Off-Leash in Maryland

An article in a local Maryland paper about illegally unleashed dogs in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park engendered some interesting letters to the editor complaining about leashed dogs being attacked and old ladies being tripped by leashes in areas where no dogs were allowed at all. One writer suggested that the problem could be solved by adopting NYC's rules; that way, the writer said, "by making certain parks off-leash at certain times, everyone knows when to go to or avoid the park." New York's off-leash crowd and the DOPR have never officially stated this position, although it's implicit. It's interesting that an outsider has figured it out. But the solution's success depends on dog owners' limiting their depredations to off-leash hours and areas. That hasn't happened in New York City, and it won't in Maryland.