/Cupertino

As you are probably aware, the Council voted to establish a citizen's committee to develop a plan for a trial period for off-leash . We are trying to get people to volunteer to serve on that committee. There is a meeting this Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30AM to hopefully organize a representative and balanced committee that will come up with a safe and sane proposal. If only off-leash advocates volunteer, then they will no doubt come up with a plan to use a portion of all our city parks to provide maximum convenience to dog-owners. They have already expressed a desire to use organized sports fields for off-leash, unfenced dog use.
Please strongly consider contacting Julia Lamy, the Parks and Recreation person assigned to lead the committee 408-777-3374 and let her know you'd like to attend.

There was an original meeting on April 16 of a few people that had previously expressed interest. There was then a group of off-leash advocates that met on April 24, who believe they are the committee, even though there is not a fair balance to the committee yet. The City is trying to get a representative group together and April 29 would be the first meeting.

The discussions below show the volleys that are going on back and forth that will set the stage for the April 29 meeting. Please don't let the traffic discourage you from coming. It's just that there are people with very strong feeling on the issue. If you're aware of anyone else you think might contribute, please encourage them to contact Julia and come to the April 29 meeting.

Thank you for your care on this matter! I respect dog owners for their desires to walk their dogs, but I get very concerned whenever I see an unleashed dog nearby. I have witnessed many accidents caused by unleashed dogs. My brother was bitten by an unleashed dog when he was 5 and has a scar on his face since then. My mother broke her wrist due to an unleashed dog; the enjury made her lie down on bed when I needed her the most when my baby was 4 months old. My daughter was bit by an unleashed dog a few years ago.

The law that demands dogs with a leash in the park and street was established for a good reason. Most of the residents are busy and thus would not have time to attend to this matter. It is not right to set up the trial without all residents' vote. This should be brought to this coming election to vote.

We need to have the parks open for people to relax without having to worry about dogs.