?Morning all, I?wanted to take the time to provide some level-set input in follow-up to the Juanita Beach trip post just to clarify a point I didn't make very well at the time. As one who also has pets myself, I wanted to emphasize the importance and relevance of current State laws as they pertain to walking dog's in wildlife refuge's, or conservation (when permitted) area's that we all frequent. See RCW below:
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? 77.15.240
Unlawful use of dogs ? Public nuisance ? Penalty.(1) A person is guilty of unlawful use of dogs if the person:

???? (a) Negligently fails to prevent a dog under the person's control from pursuing or injuring deer, elk, or an animal classified as endangered under this title;

???? (b) Uses the dog to hunt deer or elk; or

???? (c) During the closed season for a species of game animal or game bird, negligently fails to prevent the dog from pursuing such animal or destroying the nest of a game bird.

???? (2) Unlawful use of dogs is a misdemeanor. A dog that is the basis for a violation of this section may be declared a public nuisance.


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?Section "C" is important as a common mis-conception is that a dog does not have to be off-leash to violate this section. Clearly, off-leash dogs are the main focus of this section, however, it's worth noting that if game birds, or State/ Federally protected species are in the immediate vicinity and a dog is not at heel and the owner willingly allows chase, a violation of this section?can?also occur. In short, there really are very few species that are not either protected, or?which?are not game birds?present in these conservation area's that would allow for chase to occur without?breaking this RCW or the Federal Migratory Species Act law's. My reference to "enforcement" was in regards to these laws.
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?Thanks,
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?Darrel DeNune
?Maple Valley
?boomerdenune at aol.com?