Leash your dog, don't trim trees until later

I am writing to thank you for your "Keep your dog on a leash" plea (Acorn Opinion, March 16).

I work for the National Park Service and can't tell you how many times I've told people to leash their dogs in our parks (it is a law). All your reasons for keeping them on are what we tell people, and the reasons why I hear back (if they acknowledge it at all) are laughable: "He's 2 months old," "He's OK," and "What are you going to do?"

It's not your dog I'm worried about, it's the habitat of wild animals and native plants that they disturb, although I have heard from one of our rangers that he once carried someone's dog out of one of our parks when it had been bitten by a snake and the nearest vet was not close.

Also in response to the baby squirrel picture, if you could, let people know not to trim their trees right now as it is baby season.

The California Wildlife Center in Malibu has been receiving baby squirrels and hummingbirds due to tree trimming. They do need special care when found, and if a baby squirrel is found on the ground, please leave it alone and see if the mother comes.

If it is still on the ground after sunset, she will not come for it and they should then rescue it. Barbara Collins Thousand Oaks