DOG OWNERS ASK CITY FOR A NO-LEASH PARK.

Byline: Angie Valencia Staff Writer

SIMI VALLEY - Dog lovers, who face a three-year wait before they'll have a park to let their pooches roam free, are pushing for changes at Sycamore Park.

So far, officials at the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District have resisted suggestions that part of Sycamore Park be fenced as a dog run or that dogs be allowed to run off-leash during certain times of the day.

But Peggy Webster, a regular at Sycamore Park with her dogs, Ruby and Jessie, said she and other dog owners plan to continue to press for a compromise, perhaps even circulate a petition to allow pets in the park.

``I'm going to keep on going to the board of directors meetings and I'll introduce myself: 'Hi, I'm Peggy Webster, the squeaking wheel,''' she said. ``Simi Valley is such a family-oriented city that I'm surprised they haven't taken into consideration families with pets.''

Sycamore Park used to be a place where dogs could chase rabbits, explore grassy fields and socialize with fellow pooches - though their owners were technically in violation of city leash laws.

But the addition of a playground area and a walkway, as well as other park amenities in the past year, were aimed at attracting a different kind of breed to the neighborhood park - parents with children.

And with those changes, dog lovers say, park rangers have begun more restrictive patrols. Dog owners who persist in unleashing their pets risk hefty fines.

Frank Gonzalez, park operations and maintenance administrator, said the district has simply responded to complaints about dogs running freely.

``There is a large liability issue,'' he said, ``not just dogs attacking children or adults but also dogs attacking each other.''

Gonzalez said he is encouraging all residents to work within the system until a dog park comes into being.

The Big Sky housing development will feature a park with areas for small dogs and one for large ones - but that is three years away.

``The system is there and it works,'' Gonzalez said. ``It may be slow but we're looking at this and it's not to say it's never going to happen.''

That's a long time for Miriam Bocci, who grew accustomed to taking her two Labradors and her terrier mix to Sycamore Park at night to run loose.

After losing the unofficial dog park, she and her husband now resort to taking their dogs - who weigh from 70 to 110 pounds - to the nearest dog park - in Thousand Oaks.

``I have a large back yard but not large enough for my dogs to get their exercise,'' said the 16-year Simi Valley resident. ``To drive to the dog park in Balboa or Thousand Oaks is really inconvenient, but there's no other place here in the city.''

Webster still plans to push for change.

``My mission is to get the park district to give us a park sooner than three years,'' Webster said. ``This is a city with over 100,000 population. There should be more than one dog park.''

Angie Valencia, [phone]

angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Peggy Webster, shown in her Simi Valley back yard Thursday with her pets, Jessie and Ruby, says she and other dog owners in the community might petition the city for a dog park.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer