04-10-2017, 06:31 PM
Quite the heated debate. Won’t pick sides, but will say generally the dog situation is out of control here. Two incidents in past year:
1) Am walking along Bayfront fence (inside) toward bandstand. Usual set of homeless drunks carrying on inside. One guy has got a rusty old shopping cart loaded with stuff by the fence, with two dogs on short leashes. Space between the dogs and bandstand: about 40 feet.
I hope to pass between fence and bandstand, but as I approach dogs start barking. I angle toward bandstand side, both dogs violently jump and try drag the cart toward the bandstand so as to intercept me. Cart doesn’t move. I figure no problem. But the closer I get the more agitated they get and start snarling like crazy. They hurl themselves against their leashes. The cart starts to move. I am not going to make it. I just shake my head and go the other way.
2) Talking the walk along McKenzie short at cliff’s edge. Start near Pohoiki side where you can see ocean a bit from road. Heading south. A family is camping. Not tourists. I do not get less than 150 yards from them when 3 dogs start up. Intense barking, dogs all agitated. You would think I was breaking into the guy’s car. Closer I get, worse it gets.
Couple people lackadaisically try to calm dogs down. Does not work. They continue barking the whole way I pass, until I get about 150 yards beyond. 300 yards was about 6-8 minutes of walking, so 6-8 minutes of agitated dogs. So much for a peaceful walk. Have hiked out there for 30 years, from here on probably will avoid the place if I see campers out there.
Two observations: 1) Leashes can break. If they do, you may have big trouble. 2) A lot of dog owners posturing around public places and parks with barking/agitated dogs have an attitude. Like: wot, bodda you? Both these dog owners and their dogs are unpredictable. Trouble. Walk away.
1) Am walking along Bayfront fence (inside) toward bandstand. Usual set of homeless drunks carrying on inside. One guy has got a rusty old shopping cart loaded with stuff by the fence, with two dogs on short leashes. Space between the dogs and bandstand: about 40 feet.
I hope to pass between fence and bandstand, but as I approach dogs start barking. I angle toward bandstand side, both dogs violently jump and try drag the cart toward the bandstand so as to intercept me. Cart doesn’t move. I figure no problem. But the closer I get the more agitated they get and start snarling like crazy. They hurl themselves against their leashes. The cart starts to move. I am not going to make it. I just shake my head and go the other way.
2) Talking the walk along McKenzie short at cliff’s edge. Start near Pohoiki side where you can see ocean a bit from road. Heading south. A family is camping. Not tourists. I do not get less than 150 yards from them when 3 dogs start up. Intense barking, dogs all agitated. You would think I was breaking into the guy’s car. Closer I get, worse it gets.
Couple people lackadaisically try to calm dogs down. Does not work. They continue barking the whole way I pass, until I get about 150 yards beyond. 300 yards was about 6-8 minutes of walking, so 6-8 minutes of agitated dogs. So much for a peaceful walk. Have hiked out there for 30 years, from here on probably will avoid the place if I see campers out there.
Two observations: 1) Leashes can break. If they do, you may have big trouble. 2) A lot of dog owners posturing around public places and parks with barking/agitated dogs have an attitude. Like: wot, bodda you? Both these dog owners and their dogs are unpredictable. Trouble. Walk away.