Friday, July 30, 2004
SF police target tiny terriers and old dogs off-leash
Mypal Dema, owner of the illustrious frock shop by the same name, is one of 4 who got a citation for having off-leash dogs in the park. Local upstart drafted this press release below:
"For Immediate Release
Police Give Up On Homicides to Hunt Hounds
For more information contact:
David Looman 824-5963 cell 425-5963
In the middle of San Francisco's worst-ever epidemic of murders, San Francisco's police are busy in our parks handing out 'tickets' for off-leash dog walking. Most of the tickets so far have gone to women walking small or crippled dogs.
David Looman, whohas been using Holly Park for over twenty-five years, said: ' In thepast, we rarely saw police officers in the park except when they were looking for dope dealers. In the last month or so, they've spent 20 hours a week driving all over park land looking for dog owners to give tickets to."
Tuesday morning, the police were out giving tickets to a middle-aged woman walking a small terrier and a dress designer walking an old beagle on a leash andan old pointer off-leash. Shauna O'Donnell, ticketed two weeks ago for her dog Harry, complained: 'I can't takeHarry to St. Mary's dog park because he can't walk down and back up that hill, and there's no way to drive directly to the park. I can't take Harry to Bernal Hill because it has pavement and rocks. He drags his back feet and the tops of his 'knuckles" then bleed. Maybe Harry should have a 'disabled" placard for his collar that allows him to go to the park without a leash."
Unlike traffic tickets, these ‘tickets' are actually summonses to appear in Court. Offenders are charged with both having a dog off-leash and with disobeying signs about off leash dogs. This is called 'loading up" the charge, to make contesting it more difficult. The fine is approximately $ 150. Police appear to be selectively enforcing the Recreation and Park Department's new dog policy, which was enacted in 2001 after the largest protest in San Francisco history.
There are no reports of enforcement activities inthe western or northern areas of San Francisco. Holly Park has also recently undergone a $ 1.5 million makeover, which included spending over $100,000 on Canary Island Palm Trees. No park users were consulted during the renovation."
"For Immediate Release
Police Give Up On Homicides to Hunt Hounds
For more information contact:
David Looman 824-5963 cell 425-5963
In the middle of San Francisco's worst-ever epidemic of murders, San Francisco's police are busy in our parks handing out 'tickets' for off-leash dog walking. Most of the tickets so far have gone to women walking small or crippled dogs.
David Looman, whohas been using Holly Park for over twenty-five years, said: ' In thepast, we rarely saw police officers in the park except when they were looking for dope dealers. In the last month or so, they've spent 20 hours a week driving all over park land looking for dog owners to give tickets to."
Tuesday morning, the police were out giving tickets to a middle-aged woman walking a small terrier and a dress designer walking an old beagle on a leash andan old pointer off-leash. Shauna O'Donnell, ticketed two weeks ago for her dog Harry, complained: 'I can't takeHarry to St. Mary's dog park because he can't walk down and back up that hill, and there's no way to drive directly to the park. I can't take Harry to Bernal Hill because it has pavement and rocks. He drags his back feet and the tops of his 'knuckles" then bleed. Maybe Harry should have a 'disabled" placard for his collar that allows him to go to the park without a leash."
Unlike traffic tickets, these ‘tickets' are actually summonses to appear in Court. Offenders are charged with both having a dog off-leash and with disobeying signs about off leash dogs. This is called 'loading up" the charge, to make contesting it more difficult. The fine is approximately $ 150. Police appear to be selectively enforcing the Recreation and Park Department's new dog policy, which was enacted in 2001 after the largest protest in San Francisco history.
There are no reports of enforcement activities inthe western or northern areas of San Francisco. Holly Park has also recently undergone a $ 1.5 million makeover, which included spending over $100,000 on Canary Island Palm Trees. No park users were consulted during the renovation."
