Seattle off-leash dogs spark park tensions
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Off-leash dogs. Photo: Christine Clarridge/Axios
We asked for your takes on off-leash dogs in Seattle and you all had some thoughts.
The big picture: The debate taps into a long-running tension in Seattle parks over how to balance dog owners' desire for freedom with others' expectations for safety and respectfully shared spaces.
The majority of you said off-leash dogs create unpredictable — and sometimes dangerous — situations.
- "Not everyone is a fan of dogs and not every DOG is a fan of dogs," wrote Adeline P., who said loose dogs can put leash-reactive pets at risk.
- Sandra F. said a friend's knee was "shattered by an off leash 'friendly' dog" at Discovery Park, requiring multiple surgeries.
Others described milder, but still frustrating, encounters. Whitney B. recalled a muddy dog jumping on her at Green Lake: "He may be friendly, but he's also filthy."
- For Kaitlyn B., it's about control more than leashes — untrained dogs are the bigger issue.
- Dog walker Alice K. said she's been charged by two large off-leash dogs, seen two chased into traffic by other off-leash dogs and watched one kill a nest of baby bunnies in the past year alone.
- "There is a reason there are leash laws," she wrote, "and they need to be strictly observed and enforced. No exceptions."
The concern isn't just about people and pets.
- John L. tied the lack of off-leash enforcement to our recent story on bird counts dropping across city parks, in part due to habitat destruction.
- The seabirds are "completely" gone from Alki Beach, where he's had a panoramic view for 32 years, and there's a "four-word answer: dogs on the beach."
- "With near-total lack of enforcement, dog owners have made running their dogs on the beach a daily routine, and others see them doing it and it grows and grows. It's a contagion."
The other side: Some readers argue the city doesn't have enough well-maintained, designated dog areas and that more off-leash options would curtail conflict.
- "Many are simply fenced-in, often muddy, and lack basic amenities," wrote Petey W., arguing better-maintained off-leash parks could reduce conflicts elsewhere.
- "Lots of other cities allow dogs to be off leash… when people are unlikely to be using the space," wrote Deena S., suggesting Seattle adopt limited "dual use" hours.
- Molly M. described the pleasure of watching from her Capitol Hill apartment as dogs greet friends and chase each other in the "joy of being free."
The bottom line: The core issue isn't really even about leashes or dogs, a few readers told us.
- "It's simple," wrote Laurie K.: Be respectful of the space you're in and don't let your dogs become a nuisance.
- Greg S. zoomed out further, saying people who don't leash their dogs and don't clean up their waste are probably not much different from those who ride scooters on the sidewalks, fail to pay transit fares and litter.
- "Why can't we all live in a way that is considerate of other people?"