Update: Dogs Roam Free in CT

This weekend, I found an alternative to walking the woods of Bedford and Pound Ridge with my dog. The beach on Tod's Point in Old Greenwich, CT, is a welcome respite from the increasing snootiness and hostility toward dogs in the Town of Bedford. The atmosphere on the beach this weekend--which was full of dogs running off-leash with their owners--was open, comfortable and totally welcoming. Literally, a breath of fresh air! The wonderful community of Old Greenwich opens this beautiful park to everyone, with or without dogs, during the winter months. So, people and dogs can and do frolic on the beach together. Many dogs are in the water, despite the chilly temperatures, chasing balls or sticks. I did not witness one unpleasant confrontation the entire two hours we were there, probably because dogs are so much happier when able to run off-leash and get some real exercise. In Bedford, however, residents are made to feel like criminals for letting their dogs off-leash, like they're doing something horribly wrong. The attitude is totally out of proportion and bizarre, compared with the pleasant beach experience just a village away.

Dogs frolicking at Tod's Point beach in Greenwich, CT

Wagon ride on the beach, anyone?

Tod's Point is a large recreation area, surrounded by water, and within it are many habitats and trails. There is a bird sanctuary area around a large pond; a holly forest, with a trail through enormous holly trees; a butterfly garden, maintained by the Greenwich Garden Club, where snowdrops and a few crocuses were spotted, and the daffodils are all sprouting early. At this rate, they'll be blooming in mid-March instead of mid-April. We'll be there every chance we get from now until March 31st.

Dogs Leashed or Unleashed--Continued

The latest sally in a series of letters appearing in the local Bedford/Pound Ridge newspaper about leashing dogs is fueling the fire for those who believe that dogs deserve to run somewhere off-leash. Perhaps the furor is due to the incredibly mild winter we've had in the northeast, which is causing more dog owners to get outside and walk their dogs in public parks and on hiking trails. There is so much open space in this area compared with southern Westchester, which is one reason it appealed to us as an ideal place to settle down. But lately, just having a large dog is becoming something of a liability. Large dogs need to run off-leash--it keeps them happy and slim--but the laws and restrictions keep expanding to the point of absurdity.

Do we have to go to Pennsylvania to let this dog run free?

The latest 'Letter to the Editor' published in our local paper is titled "Land Conservancy clarifies rules for pet owners in preserves." Despite boasting that the Pound Ridge Land Conservancy owns "over 375 acres in a total of 17 preserves," not one inch of that open space seems to be available to off-leash dogs. It boggles the mind. A myriad of different conservation organizations tout the local dog park as the only place left to go. They threaten dog owners with fines, summoning the dog warden, all sorts of dire consequences. The fact is, you can no longer go for a peaceful walk in the woods with your dog without feeling like a criminal in Bedford, NY! It's starting to remind me of the vitriolic feelings between Republicans and Democrats. There just doesn't seem to be any room for compromise, and that's a huge problem on both a local and national scale. Once again, I refer to the article in The New York Times Metropolitan Section, on Sunday, Feb. 12, aptly titled "A Yearning for Dogs To Run Free." Is this any way to treat man's best friend?