Past Thoughts Still Relevant - Bison Babie Killed by Off Leash Dog January 2012

As noted in my Welcome post, this Tragic Event directly relates to current problem in Golden Gate Park, primarily at Stow Lake and Lloyd Lake.

I was heartbroken and frustrated that once again there was an issue with safety regarding the Animals managed by the San Francisco Zoo, in association with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. 

Sadly this Event concerned the Death of one of the Park's (then) new Babie Bison. In case you aren't familiar, the Golden Gate Park has a Buffalo Paddock which has housed American Bison for over a Hundred years.  With the existing herd reducing due to old age, Seven Calves approximately Six months old were added to the Herd recently.  

At the time of the incident, they had been kept in a separate area from the older Females, first for quarantine purposes, and then until they are introduced.

This innocent Babie was Killed as a direct result of an off leash Dog.  The Dog's walker Ignored the Law and let the Dogs's in her care run wild and free.  It got under the fencing and scared one of the Bison into the electric fence, causing the Animal to break Three Ribs (and I assume there was some injury from the electric fence).  The animal was treated, but later died from those injuries.

There are so many things that are wrong with how and why this happened, but in addition to the disregard for the Law by the Dog Walker, all can be reduced to incompetence, lack of sense and poor management, both of the San Francisco Zoo and the San Francisco Rec and Park.

The main problem with the facts is that the fence was breach-able.  Who is to blame?  The worker's 

who worked on the fencing in preparation for  the arrival of the new Bison?  The Rec and Park who oversee the Park?  The San Francisco Zoo ( I would assume Hoofstock ) Staff whose care these animals are in?  Whose negligence was it to not check that this fence was secure?  Whose was it to not re-check it?  

That fence should have been deep into the ground.  It is the Zoo and the Rec and Park Dept. responsibility to keep these animals safe, especially knowing that there has been an intrusion of Coyote incidents within the Park.  One would think that alone would be a concern for not only the existing residents, but the new ones being brought in.  As well, upon further investigation on my part I found 34 breachable points in the fence, that remained the same way over the course of many weeks that I went back to check and see if any changes had been made, after I had alerted Park Officials to this matter.

Yes, the fence should have been secure, but that does not let the person who had the Dog off leash off the hook.  This person is who I first blame as they are the catalyst for this event.  I come across people with their Dogs off leash daily.  My problem is, not only for their own safety is them being leashed the right thing, dogs run and Terrorize the other Wildlife that lives in the Park.  You would think that Dog owners would respect all animals, that is not the case unfortunately.  As well most seem to really have an attitude about it.

THIS is one of the MAIN issues that will be addressed in this blog.  Off Leash Dogs.   ... Its been Three years since this Event and there are STILL no updated Signs, or regular Patroling and Citing being done.  The Rec and Park STILL does not utilize Social Media to remind and repeat behavior guidelines for those Visiting the Park.  DOG Owners/Walkers STILL have no Empathy/Concern/Compassion for other Beings.  THIS MUST CHANGE!