Pt. Isabel has been a favorite of dog owners for many years, long before it became part of the park system.

In 1974, the land was leased to the East Bay Regional Park District as mitigation for building the bulk mail center. At that time, the Park District’s leash law applied, but was not enforced. In 1982, letters from park users persuaded the District Board of Directors to allow Pt. Isabel to be an off-leash area for dogs.

In 1986, however, a park employee was attacked by a dog and the leash law was reinstated. Pt. Isabel park users met that thanksgiving weekend to organize. Representatives were selected, petitions signed, and plans formulated to negotiate with the Park District Board. That ad hoc organization became Pt. Isabel Dog Owners and Friends (PIDO).

In 1987, The Park District formally amended its rules to allow Pt. Isabel to function as an off-leash dog area. It also incorporated the original five rules suggested by PIDO. In return, PIDO agreed to help enforce the rules, to assist in providing the bags, and to be available to the district in case there were problems.

PARK RULES

Dog owners must carry a leash.

Dogs must be under voice control and within sight of their owners.

Owners must clean up feces deposited by dogs.

Dogs showing aggressiveness towards people or other dogs must be leashed immediately.

Owners must stop dogs from digging and must fill in any holes created by their dogs.

Do not permit your dog to go into the marsh at the east end of the park or to disturb the feeding birds at low tide.

There is a one- time fee of $10 to become a member of Pt. Isabel Dog Owners and friends. This money, and funds from donations and shirt sales, is spent to provide biodegradable bags, provided jointly by PIDO and East Bay Regional Park District. Another expense is the newsletter which is mailed out three or four times a year.

Owners are requested to keep their dogs out of the marsh at all times and away from the mud flats on the north side of the point where shore birds feed at low tide.

Pt. Isabel and the adjoining marsh have many elegant and unusual shore birds. There are common egrets, snowy egrets, blue herons, willets, surf scooters, Western grebes, and several kinds of seagulls, among others. Within the park, the mockingbirds set up fine courtship displays from the tops of pine trees in the spring time.

Small mammals, gophers in the fields, and ground squirrels in rocks along the shore line also provide for amusing observation. The ground squirrels will come up for peanuts if the dogs are not too close.

To Join PIDO, mail a check for $10 (Lifetime membership) with your name, address, phone number, and the name of your dog (you may join without a dog!) to:

PIDO
P.O. Box 8282
Berkeley, CA 94707

Checks should be made out to: PIDO
 
 

We need volunteers to refill the bag containers during the week and on the weekends. Also, PIDO could also use an Historian to consolidate its press clippings. Please call Sylvia at 510-526-0157.

Bay Trail Safety people have reported some dogs are off-leash. Our agreement is to walk the trail with dogs on leash! Be advised there is a horrendous fine for noncompliance: $275.

Park bulletin boards are for PIDO business. Commercial signs are not to be posted. Free pet-event announcements, lost and found notices, and information of interest to all park users may also be posted. Please date your notice and keep it small. Do not post notices elsewhere in the park.
 

East Bay Regional Park District officials are warning parkgoers that uncooked salmon and trout may carry a parasite lethal to dogs. Symptoms of exposure to the bacteria include: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and enlarged lymph nodes in five to seven days.
 

Sylvia Schild has received some complaints from small dog owners that their dogs are intimidated and harassed by larger dogs. Please have the consideration to leash your dog when approaching a smaller dog. What your dog may consider playing could be perceived as torment to a little dog.

This is foxtail season. These weeds with "V" shaped spikes can work their way under the skin and cause terrible sores. When leaving the park be sure to check between the toes of you dog's paws.

There is a great deal of controversy over when spaying or neutering should be done. According to Pitcairn, "The general recommendation is that animals be sterilized after reaching 6 months of age (female) and 9 months(male) thus ensuring the least effect on the neuroendocrine system." Dr. Belfield agrees and recommends partial spaying to avoid urinary incontinence, fat metabolism, and damage to the immune system.
 

If you haven't made a donation to PIDO this year, please do so now. We need to fulfill our obligation to East Bay Regional Parks for the cost of the bags. Please put your best paw forward and send a check to: PIDO, P.O. Box 8282, Berkeley, CA 94707.