The recent sad loss of two dogs that ran away from their owners while on the Turtleback Mountain Preserve motivates me to write this letter to all island residents and their guests. Please, please leash your dogs while walking with them on public property. As a Turtleback Preserve volunteer steward, I hike the preserve every week, and I’ve seen many of the problems that unleashed dogs can cause. Even obedient, well-behaved dogs get lost, get in fights, disturb or harm wildlife, eat things they shouldn’t, leap up on people (and sometimes badly frighten them), and at worst, disappear and are not found, or are found too late.

Turtleback Preserve is a large, tempting open space, but — I know you’ve heard this before — leashing your dogs while visiting is the best thing you could do for them, as well as for other visitors and the ecology of the preserve. In case you forget yours when using the preserve, spare leashes are available at both the north and south entrances … feel free to borrow one and hang it up upon your return. Enjoy.

Steve Jung

Olga