Suddenly dogs aren’t allowed, even on a leash, in a number of conservation areas on the Island.
I’m not yet a full-time Vineyard resident, but except for two years in the Peace Corps I have come here every summer since 1951 for at least several weeks. And since 1977, my wife and I have owned our wonderful cabin on the Chilmark side of the Tisbury Great Pond. During all that time, I have always thought of the Vineyard as a wonderfully dog-friendly place. That is until the past several years. Suddenly dogs aren’t allowed, even on a leash, in a number of conservation areas on the Island, including now Cedar Tree Neck, which owes a good deal of its existence to Henry Beetle Hough, an avid dog fan.
Even the one practically next door to us, the Quansoo Preserve, does not allow dogs in the summer. Supposedly dogs on a leash are going to disturb nesting birds in the fields, not that skunks and other natural neighbors won’t. The same conservation group also bought the one Quansoo beach lot and then tried to ban dogs from the beach and the cut. That lasted about one day because the Quansoo Beach Association does allow dogs.
Even worse than that to me is that last year the Agricultural Fair started banning dogs, except for the dog show. I have taken my dogs to the fair since I was a kid and it was always a fun time for both of us. Apparently there have been some misbehaving dogs recently so all dogs are banned, instead of just dealing with the owners of those few dogs. There are certainly misbehaving drivers on the Vineyard, so are cars going to be banned next? And what is going to happen to Dr. Milkbone and his pet show, one of my favorite events at the fair? And this anti-dog attitude is spreading — now no dogs at the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market, again due to one of two misbehaviors.
In brief, I think all of this anti-dog nonsense needs to be reconsidered, especially with regard to the fair. For a lot of us, our dogs are treasured and loved members of the family, not riffraff to be locked at home or left in a car when we enjoy the Vineyard’s wonderful natural areas and community events.
Mike Rodell
Chilmark
Comments
In 25+ years of hiking on MVY
Diane NJ (but 3x a year visiting in MVY)In 25+ years of hiking on MVY , I have found that FEW people leash or control their dogs.
Though I like dogs, I have been jumped multiple times on popular trails by dogs who got ahead of their owners (Waskosim's Rock. Fuling Mill, Blackwater Pond).
The dog owners always plead "My dog is SOOO gently", while the dog charges and refuses to heel.
The dog living near to the Wompesket easement trail off of Blackwater Pond is also very threatening.
PLEASE BAN ALL DOGS FROM THE TRAILS.
I wish to clarify the
Adam Moore Vineyard HavenI wish to clarify the policies of Sheriff's Meadow Foundation concerning dogs at Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary. At Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary, dogs are allowed, even on the beach, provided that the dogs are leashed. When plovers are nesting on the beach, however, the rules are modified, and at those times dogs are not allowed on the beach at all. Currently, there are no nesting plovers and leashed dogs are permitted on the beach at Cedar Tree Neck.
I love individual dogs. But
Down IslanderI love individual dogs. But the dog community---dogs and their owners---is in toto a significant annoyance to many.
Dogs are destructive on beaches, even if leashed.
Ask coastal biologists about this.
Dogs should not be imposed on the rest of the world who don't particularly want dogs digging things up, barking, peeing against trees and in the sand, etc. Many dog owners are quite oblivious to the annoyance caused by their dogs. Many humans also are allergic to dog dander.
I am glad if the Vineyard becomes less "dog-friendly." Please, leave your dog at home.
I also like dogs in general.
WashashoreI also like dogs in general. But I have to agree that many, many dog owers on the island, whether visitors or year-rounders, are terribly negligent. I've been chased on my bike, had dogs jump on my car and scratch the paint, had dogs jump up on my bare legs and draw blood. This morning, a woman walking her dog in our neighborhood, lost control of the animal and was brought to the ground head first and dragged down the road. Last summer, I almost backed over a 3 year old in the parking lot at the Edgartown Post Office. Her parents were struggling to load the dog into the car and she wandered out between 2parked cars as I was backing out. If it wasn't for another driver waving for me to stop, it could have been tragic. As I write this, my neighbor's dog has been barking for 10 minutes non-stop. So, yeah, I can do without all the dog-loving hoopla.
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