash law.” Parks supervisor Scott Abbott said he is fully aware of the issue. “There are an overwhelming number of complaints … People trying to en-
The city’s leash law is clearly posted at trailheads in Ute Valley Park. Photo by Susan Joy Paul
joy our parks should not have to put up with that kind of fear and aggression,” he said. Two programs aim to educate the public about dog safety. The Bark Ranger program, a joint effort of the city, the county, and the Humane Society, trains volunteers to
hand out pamphlets and collect information on off-leash dogs. Abbott said the information they collect is important because at some point, if the city does consider enforcing the ordinance, they will need data and statistics, and having it on hand will allow them to expedite a solution, instead of spending time documenting it. Another project underway enlists area veterinarians to speak with dog owners about enjoying the outdoors safely. Piñon Valley residents White and Vitulli support the programs, but are not optimistic. “Education is great, but it will not get the attention of people who believe they have a right to leave their dogs off-leash,” said White. “A $500 fine would pay for more resources for enforcement.” Stafford said he believes a
combination of education and enforcement is needed, but “it will be a social change that makes the difference, understanding that it’s unacceptable to infringe on the experiences of others.” “Empathy for other people is needed for there to be real change, and one could argue that we’re not seeing a lot of that in our society right now,” said Abbott. While having dogs off-leash is also illegal in most county parks, it was just last month that the El Paso County Parks Advisory Board recommended a fine for violators in those areas. Citizens spoke up at that meeting requesting enforcement for the county’s leash law. Consideration of instituting a fine goes before the county commissioners, likely in a few weeks.
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