After years of debate with Bay Area dog owners over on- and off-leash restrictions in Golden Gate National Area, in spring of 2016, the GGNRA announced its proposed rules, seemingly their final decision on the matter. This dog management plan would eliminate recreational dog walking in most of our favorite places, banning off-leash dog walking by 90% and on-leash dog walking by 50% in the GGNRA.
With the release of this proposal, things looked bleak for Bay Area dogs and the humans who enjoy walking them. That is, until recently, when documents surfaced on a site called WoofieLeaks (a website created to give the public access to National Park Service documents about the development of the highly controversial and restrictive dog management plan for the GGNRA). These documents, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, show the National Park Service's engagement in biased decision making and destruction of records.
On January 10, 2017, the National Park Service placed a hold on a rule for dog management and a period of review. Whether or not the hold is due to the WoofieLeaks documents, we can't say for sure.
For Bay Area dog owners, it looks as though the fight for a more dog-friendly GGNRA dog management plan is not over.
For more on this topic:
Park Service delays GGNRA dog management plan
Congresswoman Jackie Speier calls on Inspector General to investigate
GGNRA Leash Law Critics: ‘WoofieLeaks’ Emails Show Park Service Bias
Marin Voice: GGNRA dog rules reflect park service’s ‘unfair process’
Dog owners release 'Woofieleaks' documents, allege bias by GGNRA
Bay Area dog owners fighting back against dog walking proposal
Photo Credit: David Spencer (CC)
Posted on: June 29, 2022