We’re going to the dogs, again.

The Bainbridge Island City Council will once more talk about revisions to its animal control ordinance; this time, at next week’s study session on Tuesday, March 17 at city hall.

Island officials have been grappling with the issue of off-leash dogs for years. But come next week, will residents see a bit of poochly pandering, or some real off-the-leash leadership from city council members?

It’s no secret that Bainbridge is hopelessly divided over the issue. While some will admit there are problematic dogs and dog owners on the island, many dog owners are quite happy with the status quo and the absence of an island-wide leash law, and that dogs are only required to be under voice control on public or private land (except on park district or school district property).

Many dog owners are also equally satisfied at ignoring the current restrictions against off-leash dogs on parkland and school properties because, well, those rules are for other people and our dogs are just lovable, playful pups.

On the flip side, however, are the islanders who have been attacked, threatened or just inconvenienced by loose dogs running through island parks and elsewhere.

And others, of course, think city hall should be spending its time on bigger problems than on off-leash dog issues.

City council members working on the issue have come up with what they see as the solution: Requiring dogs to be on leashes in Winslow area (bounded by Eagle Harbor, Madison Avenue, High School Road and Ferncliff Avenue) and in the Lynwood Neighborhood Center.

For every islander, off-leash dogs are both a public safety issue and a quality of life issue.

Bainbridge is not the rural island it was 20 or 30 years ago, and as the island grows in population and housing density continues to increase outside the Winslow core, the conflicts between uncontrolled dogs and other animals and people will remain and possibly grow. Irresponsible dog owners will also continue to flout the existing ban on off-leash animals in parks until the city gets serious on enforcement of animal control regulations.

Our view remains unchanged: Hang on to Snoopy, hang on.

Dogs on leashes are a fact of life for those who live in an urban area. Dog owners should be allowed to let their dogs run free on their own properties, and within established off-leash dog areas, but should also work with other islanders to increase the establishment of new off-leash dog areas on Bainbridge.