Have you seen the warning signs in the “natural” parks? They tell dog owners: “keep your dogs leashed” so they will not impact “these precious park resources.” But really, some of the precious park resources may impact you.
These parks are for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding — that sort of thing. People bring their dogs and walk. We have several of these parks in California.
This one with the sign is called Peter’s Canyon, and it has several loops you can hike, walk, run, whatever.
Well, no, not whatever.
Horses are welcome, though I have not seen many here. Dogs are welcome too, but must be leashed at all times.
I break the law.
I do not keep my dog leashed the entire hike. If we see other people headed our way I call her to “heel” and she, knows the routine and comes to my side, and walks along until we pass the other walkers. Sometimes I leash her — if the other person looks annoyed, nervous, or a supposed whistle-blower. If I see another dog approaching, I will usually leash her up (some dog owners have aggressive dogs that I want to avoid.) After we pass, my bitch gets the go ahead, and she gets back to her coyote poop sniffing a few yards in front of me.
In fact this is the canyon where I almost lost her when a coyote began chasing her. Yes, coyotes live here in this habitat. As do other animals, snakes, deer, squirrels, and bob cats are known to be hiding out as well. That is what I cannot figure out. All these animals cruise these acres and then the county posts these signs that say:
The native animal population is impacted by unleashed dogs running free in this park.
Just how is the native animal population impacted by my dog? My dog has her roots in the wild dingo, the wild wolf, the wild dog. She has been domesticated, true, but her closest relatives are the natives in these parks. Coyotes can be dangerous — some have attacked pets, children and adults.
- They are known to attack children.
- They killed a young 19-yr old woman in Canada recently. (Musician Taylor Mitchell dies)
- They came after my dog one day, more aggressive than usual. Maybe that sign should read:
The native animal population may impact YOU.
My dog has a servant in the likes of me, picking up her poops, whereas the many coyote droppings are left on the asphalt and dirt paths for my dog to sniff, and for me to avoid. Where’s Wylie Coyote’s servant? Who’s impacting who here?
Why do coyotes get better treatment than our family pet? Keep your pet leashed in nature, but let the wild dangerous ones run free. My dog needs a little off-leash time. We are respectful of nature and the other inhabitants and park-goers. After all, the coyotes kill the rabbits, rats, mice, snakes, squirrels, and sometimes people.
