Those of you who have been reading this blog for more than a few months and have been paying close attention are well aware that one of the deciding factors for Buddha and Stella and I to choose to leave Santa Cruz besides putting a few thousand miles between us and Dave (and yes, I will admit that has been helpful in the healing process) was that the powers that be in Santa Cruz had systematically removed all off-leash access for Buddha and Stella and all other dog citizens of that lovely hamlet by the sea, as well.
I don't want you all to think it was just the lovely pooches of Nakedjen that were being run out of town by surly Park Rangers who had had quite enough of a certain Naked Woman and her dogs. Oh no! In fact, my two year campaign to keep dogs happy and running free off-leash in Santa Cruz had come to a tragic end when the city relinquished the one and only off-leash dog park back to the State of California and thus created a city where all dogs, each and every one, had to be on-leash all the time or face a steep penalty!
I must have made quite the impression upon my fellow Santa Cruz wonderfuls. Because in today's paper there appeared this article. No less than ten wonderful Santa Cruz folks have sent it to me today. Each and every one of them wanted to be sure that I saw it and they also stated that perhaps it meant that Buddha and Stella and I could return to Santa Cruz sooner rather than later? That there might be off-leash areas for us to romp and play and that we'd be welcome to come home!
It's wishful and hopeful thinking. And I will share that yesterday all three of us were certainly missing Santa Cruz in a mighty fierce way. While Salt Lake offers us off-leash dog parks that literally make me weep with tears of joy (I'm not kidding about this), I miss the ocean. I miss the beach. I miss the ocean air in my nostrils. And I miss what I know is the smell of spring that is bursting from blossoms there in my little special town by the Monterey Bay. I.Miss.It.All.
There's much work to be done, however, if Santa Cruz is really going to provide real and certified off-leash access for dogs. I can attest that there's serious animosity and some genuine misunderstanding in that small community between dog owners and non-dog owners. There is also a pretty large contingent of what I will term "clueless" dog owners who let their dogs run off-leash in areas where they really should not, who do not pick up after their dogs, who do not make any attempt to truly socialize their dogs, who do not take responsibility for their dogs poor behavior or actions and who, quite frankly, give all the well-behaved dogs and their well-intentioned owners a very bad reputation.
What must happen if the city is going to take this off-leash need for dog recreation seriously (and so far I still am in doubt that they really do take it seriously) is for those who have dogs to truly step up and voice their concern and demand for off-leash access for their dogs. You who have dogs pay just as many taxes to live in Santa Cruz as those who do not own dogs. Your taxes are supporting the same parks and playgrounds that are being used for skateboards and BMX bikes and little league games. Recreation with your dog is just as important for YOUR HEALTH as it is for your canine companion.
I encourage you to write letters now to Mayor Coonerty, to all the members of the City Council, to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, to the Metro, to the Good Times, to the Mercury News, and to the California Parks. Your window of opportunity is very narrow, but it seems that the Council and Mayor are listening.
It is up to you, as a Dog Owner, to speak now or forever hold your leash!
