It always surprises me to see folks bring their pets -- usually dogs -- to national parks. It's surprising because most parks ban pets from trails, and always require them to be on leashes. As a result, the pets usually spend time in a nearby kennel, in the rig, or being walked in parking lots. Should the rules change?
While we always leave our springers behind at home, more than a few pet owners wouldn't think for a minute of leaving their animals -- family members, actually -- behind. While park officials don't want dogs and other pets to get in frays with wildlife, leave their "messes" behind, or bother other visitors, some pet owners will point out that their pets are better behaved than many of today's teens and a surprising number of adults.
What do you think? Are park officials being overly stringent in banning pets on trails? Do you avoid national parks because of these regulations?
Comments
National parks are wildlife sanctuaries and the policy of keeping dogs off trails is a sound one.
On a recent trip to Yosemite Valley, visitors with dogs on the main walking/biking trails clearly obstructed the pathways. You see, while the dogs are on a "leash" - they are on 16 foot reels and the dogs are allowed to wander all over the place, while keeping with regulations. A bicyclist came to a sudden stop and asked a woman with a dog on a reel leash to retract the leash and unfortunately, words were exchanged. The woman took offense as if one was reprimanding a child. It's a dog.
That's not keeping up with the regulations. The rules say the dog must be on no more than a 6 ft leash. Those adjustable dog leads can be locked at a fixed length, and the owner should have done as such.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/pets.htm
You may be happy to leave your dog at home but your dog would much rather be with you in the park than locked up in some kennel.
I am a NPS superintendent, and am also very active in a variety of dog-related avocational interests (tracking, agility, etc.). My dogs are my constant outdoor companions. A few years back, I entered into this very discussion with an associate regional director with science in their portfolio. I challenged that ARD to produce any defensible, empirical science that had been conducted that demonstrated adverse impacts that dogs had on either visitor experience or park resources. Over the next several weeks I was forwarded a variety subjective articles that articulated many of the above arguments, and also a few pieces of purported science that, IMO, were more correctly anecdotal supposition. The bottom line for me - as is the case with most "animal problems" (dog, bear, bison, whatever), what we are discussing here is more correctly a people problem. We don't bar cars from parks because some people drive recklessly. We don't bar children from the parks because some delinquents spray graffiti on park walls. We don't bar alcohol from parks because some people over imbibe. Why bar dogs because some owners are irresponsible?
Dear Park Superintendent, I agree with you totally. Thank you for sharing your experiences and perspectives.
As a Park Ranger who is faced with all too many folks who do not take the time to read, understand, and follow park regulations and then complain when you try to politely tell them that they are in violation and educate them about the law, I'd LOVE to see dogs/pets be banned for good from the parks. Like everyone else has said in their posts, there are usually other places you can take them, so why do you insist on breaking the regulations and complain when you are issued a citation. What gets me even more is when I am polite and helpful, I am the one who gets told and yelled at about how bad the law is and how stupid it is and that the pets don't hurt anything. And PLEASE pet owners, realize that there are regulations and laws in most of the parks about leaving your pets locked in your cars while you are off hiking even if it is not hot out it's still leaving an unattended pet in a vehicle, like leaving your so called "child" in there huh.... Another point, tieing your pet to an object such as a picknick table then leaving it is not ok either. The 15 foot of climbing rope around your dogs neck is not within the regulations, you must maintain control on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Just leave them at home and if you can't then travel to other areas such as the BLM or Forest Service lands that have a different mission and different purpose than the national parks. What makes anyone think that pet owners who can't already follow regulations are going to follow new ones any better? My vote is NO DOGS period..
I'm just reminded of the story in Lee Whittlesey's book Death in Yellowstone, where a fellow and his dog were at Fountain Paint Pots, the dog got loose, jumped in one of the hot pools, and his owner jumped in after him to rescue him. Both died from their burns.
Please, at least, keep dogs out of the geyser basins. It's just not safe for them there.
I can see both viewpoints on this, but personally I don't like seeing dogs in parks. I've been attacked by dogs several times and, while I don't have a fear, I am wary when I see them running around off leash or when there are several dogs at one time on a trail. I know that the majority of dogs and dog owners are well behaved, but it's those few that aren't that can totally ruin a trip for someone else. I have also seen dogs take off after wildlife, the owners often dropping the leash when they're pulled by the dog. Just the other day we had a dog run into the horse pasture and ended up kicked by a horse. That could have easily killed the dog. I think for the dog's protection and people's protection the dogs shouldn't be in the park. I love my kitty and want her with me all the time, but I know the safest place for her is at home so I leave her there.