March 28, 2023
Dear Council Members and Staff,
It has come to my attention that a dog, Bar Kunze, I have met many times with and without my dog with me on the street is in trouble with the city. From what I have observed of dog behavior, having owned dogs 59 of my 77 years, Bar is the most Buddha like dog I have ever encountered. I have seen him on leash being walked dozens of times and once loose at play with a young, rough playing female German Sheppard in an owner’s yard. Bär is one of the calmest dogs I have ever known. The owners, both Tobias and Lilliana, are as calm and friendly as their dog.
Recently I met a neighbor who is so upset to learn that Bär has been designated as a dangerous dog that he contacted the previous city attorney for advice on how to stop this injustice. The designation in this city is much more onerous than that of our neighboring city, Palo Alto. Once he is declared “dangerous”, Bär will no longer be able to travel on public transport, be boarded, or have straightforward access to veterinary care, etc. for the rest of his life. This is a death sentence of sorts without the possibility of parole. I find it shocking too that Tobias and Liliana could be charged with a crime and face jail time under the city’s dangerous animal code. This county and city’s code is much more stringent and permanent than most other counties. And, worse, this designation on this particular animal is a miscarriage of justice.
From what I have been able to learn, the arbitrator in this matter was not a person with much knowledge of dogs or their behaviors. I have also learned that the firm the city uses for their legal matters has been unresponsive to the owners of Bär for months. It sounds like the city may be giving in to the loudest person in the room rather than reason from many.
Kathleen Hohalek
1455 Woodland Ave.
Menlo Park, CA 94025-2850
650-272-1689
PS: I never miss an election.
