Editor,
We rescued our Cairn westie mix, Porter, about a year and a half ago and get a big kick out of taking the little guy with us to Laguna’s nice dog park in the canyon. In town, he loves the many terrific dog-friendly restaurants and hotels including Brussels Bistro, Ocean Brewery and Casa del Camino with its cozy and welcoming lobby bar and fireplace. We also enjoy going to the beach on winter weekends thanks to our unseasonably warm weather.
Visit Laguna Beach, the operators of our official visitors center, has a section on their web site showing dog friendly hotels. The site tells readers right away: “Laguna Beach loves its dogs.”
Unfortunately, come June 15, Laguna will love its dogs a little less. Our daytime beach fun with Porter will end as the city closes the beach to dogs from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Our world-famous arts festivals – closed to dogs – unless you get a service exemption. The summer music series at Bluebird Park – off limits to dogs as well.
It’s too soon to tell how the new canyon light will affect summer traffic to and from the dog park, but it’s not looking promising.
Former City Council candidate Michele Hall promoted the idea of a dog beach without leash requirements, but I’d be perfectly happy to have a section where we can bring Porter on his leash, just like we do now. How many more visitors might we attract who are instead going to Huntington Beach’s dog beach?
Why not try a pilot program to keep a section of our beach dog-friendly in summer? It would need to be large enough to minimize dog density, but it might work from Oak Street south to the beach rocks, which provide a natural barrier. The north entrance could be roped off with signage keeping people from leaving the area with their dogs. The recently reported parking and hotel bed tax surplus could cover the signage costs. With a controlled pilot, we could restrict dog access on Memorial Day, July 4 and Labor Day until we get an idea of what kind of turnout to expect.
What do you say Laguna Beach?
Tim Templeton, Laguna Beach
I’m a dog owner and a bit canine crazy myself, and I love this idea. However, I think the only way to go is to designate an off-leash beach during an early-morning window only – say, 6 to 8:30 .a.m. This keeps it a little bit on the DL for locals – the only way to go, and a small gift for those who live here and put up with crowds year-round. Tim, the flea in the ointment of your letter is this line, “How many more visitors might we attract who are instead going to Huntington Beach’s dog beach?” I say let ’em go to HB! It might sound a little terriertorial, but we do NOT need more dogs and their owners from other communities on our beaches. More poop to clean up, more potential lawsuits from dogfights, more cars with license plates that say things like “I<3MYK9" and especially no payoff for the community, its shops or restaurants. Let's do it, but there's no need to advertise it to the world. Let it be our little secret. Now, where's our doggie Frisbee?