Santa Cruz Sentinel - Dogs: Post and Reply

Post:

From the Santa Cruz Sentinel Saturday March 24, 2007
Think of the birds

Each morning, I am nonplussed by the apparent ignorance of dog owners who let their dogs run amok, off leash at the beach, and even more by the local policymakers who have decided that the hours of sunrise to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to sunset are the best times of day to let them enjoy this privilege. Don't any of them know anything about bird basics? Just ask any birder anywhere on the planet about the hours that most birds hunt for food.

Any casual observer at Lighthouse Field and the adjacent beach can witness the hundreds of wild sea birds whose morning attempt at foraging is continuously interrupted by a frolicking, barking canine getting its "required" exercise. Particularly revolting is hearing the "Good job, Rover!" encouragement from the owner as the dog chases these wild creatures off the beach and rocks where they must forage daily for their own survival. Do these dog "caretakers" not realize that wild sea birds [some rare and endangered] do not have the luxury of a doting human to feed them protein-enriched kibble out of a bowl?

If we must have off-leash hours at the beach, how about after dark when wildlife are safe on their roosts and little children are safe in their beds?

Our local policymakers are much in need of an informed view; one which any birder, anywhere, can fill them in on.

Larry Selman

Santa Cruz


REPLY:

From the Santa Cruz Sentinel Saturday March 28, 2007

Maybe a witch trial's in order

Yes, Mr. Selman. I, too, have seen dogs scare off the shore birds at Its Beach, all the while being observed by their "doting caretakers"

Surely, the caretakers and their dogs must be possessed by the devil. After all, birds are the only creatures of God and where else could the birds seek sustenance from their diet of eating other living creatures before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. without being on a leash?

Perhaps those of a similar mind should band together in the "Canine Calumny Cult" of Santa Cruz with the purpose of reviving a Salem court to objectively review the situation.

Jim Crandall