I am a dog person. I am an outdoors person. So it should come as no surprise that I like to combine the two. And I don’t like to use a leash when I do it. But having my dogs off-leash out in the world regularly leads to problems. Not with them, and not with wild animals, but with people. Responsible dog owners know when and in what situations it is safe for your dog to remain off leash and as a responsible dog owner, I feel it is my choice when this decision is to be made.

Although I do disagree with Chaunceys new potential leash law (outlined below) I do agree with their second initiative of owners being responsible for cleaning up dog waste and this petition ONLY address the leash aspect.

People seem to have 2 major reasons for getting upset that my dogs are running free: dogs poop,dogs chase wild animals, and dogs are scary. Let’s look at each and see if they really are issues.

Poop: I know not every dog owner picks up their dog’s poop in public places, or in the outdoors, but that has nothing to do with leashes, but more so responsible pet ownership.

Dogs Are Scary: Off-leash dogs do not represent a statistically significant threat to you outdoors. In fact, 75 percent of dog bites occur on the victim’s own property, and the vast majority of victims know the dog that bites them. You are more at risk of a dog bite at home than you are hanging out in the woods. Dogs are also less likely to be aggressive off-leash than they are on one.

I understand that phobias are a thing and some people have had negative experiences with dogs, which leads to fears. But an under-control off-leash dog is no more likely to cause you harm than a leashed dog. This includes the potential interactions between dogs and other dogs as well.

Is an off-leash dog a better-behaved dog than a leashed one? The approach to dog ownership in England is exactly the opposite of what it is in the United States. In England, dogs are allowed off-leash anywhere that doesn’t expressly require leashes. And those places are pretty rare. In the United States, where dogs are mostly required to be on-leash except in areas that expressly permit otherwise, there are about 800,000 dog bites each year that require medical attention. In the UK? That number has reached an all-time high of 7,227, nearly double what it was a decade ago. But with a population of 8.5 million dogs, the percentage of dogs that bite humans is far lower, at just .085 percent. In the United States, with leashes being standard, it’s 1.142 percent.

Lets Band together to keep Chauncey leash free for responsible pet owners!!!

Background Information:

MassWildlife is proposing leash and waste disposal regulations for dogs on Wildlife Management Areas. A public hearing has been scheduled for February 6, 2018 at 7 PM at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, 01581.

The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has a long tradition of welcoming dogs on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), and dogs are still welcome on WMAs under this proposal.

MassWildlife proposes to take this action due to repeated complaints from WMA users about negative and unsafe encounters with unleashed dogs and issues with dog waste. MassWildlife protects and manages these areas to sustain wildlife abundance and diversity and provide wildlife-related recreation, including hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching, while at the same time providing a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for all visitors. Therefore:

1. The proposed regulations require leashing dogs and other domestic animals on WMAs. Dogs may be off-leash only when hunting or hunt-training with licensed hunters under existing regulations, or if they are participating in retriever or bird dog trial events that have been permitted by MassWildlife. Leashing dogs decreases conflicts with both people and other dogs, resulting in a safer and more positive experience for everyone.

2. The proposal also requires dog owners to pick up dog waste and dispose of it offsite. Removing dog waste reduces nuisance and protects the safety and health of dogs and other pets, people, and wildlife