Date:         Sun, 28 Oct 2001 20:02:03 EST
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Bob Mumford <Gyrfal@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Loose dogs
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After being annoyed, like many others, by unleashed dogs along the C&O Canal
in the Pennyfield, Violettes, and Riley's Locks area, I wrote the Director of
the National Park Service several years ago.  I received back an unctuous
letter from a woman somewhere in the system claiming that the dog leash laws
were "fully enforced."

So I wrote her back asking specifically how many summons had been written in
the last five years.  She learned;  no letter this time.  She had a lower
level local guy call me and I pressed him for the answer.  I knew what was
coming: there were a grand total of ZERO summons in five years.  So much for
enforcement.  As anyone who walks the towpath regularly knows, you can see
unleashed dogs virtually any time you walk on a weekend, and often during the
week.

I have also confronted violators when their dogs got aggressive with me.  The
results have not been pleasant.

I suspect that unless everyone on the net writes the Superintendent of the
C&O Park, absolutely nothing will happen.  Even then, it is a toss up.

Bob Mumford
Darnestown

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