by guest » Wed Dec 18, 2019 12:17 pm
Yes, the pet situation & wilderness has grown a lot lately, especially in crowded SoCal.
At least the Nat'l Park Service has taken a stand to clarify what pets are actually allowed on the trails, here's the wording:
Service Animals
The 2010 revision to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a “service animal” as an animal that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Animals that are not trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including animals that are used to provide comfort or emotional support (e.g. therapy animals), are considered pets and not service animals.
Service animals in training and pets are subject to the park’s pet regulations and are not allowed on trails or more than 100 feet (30.5m) from any road, picnic area or campground. Falsely portraying a pet as a service animal is considered fraud and is subject to federal prosecution under 36 CFR. 2.32(a)(3)(ii). To learn more, please visit our Accessibility page.
The Santa Rosa / San Jac Mnmt. page only states dogs are not allowed on most trails, but does mention the few, where they are, (but no mention of actual rules / laws per se.).
At times, it seems that some feel their pets have more rights that the wildlife. I've spoken with Jim DeForge, (Bighorn Institute), and some Fish & Wildlife rangers, as well as other desert educators, and most seem to agree, that dogs do have an impact on the wildlife, (sometimes the humans too, ha, especially when I used to run trails), it's just not known, to what extent.
This has been an issue for decades here in the Coachella Valley, and I do think there needs to be areas where dogs are allowed, like Whitewater Preserve, just like there needs to be some trails mt. bikers can enjoy.
ss