To the editor:

I appreciated Cecilia Garza’s article about the opening of the fenced off-leash dog park at Strawberry Hill Park.

As a member of the Dog Area Working Group (DAWG) from 2010- 2012, we evaluated all of the parks on the Island and Strawberry Hill always came up with high marks for its slope, aspect, ability to drain, available size and lack of previously designated uses. It is a delight to see that it was finally built.

The only problem is that it forces everyone who wants to run their dogs off-leash to drive to a central location — for the moment. There are plans afoot for additional parks that serve the other neighborhoods on the Island and that is all to the good.

But what about going for a quiet walk and getting a bit of exercise for just yourself and your dog?

To that end, I wanted to correct one statement in your article which said “Some citizens fought for shared-use (insert the word “or”) off-leash hours at certain public parks, a directive that would have allowed dogs to roam freely at parks or trails used by residents and families.”

I would like to point out the following:

• No one on the DAWG Committee nor subsequent groups have talked about allowing dogs to “roam freely.” The intent of our conversations have been to impose the same level of responsibility that parents impose on their children (“No, Honey, don’t run up to that nice man and jump on him!”), and that the city currently imposes: on-leash or under control.

• Many people rigorously train their dogs to partner with them in walking the island’s streets and trails — other partnerships are a work in process — and still others know that they cannot walk their dogs off-leash because of their dog’s personality or the state of their training.

• Words do have meaning and continuing to use language that implies a laissez faire attitude is neither fair nor respectful to the growing number of socialized owners who have figured out how to responsibly walk with their dogs and be a good neighbor to all.

• We all need to work together to provide guidance as to appropriate behavior, and to apply peer pressure to those who continue to act as not-so-good neighbors.

BECCA HANSON

Bainbridge Island