Dear Liz,
I'm glad you enjoyed the La Purisima Mission article and I'm glad your canine friends were able to come to Lompoc (and attend your reunion?) with you.
Most of the off-leash spots I know of are unofficial. Many communities have ordinances that read something like, "the dog must be on a leash, or under your control, at all times," etc., etc. The "under your control" part is where we get a little leeway. (I'll check the wording of Lompoc's leash law and post it on "Dog Days" soon.)
Of course, I walk the wooded trails on Vandenberg AFB, where I live with my humans, almost daily, and I used to love frollicking along the water's edge at Ocean Beach, but most pups don't have access to the base and the beach is partially closed now due to the nesting habitat of an endangered little bird. The Mission is my next favorite place. Beattie Park, near Hapgood Elementary School provides some space for fun. If you're up for a drive, Lopez Lake in S.L.O. County and Hendry's Beach ("Dog Beach") in Santa Barbara are some unofficial off-leash spots that provide dog interaction and water fun, too. (More about them in upcoming columns.)
Your question deserves a more thorough answer than I seem to be able to provide on my own, so I'll turn it over to "Dog Days" readers and see what helpful tips they can come up with.
Thank you for writing. I really enjoy hearing from other dogs and their humans.
Happy Barking!
-- Griffin
