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?