The end of an era: No dogs in El Charco
By Naomi Zerriffi

The Board of El Charco del Ingenio has decided to prohibit entrance to dogs starting November 1, 2009, due to the growing number of serious incidents and the difficulty in managing them. This rule will apply to all areas of El Charco del Ingenio, but not to Parque Landeta. There, owners can let their dogs loose, with the exception of the north and south banks of the presa, where waterfowl can be injured. Seeing-eye dogs will be exempt.

After 20 years of protection, the reserve has acquired an exceptionally rich biodiversity representing numerous species and populations of flora and fauna, many of which are endangered or on the point of extinction, and their conservation is one of the organization’s top priorities. For this fundamental reason, combined with the necessity to protect visitors’ areas and the exhibition of the Garden’s plants, we imposed rules for the use of short leashes and restricted areas for dogs. Unfortunately, these rules are often broken by people who scoff at or defy our staff, descending into the canyon and wetlands with their dogs running loose. They don’t realize that their dogs, by their simple presence, inhibit the establishment and reproduction of the wildlife, besides being a direct threat. It is common for dogs to kill waterfowl and mammals without their owners even knowing.

We know that wild dogs are also destructive but, over the last few years, we have been monitoring them, and our program of humane capture and release has greatly diminished their numbers inside the reserve.

We realize that this decision by the Board may be disagreeable to some members and users, especially those living near the Botanical Garden, but we ask everyone’s understanding and cooperation since we strongly believe the reasons given above justify this decision.