I recently moved from Worcester MA to York Maine, unwittingly unaware of a huge issue that has come about here. First of all, York Maine is a community that does not have a leash law per say (outside public parks and beaches), but does require dogs to be under voice command. So that means an owner is required to be somewhere nearby, and their dogs under control. I happen to live on four acres, near 30 acres of woods that while owned by individuals, is pretty much used as public ways. Especially the stretch down the power lines that goes on for miles near picturesque streams. I happen to live on a dead end. So my dogs get tons more freedom and fun, beyond being on the beach too, than they used to. Dirt roads are all around us, so most of the time there are no cars there, and I walk my dogs unleashed around the neighborhood. Course one of the reasons we moved here, is proximity to the beach, and the excellent dog community that meets at the beach. Also, I happened to know that there are no other balanced trainers in the area. Long Sands Beach, where I walk and one of three public beaches and more than a few public parks, where people enjoy taking their dogs, is two miles long at low tide, and probably a quarter of a mile in. During the winter, people and their off leash dogs (same voice command rule applies but apparently hasn't been enforced) are allowed 24/7 on the beaches. During the summer the rule has been, off leash dogs are allowed on the beaches from 6PM to 8AM (the summer being defined as from May 1 to October 1). Unknown to me before I moved here, the selectmen having been trying to get the dogs banned during the summer, and thought to be banned from all beaches eventually.It is thought that the grass roots organization, which I have been sure to support, ARF, has convinced the selectmen that a ban is not going to be passed at all, and the newest revision gives off lead time at one beach from sunrise to 8AM only. Then at 6PM, on lead dogs would be allowed. The position of ARF is not to give up any rights. Dog waste has been an issue. I should say that someone dug up last years figures during the summer, and out of 700 incidents reported only 40 citations were handed out. While I would bet not all the 700 incidents were tourists, I would bet the majority are tourists, and the animal control officers certaintly did not do their jobs by letting 640 go. 640*250 (citiation new amount) would be 160,000; certaintly insuring some money for the monitoring of a couple hours in the morning of compliance with the statutes. In addition to this, there have been incidents of (from what I can gather) mostly friendly but untrained dogs running up to people, who do not want to see their dogs, and knocking them over or just scaring them. This is understandable too. And even with the dog group I hang out with, great wonderful dogs, but under voice control? I don't think so. Dogs have run up to mine, with the owner saying twenty "come Fifi" in a row. So that's a problem. On the other hand, the two incidents that were talked about in the meeting were a wife attacked by a dog on lead, not at the beach, and a man claiming that if a spec of dog hair gets near him, he needs to go and shower off. In addition, he made front page news, claiming a dog had jumped on him from behind. Then publically in the meeting said, I don't know whether the dog licked me or what, but I was startled and could have fallen. Course this same guy is "unable" to walk the beaches at any other time other than 6am to 8am. And wouldn't be satisfied with perfectly trained dogs, he wants no dogs ever, and I am sure once they are banned from the beach, he will want them banned from the streets. This being said though, there is definate room for improvement. These are also good people here, who are trying to get a handle on how to turn this around, and what voice control means. If any of you live in my area, and would like to be involved in this, please contact http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2h7gi/arfofyorkmaine/ Even if you are a tourist that comes, it's important to know that the selectmen are not considering that this is a vacation destination for dog owners. It used to be my vacation destination, and now I live here. Who knew that small towns have way more time on their hand for these issues than big cities LOL!!! Never had these kind of brew hahas in Worcester MA. I have been steering them towards training info, and tool info. Course my dogs make an impression, and I am seeing an increase in business sooner than I was expecting (I was expecting May and have had several training inquiries these first weeks in March). I think any seminars that could be extended to ARF may be invaluable to them. Just some food for thought. Awhile ago, I know there was a discussion on dog park models (rules for allowing or testing for off leash reliability). If anyone wanted to send them or me that info, that would be great as well.
