Letter to the Editor

By kate on July 24th, 1999

This was written by me and published in the Times on July 24, 1999.

Editor, Seattle Times:
I am writing in enthusiastic support of Seattle’s animal-control police officers. I’m glad to know there are people out there doing their best to enforce leash laws.

The dog owners quoted in the July 18th article seem to think their dogs should be an exception to the rule, that their dogs are so angelic a leash is unnecessary. In some cases, this may be true, but the law does not distinguish good dogs from bad dogs. Until there is a system in place to test dog behavior and issue some sort of off-leash license to the truly well-behaved, all dogs should remain on leashes. How am I supposed to know if the loud, frightening dog bounding toward me will heed its owner’s call? I don’t want my visit to the park to be disrupted (as it often is) by having to be on constant lookout for unrestrained dogs.

Besides, the Seattle area has several large off-leash areas where dogs can be exercised freely. Please, dog owners, remember that many park users don’t like dogs, even your sweet little Fido. Use the off-leash areas, and leave the rest of us in peace.