Letters : Observing Leash Laws

While riding my bicycle along the Santa Ana River trail in Huntington Beach, I witnessed an accident involving a cyclist. The cyclist fell from his bicycle while trying to avoid a dog who was accompanying his running master. Luckily, the cyclist was unhurt, but the accident never should have occurred in the first place because the dog should have been leashed.

As an avid cyclist who uses the Santa Ana River trail daily, I am concerned about the problem of joggers, runners, walkers and even fellow cyclists who let their dogs run free while they pursue their favorite leisure activities. The masters may know how gentle their dogs are, but I don’t. These inconsiderate people make my life, and those of other users of the bike path, miserable when they allow their dogs leashless freedom.

I call on the county and the cities sponsoring the bike trail to make residents aware that there are leash laws that require people to control their dogs. I also call on dog owners, as responsible citizens, to comply with the law, so that we all feel safer along the river trail.

LEAH S. HUNIU

Fountain Valley