PATH OF LEASH RESISTANCE DOGS HAVE THEIR DAY.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

STEVENSON RANCH - ``Leashes! Leashes!'' the dog lovers cried as the black-and-white squad car circled around Richard Rioux Memorial Park, where a dozen residents let their pets run free about an hour at sunset several times a week.

``If the police come, we'll put on their leashes,'' said Elayne Herscovici, one of more than a dozen Stevenson Ranch dog owners petitioning Los Angeles County for a leash-free dog park. ``But when they're on the leash, they feel confined.''

For more than three months, the loosely organized group has been quietly resisting county leash laws by turning the park's fenced-off picnic area into a makeshift dog park by blocking the entrances with trash drums.

``Oh, what the hell,'' said Mike Hubbartt, 45, as he unhooked the leash on his mixed-chow Max. ``Live a little.''

Though surrounded by wilderness, the Santa Clarita Valley does not have any off-leash park where dogs can roam and run with one another. The closest one is the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park, more than 20 miles away in Encino, and a proposed facility in Santa Clarita city limits is nearly two years off.

The owners unleash their dogs with full knowledge they are breaking a law and subject to citations, court appearances and fines of up to $250 by choosing to put first the welfare of their pets.

``I respect the police and the law a lot,'' Hubbartt said, while the county sheriff's deputy warned the dog owners to keep their pets leashed. ``The spirit of the law - I abide by that.''

For sheriff's officials and the county Department of Parks and Recreation, it's a safety issue. The law is intended to prevent injury to people and property from loose dogs. While law enforcement has received some complaints about the dog owners' off-leash action, they have only issued warnings.

``We get complaints from both sides,'' Rioux Park director Doug Newell said. ``We should all be able to come to the park. If the community feels something needs to be changed, go to the proper channels.''

Still, they firmly believe a leash-free environment encourages an instinctive rough-and-tumble play that helps calm their dogs after a day at home.

``It's a quality-of-life issue,'' said Steven Pomerantz, as his three dogs wandered nearby. ``A lot of people see their dogs as part of their family. ... So the question is, what can you do for them to return the love they gave.''

Sussy Nemer, the parks deputy for 5th District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, said county officials are studying the issue, beginning with a survey of local residents.

``What's most important to the supervisor and the Department of Parks and Recreation is to determine whether the community at large would like to see a dog park there,'' she said. ``We would be working with the residents and the town council to explore the idea of a dog park further.''

Meanwhile, the city of Santa Clarita is planning a 1.5-acre off-leash park as part of its Sports Complex expansion. The estimated $30 million project also will feature artificial turf athletic fields and other sports facilities on 38 acres adjacent to the existing gymnasium and aquatic center.

The dog park, at an estimated $100,000, should be open within two years, said Tom Reilly, the city's parks development administrator.

``Once the grading is done, we expect we can locate the dog park there as part of the first phase,'' he said. ``The community has been patient enough.''

Reilly said the drive for a dog park has grown as the valley's population swelled.

``I think being in an area with lots of canyons, the problem wasn't noticeable until in recent years when we got a lot more dense,'' he said. ``There are some unofficial dog parks out there, but we would like to make it official at the Sports Complex.''

Also, finding a suitable location can be difficult, Reilly said.

``We don't have excess land of an acre flat anywhere that we can turn over to this,'' he said. ``NIMBYism kind of plays a role there. There are people who object to having a dog park near their homes.''

Herscovici said the dog owners ``police each other'' and always visit with plastic baggies on hand.

``You see how he's yelping?'' said Stan Horwitz, his leashed 4-year-old toy Toby wrapped in his arms after the deputy's visit. ``He wants to know why he can't play with his friends. He doesn't know why he has to be hooked up like this. ... I love dogs, and I'm very annoyed that I feel like a criminal.''

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Unleashed dogs, top, run free at Richard Rioux Park in Stevenson Ranch on Monday evening. Later, above, the dogs' owners, who advocate a leash-free dog park, discuss the matter with an L.A. County Park policeman.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer