Please Protect Our Preserves – Keep Your Pet On A Leash!
Our Put-in-Bay Township Park District Preserves are posted that dogs must be on a leash to be in the preserve. Jane Coates Wildflower Preserve is posted “No Pets” by the wishes of one of the donors to the Preserve. All of our preserves were purchased with grants because of their value as wildlife habitat, their valuable plant communities, and as open space for all to enjoy. We have provided bags and garbage bins but continue to see droppings on our trails.
Why should you keep your dog on a leash at our preserves?
1. You should be considerate of other visitors who may not appreciate your friendly dog suddenly appearing in front of them. We are inviting bird watchers, photographers, and nature lovers to come and enjoy our preserves. Keeping your dog on a leash keeps everyone comfortable. Families walk these trails who may not know your dog.
2. Unleashed dogs cause wildlife stress. Whether your dog actually consumes birds or other wildlife, their presence off leash can cause stress and their droppings can spread parasites to local wildlife. Wildlife have a tough enough time making it without the added stress of your pet.
3. It is better and safer for your dog to be on a leash. They will have no unwelcome contact with wildlife like a bite in the nose and no unwelcome contact with other dogs or neighbors on the trail as well.
4. And last but not least, it is illegal. The Park District has their rules posted at the entrance to every preserve. If you choose to ignore these rules, we may have to not allow pets at all in our preserves if we cannot control the situation. Authorities will be alerted if your dog is off the leash and on a trail
We are lucky that our community now has a wonderful dog park on Port Authority property for dogs to run and enjoy in a fenced in area. This is the place to go to allow your dog off the leash.
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please click here.
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