Lime Hollow News
No Dogs Allowed Policy
Effective July 17, 2008
Published & Approved by the Lime Hollow Board of Directors
As advocates for the outdoors and all things living, it should be no surprise that, as individuals, the staff and Board of Lime Hollow (LHCEC) are big fans of dogs, cats, and other kinds of domestic animals. (Many of us own dogs ourselves, so we fully understand how wonderful they are!)
As an organization, however, we are often charged with responsibilities -- and are legally bound to make decisions -- that must sometimes supersede our personal feelings. One example is our No Dogs Allowed policy, which expressly prohibits dog walking on Lime Hollow property, either with or without a leash.*
As we know this policy is controversial – and because we sincerely value all visitors to Lime Hollow – we feel obliged to explain our rationale, which hinges on our official mission and charter:
Lime Hollow’s official mission and charter is to provide year-round environmental education and recreation opportunities through utilization and protection of the natural attributes of the Lime Hollow area. Within that mission, our specific goals are to:
- Assist people in the development of environmental awareness, appreciation, knowledge, commitment and skills;
- Provide low-impact, nature-based recreation opportunities;
- Protect, through the employment of conservation management techniques, the ecologically diverse and unique natural and aquifer recharge area currently known as Lime Hollow.
Mindful of this mission and charter, the LHCEC Board of Directors has determined:
1. By their very nature, dogs are both a perceived and real threat to wildlife: Their presence on our trails (scent, noise, droppings, fur, tracks) – both during and after a walk on our trails – cause wildlife to take cover or leave the area; this, in turn, reduces the capacity for observing and learning about nature while on Lime Hollow’s trails and property…the very purpose for which these natural assets were established.
2. Leashed or unleashed, dogs may also pose a perceived and real threat to persons on our trails. (Please remember, our trails are frequented by young children, adults, and senior adults.) Because our mission is to provide a safe recreational and educational experience to all people, we are obliged to eliminate this threat. Compounding this problem is the associated risk to our organization: Unfortunately, we live in a highly litigious society – where a single law suit can destroy an organization such as ours.
Lastly: While we have explored the concept of establishing a “dogs-allowed” zone or dog-walking park, for these reasons above, Lime Hollow does not plan to institute any such initiatives in the foreseeable future.
We apologize if this policy may be perceived as unfriendly toward domestic animals and their owners, and we regret the inconvenience it may cause. However, we also hope that you – as an animal-lover in your own right – will understand and fully cooperate with this policy.
* The only exception to this policy is our allowance for service animals for persons with disabilities. For more information on this single exception to our policy, please contact our Executive Director at 607.662.4632.