Va. St parks and pet fee

PamfromVA wrote:
We camp in VA state parks alot. The problem is VA has reduced their park staff so much that they do not have time to take care of complaints about dogs or anything else. They are too busy taking care of cutting the grass, trail maintenance, and the ranger led programs that they are leaving the camp hosts in charge. The camp hosts are busy cleaning bathrooms and fire pits so the sites are ready for the next user. We ALWAYS see someone who lets their dog run free and everytime we go for a hike we run across someone who is hiking with their dog off leash. A couple of months ago we had a dog hang out at our site for a couple of hours each day and the owners were not concerned since "their dog liked us more than them". Point is - there is no consequences to noncompliance of the rules. The dog fee is just added revenue for the state. And Westernrvparkowner - shame on you for not enforcing your rules and making the camping experience at your park better for all. As a dog owner, I know I get a little frustrated when I see these owners not following the same rules I am with my dogs.

I am not running a prison. I don't nanny check every guest, every minute. I don't know who or what or when dogs were tethered to the trees, I just know the trees were girdled and they died. It was obvious from the damage it was a chain or something very similar (much wider cut than a rope or cable would make). As for enforcing barking rules, first we have to know there is an offense. We don't have microphones throughout the park probing for noise violations. You have a dog, apparently, so you tell me, when should you be kicked out for a barking dog? First bark? 10th? 100th? I don't have an answer. I've posted before, the normal routine is we get a dog complaint, owner is not there, owner returns, we tell owner about complaint, owner apologizes profusely, swears it will never happen again. Then owner leaves dog next day, dog barks, owner returns late at night, we see that they are leaving next morning anyway, so we avoid messy eviction and wave goodbye in the AM. Do you have a better plan that would really work? We can't do anything until and unless the owner is there. Then our options are really kick out or believe what they say. But if you have a better plan, I am more than willing to listen.