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I agree that we might consider allowing the dogs in a park, but not the
park with access to the water where the little children play. My
suggestion is we consider the Baseball Park, which is not used near as
much as our Water Park and will help preserve the quality of the water
in our lake and the health of our young children.
Plus, we need to remember that neither the island
in the Water Park nor the Water itself is our property. (Cascade Water
Alliance has taken an option to purchase the property and lake from
Puget Sound Energy, who is the current owner.) A number of us have
spent thousands of hours the past seven years working on an agreement
with the owners of the lake in an attempt to preserve the lake as a
recreational facility for all in and around the lake and convert it into
a regional supply for drinking water. For Driftwood to promote dogs
swimming in the lake would not show good stewardship of a property
loaned to us in good faith.
There is a great deal of information that states
dog waste poses a threat to water quality if dog feces finds it way into
the lake. The bacteria can grow in the water and cause cholera or
dysentery if the contaminated water makes contact with an open wound or
is digested.
Pets and children who play in yards or in parks
where pets defecate are most at risk for infection from disease-causing
bacteria and parasites found in pet waste.
The following are Diseases Transmitted By Pet
Waste:
Camphylobacteriosis: a bacterial infection
carried by dogs and cats that frequently causes diarrhea in humans.
Salmonellosis: the most common bacterial
infection transmitted to humans by other animals. Symptoms include
fever, muscle aches, headache, vomiting and diarrhea.
Toxocariasis: roundworms usually
transmitted from dogs to humans, often without noticeable symptoms, but
may cause vision loss, a rash, fever or cough.
There are a number of articles supporting not
allowing Dogs in any water source, but the following from Heal the Bay
Organization in California summarizes all of them pretty well:
Heal the Bay recognizes the need for dog parks in highly urban Southern
California. However, we believe that people are more likely to become
ill after swimming at "dog beaches" or beaches that allow dogs to run
and play in the surf zone or on areas of the beach that are subject to
tides. Thus, Heal the Bay does not support dog beaches that allow
dogs in the water or on any part of the beach that is subject to the
tide.
Even if dog owners
diligently remove dog feces, small amounts of fecal matter will remain
on the sand and contaminate the water. Animal feces may carry viruses
and other pathogens that may cause illness to exposed humans, especially
in children. Children tend to play in the swash zone where fecal
contamination is greatest; they tend to ingest more water than the
average swimmer; and epidemiological studies indicate that they are more
susceptible to illnesses associated with swimming in water contaminated
with fecal bacteria. Also, people with compromised immune systems,
including the elderly, are also more susceptible to water-borne diseases
The baseball park would be a good compromise if we
feel a need for a Dog park.
Don & Ann Fisher 6-19-2006 |
