Dog owners haven’t taken responsibility

Roger Neiley

It’s about respect.

Dog feces litters our city’s otherwise beautiful parks and trails.

A relaxing walk becomes an obstacle course followed by a ruined

carpet in the car. Unleashed dogs chase joggers and scare children on

the beach. It’s 2 a.m. and that yapper down the block is keeping all

the neighbors awake. And now, indignant owners demand their “rights”

to impose their dogs’ presence on us all?

How about some respect for those that don’t own dogs? We’re not

animal haters and we’re not out to over-legislate. But I submit that

we deserve the right to enjoy one of the world’s great places without

constant aggravation from unruly, dirty, loud or even overly playful

animals.

Beyond the current debate is also the key issue of water quality.

Many trails in Laguna drain directly to the ocean. The reality is

that last week, 30-plus days of dog feces washed into the costal

water in a matter of hours. We’re addressing sewer problems, grease

blockages, over fertilization and inland toxins. Can’t anyone see

that those post-rain skyrocketing fecal coliform counts are due to

dogs.

If owners and their pets need more room than their own property to

roam, let them pay for the space, for enforcement of cleanup rules

and for a system that keeps the runoff out of our ocean.

* ROGER NEILEY is a Laguna Beach resident.