Run free, Rover: Off leash update

A couple of important items related to off-leash space came across my inbox today.

Is their vision your vision?
If you care about the off-leash use of Ocean Beach, one of SF's favorite dog socialization spots, you may want to show up at the Ocean Beach Vision Council meeting this Thursday, July 8, 6-8 PM at the Osher Great Hall at the San Francisco Zoo.

The Ocean Beach Vision Council was formed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area officials and SF Mayor Gavin Newsom to discuss how best to improve the use of SF's Ocean Beach, a 5-mile long beach that has been in the center of some controversy around off-leash use by dogs. While some environmentalists claim that parts of Ocean Beach house vulnerable species that are threatened by the presence of dogs, many of SF's dog loving folk enjoy using Ocean Beach and tout it as a valuable exercise and socialization resource in the urban environment--something key for our city's dogs.

SF Dog Chair Sally Stephens notes that many dog advocates are concerned that the Vision Council is biased against off-leash use of Ocean Beach, citing that plans to commercially develop Ocean Beach may leave dogs and their people to find other spots for exercise.

This is an excellent opportunity to advocate for our community's dogs. Urban dogs need sufficient space and fresh air, and the unfettered socialization that off-leash recreation affords. Ocean Beach's 5 miles of shoreline can provide a very special environment for our canine friends.

What's in a name?
I also got word today from Suzanne Valenti, a representative of Ocean Beach Dog, that Nancy Pelosi has submitted Bill HR 6305 that would, among a number of other things, rename the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to "Golden Gate National Parks." If you think this is meaningless, you might want to think again.

Years ago when the people of San Francisco turned some of their key open space over to the Federal government, it was with the intention that the land continue to be used recreationally. And since dog walking has always been a part of the recreational use of Ocean Beach, the dog advocates contend that this intention should be maintained. According to the Ocean Beach Dog web site:

Offleash advocates have been told by GGNRA staff for years that changing the name from Golden Gate National Recreation Area to Golden Gate National Parks will make it easier for them to further restrict recreation within GGNRA boundaries. There is no other reason for this name change. They want to remove recreation from the park just as they remove it from their name.
(Full page here.)

It's been no secret for the last few years that a vocal group has called for dogs to either be banned completely from certain land in the GGNRA or forced to return to on-leash only recreation. The Ocean Beach Dog group contends that this "name change" would effectively allow the affected land to be treated more like a national park rather than the recreational treasure it has been for the many Bay Area residents who have enjoyed it with and without their dogs.

If you would like to comment on this issue:

• Contact Nancy Pelosi and demand that she remove Sec 2 from HR 6305.
  email: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov
  District Office - 450 Golden Gate Ave. - 14th Floor - San Francisco, CA 94102; phone (415) 556-4862
  Washington, D.C. Office - 235 Cannon HOB - Washington, DC 20515 - (202) 225-4965

Also contact the Committee on Natural Resources to which the bill has been referred:

• 1324 Longworth House Office Building
  (202) 225-6065 Fax: (202) 225-1931
  MR. NICK J. RAHALL, II, West Virginia, Chairman
  MR. DON YOUNG, Alaska, Ranking Republican Member
  

and the Subcommittee on National Parks Forests and Public Lands to which it was referred on June 25:

• 1333 Longworth House Office Building
  (202) 226-7736 Fax: (202) 226-2301
  Mr. Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona, Chairman
  Mr. Rob Bishop, Utah, Ranking Republican Member