Dog owners, obey leash laws
Both Los Altos and Los Altos Hills have laws requiring dogs to be on a leash at all times when in public spaces. These common-sense laws protect pets, wildlife and people – especially children who may not be trained on how best to approach a dog.
I understand the appeal of walking and playing with your dog without a leash, but I implore you to limit that to your own property. Your dog may be perfectly well-behaved and friendly, but please remember that not every dog you encounter will be so well-trained. For example, my dog can be nervous around other dogs. If I’m walking her, she may misunderstand a well-intentioned, friendly approach from an off-leash dog as a threat. She may bark defensively out of fear to protect herself and me, which could in turn cause the approaching dog to start barking and turn aggressive. The encounter can be easily handled if both dogs are on leash; not so easily if one is on a leash and the other is not.
This is especially a problem at Lincoln, Shoup and Redwood Parks. Dogs are often off leash there, and they will not hesitate to come up to my dog to say hello when we walk by. “Don’t worry, he’s friendly,” I often hear. “Yes, but my dog is nervous,” I reply, leading to awkward, potentially dangerous, interactions.
Until we have a dog park in Los Altos, please remember to keep dogs in public on leash.
Peter Detkin
Los Altos Hills
Mapmakers, it’s time for an update
Magdalena Avenue? Magdalena Road? Which is right? It depends on where you are.
The four-lane portion of Magdalena between the Foothill Expressway and 1-280 is maintained by the county. It claims the naming rights: Magdalena Avenue.
The town of Los Altos Hills was founded to preserve a rural island in a sea of development. The Los Altos Hills Town Council, in 1961, passed Resolution Number 181 changing Magdalena Avenue to Magdalena Road within Los Altos Hills effective January 1, 1962. Resolution 181 also changed many other street names (Avenue to Road, Street to Lane, etc.) to preserve what rural flavor the town had left.
Some mapmakers haven’t gotten the word yet.
James F. Shively
Los Altos Hills
