Off-leash News and Views, November 2007

This year, I have so much to be grateful for. Here’s a partial list, in no particular order:

Thanks to Sally Stephens of San Francisco Dog Owners Group (www.sfdog.org) for continuing her diligent efforts to preserve and create more off-leash dog space in the City. She is the glue that holds SFDOG together. Thanks, Sally, for the countless hours you have spent at boring city meetings, where the dog park agenda item is always last, and for keeping us all informed and aware so we can do our part. 

Thanks for the bureaucracy that keeps the Serpentine Prairie in the Oakland Hills open to dogs, even if it is just for awhile longer (we’re grateful for each day we have). 

Thanks to this column and Bay Woof, I have met some of the most wonderful people in the world, who happen to be members of the “Dog Community.” As a whole, we are intelligent, passionate, caring, and compassionate folks, even though most of us don’t know each other’s names (though we often know the names of each other’s dogs). 

Thanks to Emily Rosenberg, fearless leader of Oakland Dog Owner’s Group (www.odogparks.org), who worked very hard this year to create new off-leash areas at City of Oakland parks, and who continues to keep the community abreast of all things “dog” here in Oaktown. 

Thanks to Suzanne Valente of Ocean Beach Dog for fighting the good fight and exposing the truth about the Golden Gate National Recreation Area efforts to close off San Francisco beaches and parks to us and our dogs. 

Thanks for the East Bay Regional Parks, where my dogs run free every day, and for all our doggie friends and their humans with whom we socialize.  I am in constant amazement at the beauty of our parks and feel so fortunate to be able to enjoy my dogs in their glory, running and playing with others off leash. 

Thanks to my wonderful partner, the intrepid publisher of Bay Woof, who is dedicated to enriching the lives of dogs and all those who love them. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you know of an off-leash issue that deserves attention, contact editor@baywoof.com.

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