Dog Owners Protest National Park Rules

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Hundreds of dog owners are marching with their four-legged pooches to protest the National Park Service's proposed limits on dog walking in San Francisco's Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The protesters on Saturday walked their four-legged companions along Crissy Field while holding signs that read "Unleash Our Land!" and "Put Feds On A Leash!"

Andrea Buffa of Save Our Recreation says the protesters are calling on the park service to keep dog walking in the open space areas where it has been allowed for decades, including Ft. Funston and Ocean Beach in San Francisco, Muir Beach in Marin County and Rancho Corral de Tierra on the Peninsula.

Park officials are proposing changes that would designate 22 locations for dog walking within the recreation area. They say the plan is needed to balance the needs of different park users.