Dog-lovers in the City of Sonoma can be forgiven for being puzzled about recent news from Mars. Mars Petcare, that is; an earthbound dog-food company which also makes candy for humans, a/k/a Mars Bars.
Per a press release by Pets Lifeline, our Valley’s animal shelter, the Mars “Better Cities for Pets” program gave the City of Sonoma an award as a “pet friendly city.” The certification is supposedly due to the City’s commitment to creating a more pet-friendly, animal-welcoming community.
To which many City dog-owners might growl in response: “RRRRRRReally?!
Per the release, “This acknowledgment demonstrates the City’s efforts of offering pet-friendly programs and amenities for animals and pet owners, as well as its dedication to helping keep people and their pets together.” (emphasis added)
Alas, local dog-owners would be hard-pressed to cite any pet-friendly City programs or amenities. Or dedication.
‘Programs and amenities’ dogs are said to enjoy in the City all happen outside the City. Indeed, Pets Lifeline itself is outside the City. While the welcome for dogs at many area wineries is happily factual, all but one of the wineries mentioned are well outside City limits.
Bartholomew Park, Jack London Park and Sonoma Valley Regional Park’s acre+ dog-park and miles of dog-friendly trails praised in the release are also far outside the City. The only public space in the City where pups can romp off-leash is a cramped, tennis-court-size pen, maintained at great effort by volunteer dog-lovers.
The City’s tiny neighborhood parklets are also off-limits to Dogs, on-or-off leash, with one known exception: a small westside parklet where neighbors installed a poop-bag dispenser which — per the Municipal Code – opens the park to dogs on leash; no off-leash pooches allowed.
As for the majestic eight-acre Plaza surrounding City Hall — the City’s Center of Community and Celebration? Strictly off-limits to dogs. In fact, on Farmers Market nights and other occasions, the City posts menacing “NO DOGS ALLOWED” reminders at every Plaza entrance. Efforts to open the Plaza — and the City’s Montini and Overlook hiking trails — to on-leash dogs have been rebuffed with the bureaucratic equivalent of: “No! Bad Doggies!”
The press release got one thing right, however: Pets Lifeline is integral to the welfare of animals hereabouts. It is a treasured asset in saving and promoting the welfare of homeless dogs — and cats — throughout the Valley. A donor-funded 501c (3) shelter, it gets zero money from the City.
To receive its glowing certification from Mars, the City of Sonoma supposedly met “benchmarks across various traits that support pet-friendly shelters, parks, and businesses.” What benchmarks the City met remain a mystery, except perhaps on Mars.
Thankfully, however, most City residents and businesses love dogs. Indeed, it is believed that more dogs live in Sonoma than children who, unlike dogs, do not have to be licensed or leashed in public. Restaurants with outdoor seating are well-patronized by pooches and their guardians, and many retailers welcome leashed dogs. Health regulations ban dogs from “food preparation areas,” but it’s not unusual to spot one in a supermarket, smiling from a passing grocery cart.
The reality hereabouts is that dog-friendliness exists in spite of, not because of, any policies or programs of the City of Sonoma, and while . . . wait-a-minute . . . what’s this on the bottom of my shoe . . .?
Hmph. Damn. Looks like I stepped in a big pile of Mars Bars.
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