ED TAYLOR

When the Vero Beach City Council voted recently to allow pet owners to walk their on-leash dogs in additional city parks, they made our city a more dog friendly town yet maintained sufficient public park areas for those who wish to avoid dogs while enjoying city recreational activities. It is certainly understandable that some folks prefer not to be around dogs and equally understandable that dog owners would like the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors on publicly owned property with the companionship provided by a pet.

As Councilmember Amelia Graves stated during the meeting, many people are using the city parks to walk their dogs with or without authorization and by clearly delineating which parks are acceptable for pets and which are not, citizens who want to avoid dogs will know which parks to frequent.  With the addition of other pet friendly parks there are now ample areas for pet owners to enjoy with the permission of the city.  City Manager Jim O’Conner told the council that the resolution allowing leashed dogs in specific parks and prohibiting the pets in others will be enforced through city police and code enforcement.  In other words, park users who don’t want to share their recreational time with those of the canine species will have an enforceable remedy.

There was some confusion based upon the decision of the city recreation commission during a recent meeting to not place any limitations on the number of city parks that could be considered dog friendly.  City Manager O’Conner told the advisory panel that by leaving the options open, members of the city council who were studying the proposal to add more dog friendly parks would not be limited in their choice of selection of city parks.  This led some to believe that all city parks would be open to leashed dogs, which, based upon the city manager’s recommendation, was not the intent of the proposed resolution.

Prior to the enactment of the city’s leash law in 1985, Vero Beach was very dog friendly; placing little, if any restrictions on pet owners.  As a child, in my neighborhood dogs would run freely from yard to yard and we all knew the dogs and who they belonged to.  The dogs were as much of many of our childhood neighborhood playtime activities as our fellow human playmates.  Seeing a dog walking through a residential neighborhood unattended was not considered a cause for alarm for we mostly had our own pets and appreciated neighborhood dogs as well.

But Vero Beach grew in population and traffic much like we grew out of childhood.  It was no longer safe for dogs to wander unattended through neighborhoods.  It was not safe for the dogs, as more and more became victims of speeding motorists and unrecognized dogs were becoming noticeable in what were once small neighborhoods thus initiating the need for a leash law.  Vero Beach had outgrown the “Mayberry” attitude where pets were simply free to roam throughout the neighborhood.  Now, if I see a dog walking unattended on a city street, I will call Animal Control for the safety of the animal.  If I recognize the dog, I will take it to the owner.  Dogs and traffic are a bad combination.

Adding more parks for carefully regulated dog recreation (the regulations are duly noted on the city’s website) is beneficial to pet owners who wish to walk their dog in a vehicular traffic free area and also provides those who do not want to be around dogs specified areas where they will not be bothered by other people’s pets.  Such designations are also a benefit to the dogs; providing exercise as well as the opportunity to mingle with fellow members of their species.

The city now has the obligation to provide adequate notice at each park as to whether or not dogs are allowed with rules clearly posted along with penalties for violation . . . then follow through by strictly enforcing any penalties for irresponsible pet owners.  The city will provide the necessary plastic bags for animal waste cleanup along with sufficient repositories for proper disposal.  Ideally, a pet friendly park should not look (or smell) any different than any other park and anyone should be able to walk through the park without fear of soiled shoes or unwanted attention from another’s dog.  Realistically, not all pet owners share that sense of responsibility and there will be those who choose to ignore the rights and enjoyment of others who do show respect for the park rules.

Those who violate the rules should be punished . . . and be rewarded with a trespass citation if they choose to share their irresponsible behavior on another occasion.  I love dogs, but I also appreciate and respect people that don’t care to be around them.  There is enough park area in Vero Beach to accommodate both.  With the benefit of additional dog friendly parks, I sincerely hope that those who use these parks recognize that with the additional benefit comes additional responsibility.