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# Concerning dog-friendliness
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/concerning-dog-friendliness-editor/
- Published: 2005-02-01T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T06:03:16.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Venice, #archive-import

*By Victoria Pavis Santa Monica*

I read with interest, and a smile, the letters from Ben Jacobs and Don Johnson regarding the proposed dog beach (SMDP, Jan 28, page 4).

I signed the petition — just because someone signed and backed a petition doesn’t mean they are going to violate any laws or regulations, state or otherwise. I am not a zealot. I care about a lot of issues other than dogs. I obey leash laws. My dog is on a leash when walked, and I pick up after her. She is a friendly dog and has never bitten anyone. As a matter of fact, she is a therapy dog, having helped children in a children’s home, at the Santa Monica PAL, hospitalized patients, and she caused a woman to start talking after having not spoken in some time. I know of many responsible Santa Monica residents with dogs.

Maybe Mr. Johnson and Jacobs could get out and help with some community issues instead of being so rude and condescending to others. It is our community, too.

Having said that, even though I live and work in Santa Monica — unlike Mr. Johnson, a Venice resident, who is so very concerned about Santa Monica issues — I hardly spend any time with my dog in this city. I have never thought of Santa Monica as particularly dog friendly. I know there are others who feel the same way.

I don’t frequent the Santa Monica dog parks (haven’t been in years), preferring parks elsewhere. Any class or activity that I am involved in with my dog — obedience, a class, events, shopping for my dog, meeting friends with their dogs and dining — is usually done outside the city of Santa Monica. I meet people in their more dog-friendly areas: Malibu, the valley, Santa Clarita.

Regarding the holidays, there was the “Home for the Holidays” campaign here in Santa Monica. My family (dog included) and friends went to Carmel. We ran into people from Santa Monica and Malibu. We will return in February and at least every Christmas hereafter.

There is an off-leash beach there, and it is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen — so unlike the Santa Monica beaches that I am afraid to walk barefoot on for fear of stepping on something a disrespectful human has left behind — and I have seen many beaches. There isn’t any trash or dog poop on the Carmel off-leash dog beach. Carmel, the city, is very clean. The people are friendly, look you in the eye and greet you. We also spend lots of time in the San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach and the central coast areas with our dog.

It’s too bad we can’t have the dog beach here — maybe Santa Monica could get the type of wonderful reputation cities like Carmel have.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 1, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/020105.pdf?ref=smdp.com)