North Kitsap Almanac: Point No Point is not an off-leash beach
Published 9:40 am Thursday, March 4, 2010
I am writing to call your attention to a rather grievous error on your part in the printed edition of the North Kitsap Almanac included with the Feb. 26 edition of the Herald. I am hopeful you will print this letter and perhaps a retraction by way of public education on this issue.
On page 26 you have a picture of a young lady on the beach at Point No Point County Park throwing a ball for her dog to fetch. Next to this picture, the text reads (referring to Point No Point), “The long stretch of sandy beach is a second home for … frisbee-fetching dogs during summer months.”
The reason this is a problem is that the young woman in the picture was in fact breaking the law when the picture was taken. This is because it is against the law to have dogs off leash in any Kitsap County Park, except those specifically designated as off-leash parks. This is per Title 10, Chapter 12, Section 070 of the Kitsap County Code, and is also per the signs posted at the entrance to Point No Point Park.
I realize the scene in the picture looks idyllic and both the woman and the dog are obviously having fun — but that is precisely the point. Besides the fact that it is against the law to have dogs off leash, Point No Point park is a popular destination and large numbers of people letting their dogs run off leash has become a serious detraction to many others to be able to peacefully enjoy the park. I myself seldom walk my dogs there anymore, because I cannot walk the length of the beach without my dogs being challenged by someone’s off leash and out of control dog.
Now you print this article and picture and simply add to the problem by making it seem as though Point No Point is an off-leash park.
For the benefit of anyone reading this, the Kitsap County Codes can be viewed online at http://www.codepublishing.com/wa/kitsapcounty/. For dog owners who would like to be able to let them run without breaking the law, there are two off-leash parks in Kitsap County, Howe Farm and Bandix Park. Please visit http://www.kitsapdogparks.org/ for more information.
Richard Troemel
Hansville
