Natural History Wanderings

from the Presidio Environmental Council (a coalition of local environmental organizations) via Nature News from Jake Sigg

Say No! to Commercial Exploitation of our National Parklands

SAN FRANCISCO – The Presidio Trust has put forth a proposal to invite the commercial dog walking industry into Area B of the Presidio granting professional dog walkers, with up to eight dogs each, use of the Presidio’s roadways, parking lots, public trails, and open spaces to conduct their business.

Under this proposal, it is estimated that hundreds of dogs will be walked by dozens of professional dog walkers every day throughout the Presidio, morning and afternoon. Commercial dog walking vehicles will have a ubiquitous presence on the roadways and parking lots, and walkers with eight dogs each will be ever-present on public trails and open spaces. The costs of administration and oversight, additional law enforcement, additional resource maintenance, additional public relations, and the loss of legitimate park visitors and volunteers will be paid for by the American tax payer.

Commercial dog walking has never been legally permitted on any of our National Park lands. Commercial dog walking will impact all park user groups and set a dangerous precedent for all National Park lands. Commercial dog walking is contrary to the purpose and mission of our National Parks and contrary to the Presidio Trust Management Plan.

Say No! Speak up now and tell the Presidio Trust to keep commercial dog walking out of our National Parks. Comments are due by January 25, 2013 and can be submitted electronically to jpelka@presidiotrust.gov

Or mail comments to:

John Pelka
The Presidio Trust
103 Montgomery Street,
P.O. Box 29052,
San Francisco, CA 94129.