Gallery of Off Leash Offenders

I've started taking photos of the Offenders.  I miss way more than I catch because I'm trying to protect the Ducks from being Attacked.  But these are the ones from recent and I will continue to post them here.

STOW LAKE 4.8.14

STOW LAKE 4.21.14

STOW LAKE 4.24.14

Video of the Dog that almost got the Babies.

Dog Off Leash Attacks Duck at Stow Lake

As I stated in my previous posts, the Dog Off Leash issue is probably the biggest problem.  A problem that needs immediate attention and change.

I have been a regular at Stow Lake (and Lloyd Lake) for years now.  At one or both of the Lakes daily. I have formed Friendships with many of the Ducks, who I stop and say Hi to and they know me as well.  I am not the only one.  There are many who frequent the Lakes for their daily exercise and have come to know certain Ducks as well.  There is a community who loves and respects the Wildlife.

It was to my Horror that I heard about one of Stow Lakes "Mascots" being Viciously and Violently Attacked by a Dog Off Leash.  This Duck barely got away, as the Owner could not even call the Dog off.  He ended up with a Three inch round patch of feathers missing, and a One inch puncture wound. Not only was I Heartbroken, I was completely OUTRAGED!  as I had mad many reports to Park Patrol and Rangers in regard to the Dog Off Leash problem.  I also have written many emails to the Park Manager Eric Anderson.  All complaints and pleas for help with this had been ignored.   

When this happened, I advanced from email to calling Eric Anderson's Office.  I reiterated the suggestion of Banning Dogs at these Two Lakes.  It is my feeling that the Park is big enough for Dogs to be walked elsewhere.  If the Leash Law can not be followed, then Dog Owners should not have the privileged of using the Lake areas.  He left a message saying, "Policy has been set".  My response to that was that I interpreted that to mean, there would be no changes made.

In my opinion, there is no reason changes can't be made.  As stated in my Welcome post, I am not a Humanitarian, BUT I will say this, I guarantee if a Dog bit a Human especially a Kid, Policy would damn well be changed and right quick!  The Wildlife in the Park deserve to be protected.   This City touts itself all over the place for being "Green".  Being Green goes hand in hand with respecting the Environment, and that includes the Wildlife.   The Park and City by proxy has shown it doesn't care by letting that Babie Bison be Killed and not doing anything in the aftermath to promote Awareness make an example of the Off Leash Offenders.  And by not having proper signage and Patrol at the Lakes, it ignores this problem and coddles the Offenders.  

I started a Petition to Ban Dogs at the Lakes.  In my opinion its best to lay it out as ideal as possible, which I did.  I haven't had much time to promote it via Social Networking, but plan to, starting with this blog.  As well, there were a few People who thought Banning was too much to ask for.  They may be right, but like I said, its the ideal and that would be my Goal.  The secondary Goal would be for signage and outreach noting that Dogs Must be Muzzled and SHORT Leashed.  Seeing as the Park maintains they don't have enough Officers to Patrol, this just seems more of the like and those who already ignore the Law will do the same with this one.  Banning is the only true solution.  If the Park wants to Save Lives of the Animals, that's what needs to be done.  

This all said, I will also start a secondary Petition to change the Law to Muzzled and Short Leashed.

Till then, please sign my Petition if you agree and or post alternative suggestions in the comment area.

You can also email the Park Manager at eric.anderson@sfgov.org    Thank you.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/382/920/009/ban-dogs-at-golden-gate-park-lakes/

Act With Empathy - Animals Feel Too!

If you read my Welcome post you saw my tagline Act With Empathy.  This means, let your Actions and Behavior towards Animals reflect how you would feel in the same circumstance.  

It is written in the Park Code, that it is unlawful to (among other things) Terrorize or Harass, the Animals/Wildlife that live in Golden Gate Park.  It should also be noted that these offenses are against the Law outside the Park as well.

Under the umbrella of Terrorizing/Harassing, is Chasing, Touching, Kicking, and any other Motion towards the Animals that cause them to be Startled or flee in Fear.

The Waterfowl/Ducks who live at the Lakes in Golden Gate Park are continually Terrorized by Humans and the bigger problem, Dogs Off Leash.  While it would be ideal for Adults to teach their Children not to Chase the Ducks, it seems to fall into the category of, you can't teach stupid.  Sorry for those who will be offended by my bluntness, but I don't mince words, I'm not PC about about things when it regards an Animals Safety.  If you are offended then this blog will not be the place for you.  If you care about Animals and want to be Aware of these problems and try to make change to help them, then you're in the right place.  That said, most of the time its the Adults who are the problem and the perpetrator of Misbehavior.

I have had Humans say things like, "They don't care" , "Its not harming them", "They need the excercise", ...  These are unfeeling and unacceptable.  They deserve to be treated with respect and compassion in the same way you would want to be.  Please spread the word by being the Voice for these Animals.  They just want some Peace like everyone else.  If you see them being chased or harassed in anyway, say something or call the Park Patrol, Ranger, or SFPD non-ER dispatch.  I will provide all these numbers tomorrow. (5/19/14).  

I have witnessed Humans, do some Evil things to the Animals, that I'm not going to list right now, because I'm not sure whether that will make them even more vulnerable to these actions.

What I will do right now, is start to document the Actions I see in regard to Dogs off Leash and start a Petition to get some changes made at the Two Lakes which are hardest hit by these Offenders, Stow Lake and Lloyd Lake.

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!

Welcome!

This blog has been a long time coming.  I started one similar a few years ago, when after seeing Dry Ice Dumped into Lloyd Lake the day after the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Event ended.  I was first concerned for the Waterfowl that live at the Lake, and outraged at the complete disrespect of the Event Vendors.  I did some investigating and confirmed that it was indeed Vendors.  I will right here in the first paragraph note that I am no Humanitarian.  My exclusive concern is for the Wildlife who make the Park their home.  That is the main purpose of this blog.  That said, there will be instances that I note other issues.

The second second post I wrote was in regard to one of the Bison (at the time a Calf) being killed as the result of an off leash Dog.  I was outraged by this.  The lack of Sense shown by all parties involved.  The Dog Owner/Walker, the San Francisco Rec and Park, and the San Francisco Zoo Animal Care Staff, mainly the Vet.  I will post about this in the following post as even though its in the past, it is relevant to today's current issues, primarily Dogs Off Leash.

I promote Act With Empathy.  What does that mean?  It means your Actions/should reflect how you would Feel.  

As a Native and Resident of the Richmond District, having Golden Gate Park as my "backyard" has been a privilege.   Unfortunately that does not hold the same for many others.  I am in the Park almost daily and all I witness is Misbehavior by those who think they are Entitled to do whatever the hell they want.  Its a Disgusting Abuse in many ways.  Those ways will be highlighted in coming posts.

As I noted, my concern is for the Wildlife.  Posts will be about offenses towards them.  My goal is to not only expose these offenders, but to educate those who don't have natural Empathy.  My hope is for this forum to be a catalyst for change in our Park, especially at the Lake areas, where the Waterfowl are being Terrorized constantly.

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Thank you!