Hired dog walkers in Marin face tighter rules in Golden Gate National Recreation Area

March 15--Professional dog walkers in Marin will soon face regulations if they take their clients on Golden Gate National Recreation Area land.

Park officials said Friday that they plan to require a permit for commercial dog walkers taking out four or more dogs at one time, with a limit of six dogs.

The new rule -- set to go into place sometime after a 30-day notice period that began Friday -- covers sites like Rodeo Beach, Muir Beach and the Marin Headlands. Park areas in San Francisco and San Mateo counties are also subject to the rule.

"This is strictly for commercial dog walkers," said federal parks spokeswoman Alex Picavet, who said the rule would be in place before summer. "We will be paying attention to what we see, but it's also an education process. We want to help commercial dog walkers succeed."

The edict on the issue was made by park Superintendent Frank Dean, who was influenced by recently passed laws limiting the number of dogs allowed for commercial dog walkers in Tiburon and San Francisco.

The interim permit requirement would remain in effect until final rules addressing dog walking and commercial dogwalking in the federal park are completed, expected in late 2015. That rule will affect commercial and citizen dog walkers.

The commercial dog walkers will be requited to get a permit -- requiring a $75 application fee and $300 per person fee -- for a non-transferrable badge. Badges will have to be displayed while in the federal park.

Applicants must submit a business license, proof of liability insurance and proof of dog-handling training from a course provider such as the Marin Humane Society. Permit holders would be able to use any Golden Gate Recreation Area land where dog walking is now allowed.

Professional dog walker Lucho Rossi of Pooch Promenade Inc., who walks dogs primarily in Southern Marin, is supportive of the new policy.

"I don't go to places like Rodeo Beach because you see some dog walkers out there with a dozen dogs," he said. "It's not safe because dogs are pack animals and it can be intimidating. This type of regulation makes sense and is no problem for people who operate within the rules."

For more information visit: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commercialdogwalking.

Contact Mark Prado via email at [email protected]

___

(c)2014 The Marin Independent Journal (Novato, Calif.)

Visit The Marin Independent Journal (Novato, Calif.) at www.marinij.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services