Poll: Should Rancho Palos Verdes Officials Rescind Off-Leash Dog Beach?

Angela April 1, 2012 at 01:40 pm

This beach is too small to accommodate large volume of dogs and people. No parking space. Cost the city for clean up of debris and trash left by uncaring visitors. So the idea should be no, no, no.

Maureen Megowan April 1, 2012 at 02:17 pm

The popularity of the off leash dog beach shows the high demand for somewhere where dog owners can run and exercise their dogs off-leash. The dog beach is not a substitute for a well designed dog park, however. A dog park would also provide access to an off leash facility for seniors who have difficulty getting down to the beach on the difficult trail from the cliffs above, and also to those dogs that are smaller or intimidated by some of the larger dogs.
If a dog park were built, this would also reduce the use of the dog beach. Many dog owners have been using the dog beach because it is the only off-leash location where being off a leash is legal.

Tina April 1, 2012 at 02:33 pm

No no no bad location little parking trash including poop must be hiked out with you which for many wont happen.
My dog was attacked by a pack of three pits down there no supervision no phone reception to call anyone no source for help BAD situation .

JB April 1, 2012 at 03:55 pm

I've been taking my dogs to this beach since the 1990s, and have never once had any problems. Parking is plentiful and free in the lot and all up the street leading to it. The steep hike keeps most people away.
I have always found it to be clean, especially compared to all the other dozens of LA County beaches where dogs are not allowed. The tidepools are healthy, and there is at least a quarter mile of beach where dogs roam - most don't even swim. Even on sunny weekends, it is rarely crowded. The last time I was there, there were five dogs and about seven people spread all down the way. Dog owners have been enjoying this beach for so many decades -- and I see no urgent and compelling reason to shut it down. It is sad that a dog was attacked there - I've never seen that personally. But we don't close beaches in LA County after a person drowns or there is violence.

DDavis April 1, 2012 at 07:38 pm

I absolutely detest people trying to stop freedoms such as this dog beach for no apparent or real reason. I have been going to this beach with my dog for 6 years without incident WHATSOEVER. Before that I used that beach without bringing a dog. NEVER NEVER NEVER was there a problem with dogs running free. I grew up on the hill. Went to Rolling Hills High School and I am now 60. Its always those who want to control or ruin a popular venue that appear to come out of the woodwork just to destroy anthers freedom. It is always the LOUD MINORITY that cause all this havoc while the happy MAJORITY say nothing. I am not about to sit back and allow these evil nasty people take away a wonderful beach that serves the community in such an unique manner without being heard. I am tired of these nasty people of the MINORITY always mouthing off and ruining every great freedom and enjoyable venue just so they can control it. To the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council, please do not give credence to the minority nay sayers that will try to convince you that this off leash dog beach should be rescinded.

Julie Higgins April 1, 2012 at 07:44 pm

The city should keep the dog beach. Most people who use it clean up after their pets. There are plenty of non dog beaches where people who don't like dogs can go!

Cpt. Willard April 2, 2012 at 01:21 am

Dog owners have no respect for the environment nor is it apparent that they bothered to read the City's last report on the issue. It is clear they are not being logical how they approach the argument. They simply are driven by their emotions because the center of their narrow world is their muts.

Norma Toering April 2, 2012 at 12:31 pm

I walk here often and have done so since I lived at the Portuguese Bend Beach Club thirteen years ago. I no longer take my grandchildren to visit the tidepools and collect sea glass due to the unrestrained dogs. It is simply too risky. A large dog knocked my granddaughter down when she was four--the owner was yards away. While walking there a few weeks ago two pit bulls were roaming free and as they raced toward me the owner assured me from a distance they were "friendly"--let me assure you, it is was not a good feeling. I have no problem with dogs at the beach, but common sense must prevail. Mixing free roaming dogs with children is a recipe for disaster, and in my personal opinion a lawsuit waiting to happen. I hope the City of RPV has deep pockets.
I love dogs and at one time my household included three, but I believe a dog park designated expressly for dogs is a better solution, and a safer one, than dogs roaming free amid the public.

Notso Neocon April 2, 2012 at 01:49 pm

So, do you 'detest' following laws like not having your dog offleash at just about every other beach in L.A. County? I hope you don't mind dogs and cats being offleash and romping all over your front yard using 'freedom' to relieve themselves in your yard. Some of the 'freedoms' you demand can also be considered tyranny by others. If we are a nation of laws, then even conservatives should respect that.

Richard April 2, 2012 at 06:21 pm

Wow, take a look in the mirror there Captain Critical. Stereotype much? There is a balance to be struck on the issue, not just in PV but in LA city generally for mixed-use beaches. Have you ever visited the beach at issue? I'm guessing you haven't. Is the present situation ideal? In some ways it may not be, but rescinding the pilot program isn't necessarily the right solution. Talk about a narrow view sir!

JB April 2, 2012 at 07:09 pm

I agree that this beach is not suitable for a four-year-old - espec with the steep walk, the uneven rock surfaces, and the lack of a safe swimming area. I'm happy that you have dozens of other beaches where you can safely take your grandchildren where they will not have to face a large dog -- including, of course, every other beach on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and in LA County, except for a tiny portion of the beach near the Long Beach pier called Rosie's Beach.
The stretch near Bolsa Chica in Huntington Beach has been dog friendly for decades, with plenty of children and dogs mixing together every day, with zero lawsuits to the city. Long Beach has not had that problem, either. Santa Barbara beaches are all dog friendly, with no lawsuits, as are many dog-friendly beaches in San Diego. So the idea that lawsuits will bankrupt Rancho PV is not based in fact or experience or even common reasoning.

Jo Marco April 2, 2012 at 10:33 pm

There are dog beaches in other nice communities, Carmel, San Francisco, Huntington, San Diego to name a few. Unfortunately, the dog beach may be killed like the ball fields, skate parks, dog parks, animal education centers, college students and now even the Preserve (one of the things that has kept our property values up) is under attack again for being tpp popular ("too many people, bikes, hikers, horses- whatever you want to be against, on the trails...."). Nobody in this community will tolerate anything nice for someone else if they can complain and make it go away. Yet we allow building to start up again in the landslide area without benefit of an EIR all the while seeing the access road sliding out to sea in the name of property rights. We can't even have tall, mature trees around here, just short, tortured ones so as not to block someone's view (of short stumpy tortured trees...)

vic pietrantoni May 1, 2012 at 05:32 pm

Dear Notso; Thank you for so elequently making DDavis' point. Actually, there are beautiful off-leash parks on the beach in several places up and down the coast. Two I have used lately are located in Carmel and Huntington Beach. Off-leash beaches are among the cleanest beaches around. We tend to not only pick up after our dogs, but also pick up after weekend revelers who leave plastic and other trash that kill wildlife. I'm sure your argument about dogs peeing on your lawn is relevant to your point of view about something, just not the situation being discussed. I also like how you made this a political issue; again, your point? Oh, and about the law; we have law that need to be interpreted to the "letter." I don't believe this is one of them. I'm sure if you think real hard, you will come up with an infraction or two that you have committed in the past? Maybe not......One last thing; I typed this too quickly, so if you should come across a spelling and/or grammer mistake, don't let it get you off track of what the discussion is about.
vic pietrantoni

vic pietrantoni May 1, 2012 at 05:38 pm

Dear Cpt,
Is that all dog owner who have no respect for the environment. I invite you to go to the Huntington Beach off-leash dog park. As you walk northbound on the dog beach notice how clean it is. As you pass the northern boundry of the dog park, notice how clean it's not. As for you comment about "all dog owners being emotional and living in a "narrow world," it seems that it's time for a little introspection. vic pietrantoni