HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-18 Public Comment - A. Miller - Dogs Off LeashFrom:Terry Cunningham
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Dogs harassed me on GVLT Sourdough Trail
Date:Monday, August 06, 2018 2:44:49 PM
In case this wasn't sent to all Commissioners.
Terry Cunningham - City Commissioner
City of Bozeman | 121 North Rouse Avenue | P.O. Box 1230 | Bozeman, MT 59771
P: 406.595-3295 | E: Tcunningham@bozeman.net | W: www.bozeman.net
From: webadmin@bozeman.net [webadmin@bozeman.net]Sent: Monday, August 06, 2018 1:04 PMTo: Terry CunninghamSubject: Dogs harassed me on GVLT Sourdough Trail
Message submitted from the <City Of Bozeman> website.
Site Visitor Name: Ann Miller
Site Visitor Email: mannmiller2008@gmail.com
Dear Terry,
While walking my dog today ON LEASH on GVLT Sourdough Trail from GoldensteinParking Lot to Valley View, I was harassed by two different dog walkers.
1) Woman with dog off leash allowed her dog to run down to creek where I held my dog while
he drank water, and the dog ran into creek and jumped my dog. She called it 5 times, andwhen it would not retreat , I had to kick it to get it away from my dog.
2) 10 minutes later, farther to North, 5 dogs came barreling around corner with no person to be
seen, as it was a "blind corner" on the trail along the creek. We retreated vs fighting 5 dogs.Finally a woman shows up and I told her this is an ON leash trail. She responded "I know"
very curtly and walked off without controlling her dogs.
I warned an elderly couple walking the trail and they informed me that they live alongSourdough, walk the trail daily, and that the lady with the 5 dogs is a professional dog walker
who NEVER uses leashes.
Then I encountered the Bozeman Parks Maintenance worker who was clearing brush andasked him "Why aren't you parks people enforcing the dog leash law here?" To which he
responded: We must be directed by the City Commissioners to do that, and enforcing the doglaws is NOT one of their priorities.
Why is enforcing dog laws Not a concern of the Commission?
Elders like me are tired of getting knocked around by dogs off leash, and tired of our well-
trained elderly obedience dogs having to duke it out with obviously un-trained dogs and theirarrogant owners who feel entitled to do whatever they want to do with their dogs irrespective
of laws.
It is time to start ticketing all dogs off leash in Bozeman....imagine the INCOME this wouldgenerate for trail maintenance!
Furthermore, all professional dog walkers should pay a large fee for a license to use our trails
for profit, and have that licensed REVOKED if they run any dogs off leash.
Regards,
Ann MillerBozeman MT