Dogs who need leashes spoil it for others

Some people apparently still don’t “get it� regarding the saga of

the Corona del Mar residents who want to let their dog swim at Big

Corona beach without a leash (“Newport can tighten leash,� Sept. 5).

The problem is not with their golden retriever, which is evidently

a very nice and gentle dog. The problem is if you allow one dog

without a leash, you have to allow all dogs. Not all dogs are nice or

gentle.

I personally don’t want to worry if an unrestrained dog is a

loving pet or psychotic killer while I’m swimming or walking on the

beach. And the families that crowd Big Corona don’t need the

potential threat of a dangerous dog attacking children or even of an

overly friendly dog frightening a small child by accident.

The city has laws not to punish responsible pet owners, but to

protect the public from the dangers caused by a minority of

inconsiderate, irresponsible people.

I find it the height of arrogance that these residents should

apparently feel the law should not apply to them because they live

beside the public’s beach.

And I wonder how much tax money was squandered by their legal

appeals forcing the court to uphold the public’s right to not be

molested by unleashed dogs on the beach.

Maybe the city could designate a location as a “dog beach,�

perhaps in Crystal Cove, where there would be minimal public effects.

Big Corona, however, is not the place for unrestrained pets.

And that’s my opinion.

ROBERT WALCHLI

Corona del Mar

Yeah, I think it’s a sad day. Evidently the judges don’t have

dogs, and I realize the beaches are crowded but we obey all the lease

laws and letting your dog swim in the water certainly is not going to

hurt anybody. They can’t bite anybody in the water and, if nothing

else, they should have some designated areas. You know they’ve got

dog parks and everything else. I have a hard time with this.

ROBERT HOFFMAN

Newport Beach

I applaud the judges. I believe dogs should be leashed at all

times in all places. I also believe their owners, sorry guardians,

should be leashed as well. Or perhaps, better yet, lashed.

WINTHROP HOPGOOD

Newport Beach

Of all the stupid things. Forcing owners to hold the leash of a

swimming dog is dangerous for the dog and dangerous for the owner.

The whole purpose of a leash is so the dog won’t pester other dogs or

people. How is that possible if it is swimming? This is totally

ridiculous.

JIM VAN VORST

Irvine

As I read the article, the state of California has a leash law to

keep people from being bit, however, a dog that has proven not be a

threat to anyone else around is already a safe dog.

I disagree with the judges’ ruling that a dog cannot enjoy the

beach. Huntington Beach has a dog beach. I think Newport Beach should

also have a dog beach and we should actually be rewarding residents

who have well-trained dogs by allowing them to let those dogs out and

around and enjoy the same things and the same luxuries as a child

because they are treated like a child.

I hope that the city of Newport Beach will have a dog park just

like Huntington Beach has. They seem to be mimicking the growth

Huntington Beach has by having larger structures and encouraging

people to come down and enjoy their place, so I would think that

people that have dogs that have shown they are actually social.

The state’s mandate -- which is a law that was just adopted this

year -- says a dog has to be a social animal, that those dogs that

are social animals were actually rewarded by being allowed to be a

social animal and enjoy the same benefits as everyone else.

Especially if the animal is being well-care for and being picked up

after.

We have a great deal of hatred in this country and I don’t think

that should be expanded upon animals that are supposed to be

well-cared for and under the care of an individual.

JIM HILDRETH

Newport Beach