To the editor:
I love dogs, but I am terrified of off leash dogs. I have an older “rescue” dog that is highly reactive to other dogs, and we love going on hikes on public trails. But the likelihood of encountering off leash dogs is my constant worry. It should not be so, because in Michigan, state law requires that dogs be kept on a leash in public spaces. So do the Grand Traverse and Leelanau County Animal Control Ordinances.
And yet, more often than not, while hiking on public properties we encounter off leash dogs and disgusting feces on or beside the trail. Both issues present a risk to other hikers and to wildlife. The notion that your dog “is friendly” or “needs to run” is no excuse. Please be a responsible pet owner. Observe the laws and keep your dog leashed at all times in public places.
Alison Hein Elmwood Township
