A Move to Curb Dogs’ Freedom

Rover and Fido sniffed it coming: a backlash against “bark parks” and “doggy beaches” that cities have established in the past few years at the request of pet owners.

Rex isn’t being ordered back to the doghouse. But some residents contend that the canine-friendly rules may have gone too far, and some cities are considering new restrictions on where the animals can roam.

“Have you ever heard what it sounds like when two big dogs get into a fight? It’s terrible,” said Kathy Binnquist, who operates a Costa Mesa tennis concession and has long complained about the dog park next door.

“A barking dog is a nuisance,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you are playing tennis or trying to sleep.”

Like Binnquist, other critics insist that they have nothing against pets and actually favor providing places for them to roam and play. Rather, they say, cities should consider the effects on others who want to enjoy public spaces in peace.

Officials are beginning to take action. In Laguna Beach, the City Council last week banned dogs from neighborhood playgrounds after some parents complained about pets frightening small children and relieving themselves near equipment.

Lifeguards at San Onofre State Beach in northern San Diego County recently announced a plan to ban dogs during the summer months, citing problems with droppings and bites. Huntington Beach officials, meanwhile, are talking about restricting pets from certain parts of the downtown area.

But curtailing dogs’ new freedom won’t be easy. Animal lovers have emerged as one of the most effective and formidable forces in Orange County neighborhood politics.

They have raised thousands of dollars to help develop and maintain the dog parks, lobbied for the construction of several new animal shelters and pressured some animal-control agencies into adopting more humane euthanasia policies for stray animals.

Moreover, dogs have landed an important role in 1990s suburbia, providing protection for crime-wary families and bringing neighbors together as they cross paths during nightly walks with their pets.

“Animals are social creatures,” said Glenda Rosen, co-founder of the Animal Rescue Foundation in Dana Point. “I think humans learn something from them.”

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The proliferation of dog parks across Orange County fills what animal lovers consider an acute shortage of places where dogs can play without leashes. Most neighborhood parks prohibit dogs from roaming freely, and owners say their backyards are too small for pets to exercise.

In 1992, Laguna Beach opened Orange County’s first “bark park,” and it instantly became a magnet for dog lovers from across Southern California. In the past four years, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach also opened parks, and Laguna Niguel is talking about establishing one.

While city officials consider the parks successful, they have recently focused attention on complaints that range from loud barking to smelly droppings.

Laguna Beach, the pioneer, is also a leader in cracking down on canine activities that bother residents.

Two years ago, the city adopted an ordinance requiring dog owners to carry containers for collecting droppings when they walk their pets. The law was passed in response to complaints from residents about feces on sidewalks, front lawns and at parks and beaches.

Laguna Beach also increased the fines levied on people who forgo leashes when walking their dogs. And then, last week, the City Council outlawed pets from playgrounds.

“It makes sense,” said Ann Christoph, a former councilwoman who supported the ban and also suggested extending it to picnic areas. “If you are eating a picnic lunch and a dog comes over and defecates, it’s not very appetizing--or healthful, either.”

Christoph and others insist that the rules are not designed to curtail canine freedoms but to ensure that dogs and people can coexist peacefully.

“This is an attempt by a city that has facilities for dogs to keep things under control and not impact other people in a negative way,” Councilwoman Kathleen Blackburn said. “It’s done as a way of balancing things.”

That is also the motivation for a proposal to restrict pets from certain parts of downtown Huntington Beach, said the plan’s author, Councilman Ralph H. Bauer.

As more sidewalk cafes and outdoor eateries open, some merchants have expressed concerns about the litter left after outdoor diners feed their dogs under patio tables, and other aesthetic matters.

“You don’t want to watch a dog go to the bathroom on a signpost while you are eating scrambled eggs,” said Bauer, whose plan would prohibit dogs from loitering at sidewalk cafes or being inside restaurant property.

Bauer said he is aware of how emotional the canine issue is for some residents.

“I don’t want to alienate anyone,” he said. “I think a happy medium is the best approach.”