ICONS

For decades, the image of the California beach scene has included a winsome mutt with a Frisbee in its mouth. In reality, most dogs aren’t even allowed to get their feet wet, and some owners are starting to unleash their anger. In July, Southern California politicians banned canines from yet another public beach--Beacons Beach in Encinitas--despite the vociferous pleas of dog owners. City Council members argued that people weren’t complying with the rules: Leash your dog, and clean up after it. Residents argued back, and three months later, the council is reopening the case.

“There’s hardly any place to take a pet off the leash,” says Lu Meyer, who runs the largest canine-obedience academy in San Diego County. “Dogs are not being socialized, and we’re seeing more and more aggression problems--dogs that are going to bite.”

Dogs who occasionally romp freely develop sound temperaments, Meyer, an animal behaviorist, adds. But only three beaches from Los Angeles to the Mexican border allow dogs to run freely, and they’re all in San Diego County. Although San Francisco maintains more than 20 parks for leash-liberated dogs, Los Angeles has only one: Laurel Canyon Park in Studio City.

“There are 500,000 dogs in Los Angeles and one little park,” laments Jane Purse, who led a decade-long fight to keep Laurel Canyon leash-free. “There are model airplane parks, golf courses and archery ranges. Why shouldn’t we have more than one dog park?”

A new hearing is set for Sept. 25. Comrades, we have nothing to lose but our chains.