Dogs are allowed, but...
Dane County Code of Ordinances / County Parks 53.09(07):
"All pets shall be effectively restrained on a leash no more than six (6) feet long and controlled at all times."
A diminutive version of this ordinance is posted on conspicuous signs at trail entrances to the prairie and savannah parcel of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Whenever I mention this ordinance to people actively breaking it, they become almost invariably hostile. They won't listen to reasons why the ordinance exists in the first place and shout me down. They get so defensive. Some resort to petty insults, vitriol and other piffle as to why the rule doesn't pertain to them. They really believe they have a right to allow their pets to run free on conservancy land. Well, they don't. That pets are allowed on-leash is a privilege that can be taken away. It's the required dog permit that grants the owner the privilege of having their animal in the conservancy, and then only on a leash.
Yesterday morning, a repeat offender whom I had never approached before allowed two of his dogs to run loose again. At the savannah on the hill, they were off-trail, trampling, hunting through vegetation and flushing sparrows I was trying to observe. (Also, the owner did not clean up after his pets). After I made him aware of the ordinance, he challenged that because I probably drive over the speed limit means he doesn't have to abide by this particular county park ordinance. Interesting rationale, isn't it? Like, from two miles away, the act of me driving 60 MPH down County Highway Q somehow alleviates him of any obligation to respect Dane County Park's leash ordinance.
Let's see. How can I use this logic to work in my favor? Because this guy disrespects Dane County ordinances, I guess I don't have to pay my property taxes this year? Or I can go on a five-finger discount spree at a local convenience store? When I get caught, I can inanely plea, "But people speed! There are speeders out there, I'm telling you! They're real! Speeeeders! Argh!"
It's disappointing. The conservancy property is shared and enjoyed by many people with various interests. Dogs are allowed by permit and must be kept under control via leash. How simple! But unfortunately, when a few stooges break this ordinance, they ruin the experience of this natural area for others, as well as potentially jeopardize the welfare of the conservancy's plants, birds and other animals.
Sadly and predictably, this particular man quickly degenerated into a child. He resorted to expletives and insults that were political in nature. Regrettably, I became angry and returned spiteful rhetoric regarding his literacy skills, or rather lack thereof. At the parking lot, I took down his license plate and turned it over to the Dane County Park supervisor who will be issuing him a hefty ticket. To avoid it, all he had to do was politely recognize the information I provided and keep his pets restrained, something he was already obligated to do by the permit he carried (if he, in fact, had one).
posted by Mike McDowell @ 10:14 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
Mike, true, lowering yourself to this punk's level was regrettable yet understandable. It's all too common (the attitude and the disrespect to Nature) here in my country (Venezuela), and that's why many of our parks are fast losing their glory. More power to ya.
Mike I share your frustration ,I Bird a good Shorebird Waterfowl area called Mill Creek Marsh in Seacaucus NJ which is run by the Hackensack Meadowlands comm ,on the entrance to the marsh there is a sign that states do not walk your Dogs between April and July beacause of nesting and Migratory Birds do you think these yuppies listen no !!! I cant tell you how many times between these months Ihad to clean off huge Cleavland Steamer of the Dog variety ( I think) off my boots. I believe in a hard line aprouch to the problem Stiff fines or to be banned from the park these law enforement and park agencys are to appeasing to the public. I dont care I told a few people off who are causing the problem which in came close to a fistacuff occasion!
Thanks Kevin Bolton
I take my dog Photon on many birding adventures. But she is always on leash. And when I go to places with sensitive habitat, as much as I love having her with me, I leave her home.
More and more public land is being sold to development, leaving less and less for us to share. And we're not just sharing land with other humans--we're sharing with the birds, plants, and other wildlife that NEEDS this land. Dogs can be wonderful, but they trample vegetation (and, sometimes, baby plovers and ground nests of all manner of birds).
It's very hard to stand up for what is right, especially to a stranger. Sadly, to reach the activation energy to speak up, we're usually upset to start with, making it hard NOT to be polite and friendly, especially when the person we're talking to is a jerk. I try very hard to be polite and friendly even with jerks, but I've lost it myself more than once, so we can hardly hold you to that standard of perfection!
Thank you from all of us who love the conservancy Mike. Well done and much appreciated.
Oh well! I feel bad about it.
The man was in his late 50's to early 60's. The argument, dare I credit it so, began after he ignored me the first time I asked him not to let his dogs run loose. There was a second chance at the top of the hill. With his dogs running well ahead, on and off the trail, he shouted their names. Then he saw me. I started to say something when he interrupted, "Why is it that you [bleep]ing liberals can't just leave people alone?" To which I replied, "Oh, I see how it is. Rules apply to everyone else but me. Everyone else has to follow this rule, but not me. There's a lovely conservative value for you." That's when he retorted with the incredibly weak speed limit argument. I told him I had never had a speeding ticket, parking ticket or ever been pulled over (all true). Then he went on a rant telling me to go back to Madison in my Prius, how I must have voted for Clinton, and that I must love Hillary Clinton and other democrats. I said, "Can't you argue the argument? You're not allowed to run your dogs off-leash on conservancy property." He asked if I could give him a ticket for it, and I said I would contact Dane County. His volume increased, I returned it. By this juncture, the broil degenerated into pointless blather and mutual name-calling, mostly political in nature. It ended with him apologizing if I was offended by his dogs, but I said it was him, the owner, not the dogs. The remainder of the walk to the parking lot was quiet, though when we walked by the sign with the leash ordinance, I offered the parting shot, "That's the sign the illiterate republican couldn't read." He said nothing. We both left.
Mike M.
I understand you're 'feeling bad about it,' and such encounters rarely go as perfectly as we would like with hindsight, but nonetheless, an EXCELLENT (and needed) post...
Mike, Love the recent pics. Especially foggy Pheasant Branch. LOTS of bird activity this AM. Good Luck this weekend with your finds. Carol
Mike,
Your dog story is interesting and even entertaining. Unleashed/unpenned dogs are a great nuisance to me as well. I have encountered both in parks, on trails, NFS property, my neighborhood, and even my own yard. It's the ATTITUDE of SOME OF the owners which absolutely grates my nerves. Fortunately, there are many responsible dogs owners out there too, both conservative and liberal I suspect.
You have pointed out many negatives of this problem. I would like to add another one: physical danger. I have had run-ins with not only loose dogs, but aggressive loose dogs while walking/birding. One in particular was close to being an attack. I was fortunately able to flee by backpedaling and shouting. The owner seemed annoyed that I had disturbed the dog by walking past, half-heartedly calling the dog. The owner typically carries a lease but doesn't keep the dog on it! I managed to avoid this particular dog for some time by going the other way when I saw it. Weeks later I encountered the owner who was getting out of the car. I mentioned the leash law. She held her leash up as if it was sufficient just to have one in possession! We exchanged a few more comments of disagreement before I drove off frustrated.
Also: Have you ever collided with a loose dog while cycling? I have - I didn't like it any more than the dog. (BTW - did anyone see the Tour de France dog incident?) This is not to mention the many near misses and chase-episodes over the years.
I fully understand your frustration. Good luck in dealing with the situation.
APS in Ga
Amen! In my years of birding and just inhabiting the planet I've had to deal with all these problems, from being knocked off my bike to being bitten to watching an idiot let her dog swim around a tern nesting colony.
As to the guy's lame argument - I'm on the conservative side myself, but my understanding of conservative principles is that being responsible is one of them.
About the comment "Why is it that you [bleep]ing liberals can't just leave people alone?"...I wish irresponsible dog owners would leave me alone! I can't even walk the streets in own neighborhood without carrying a weapon, and had to brandish a club a couple of days ago when three dogs came running at me and my dog, which was the only one on a leash. Two of my neighbors have been mauled while out walking. We all carry sticks. That's the kind of "freedom" your jerk in the park espouses. Very selfish.
I live in a part of Texas where jackasses rule and there are no dog ordinances, but in areas like yours where there are leash laws the answer I've found is to pressure the parks and local law enforcement to deal with the problem. I've found that works better than confrontations with scofflaws.
Well so you admit you degenerated a bit, but after all, where did we learn our feelings? From early on, and if this guy isn't able to think and therefore to form his feeling into proper communicative words, then you simply had to get to a level where you thought maybe he could understand. When emotions get involved, it may be best just to walk away. Of course I feel that reporting him was one way to make him understand the issue. He may even have wanted to apologize to you.
All in all, a lesson has been learned, (I hope). I have been involved in Nature my whole life, I love camping outdoors (while we still have it!), I love and I enjoy helping to keep our World at it's best, and to recover if possible some of the things that we have lost
through "progress".
kim
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