Ginger advises:
Why you SHOULD keep your dogs on leash on East Bay Regional Parks trails

First of all, off-leash is prohibited during the Covid 19 pandemic. Some observed the Covid Warning sign at the beginning of the trail, but other dog owners did not pay attention. Summer stayed on leash on Dunn Trail in Redwood Regional Park and she sits and stays when a dog or a cyclist passes by, so her owner can control her with the leash.

30 days into the Shelter In Place order, a dog approached Summer while in Sit & Stay and just lunged at her and bit her. Her owner yanked her away with the leash and the other dog’s owner moved to a foot away from her to grab her dog and just said, “Oh, your dog was on leash and some dogs don’t like that.”

Vet bills later and sleepless nights with the collar of shame for ten days, Summer finally got better.

Everyone has to keep practicing distancing and their dogs do too. Many folks walking on the trails are stressed to begin with and feel nervous when they see others get too close and not wearing masks. Dogs are sensitive. They feel that emotion. It’s not a good idea to expose your dog to others’ anxiety because you have no idea how your dog will react. Pay attention to the signs and keep your dog on leash. Ginger wants us all to be safe!

For more information on East Bay Regional Parks’ instructions and closures, visit their website.

Ginger’s drawings by her friend & artist Peter Hobbs Di Grazia