Lucie in Gold Butte
By Lucie Maguire
I was born in the countryside and my earliest experiences were of playing in the fields for hours with my brothers and sisters, enjoying the freedom of the outdoors. Then I moved to California where I got my first taste of beach life, going for long runs along the windy coastline, exploring the tide pools, and hiking the bluffs. After that, I moved to the desert, where I was surrounded by unhindered open space as far as my eyes could see. My happiest times, when I feel the most alive, joyful, and complete, have always been in the outdoors.
However, I have a problem. There are many beautiful places that I would like to explore and experience, but I can’t.
I am a dog.
There are usually good reasons for human rules. Many of the ones I’m familiar with keep me safe from potential hazards and dangers, and I’m pretty good at following rules. But I need somewhere to go where I too can enjoy the great outdoors, and my mom and I both are happiest when I can join her on hikes, running, playing, sniffing, and exploring the landscape freely.
Lucie in Sand to Snow
Thankfully, there is an impressive network of places where I am welcome – public lands that are accessible to dogs. Those places are the National Conservation Lands, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Many of the National Conservation Lands I’ve visited are national monuments, like Sand to Snow, Mojave Trails, California Coast, Rio Grande Del Norte, and Gold Butte. It was an incredible experience to camp at Whitney Pockets bathed in moonlight, and bask in the shade of sculptural sandstone formations at Little Finland.
I’m looking forward to visiting Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks soon, to celebrate its three-year anniversary, as well as a few other National Conservation Lands in New Mexico. And as the summer heat climbs in the desert my mom and I can always escape to National Conservation Lands in Northern California, Washington, Oregon, or Montana. There is a lot to choose from!
These places offer sanctuary and freedom from the noise and commotion of urban life. They remind me of my roots in the countryside, and my outdoor heritage. They are also places where I can spend hours with my mom, exploring together and deepening our bond. This time is so precious to us both. I can sense the joy she feels when we experience the outdoors together.
As a retriever, I am also aware that these lands are great places for hunting dogs. Many hunters enjoy the National Conservation Lands because they are some of the few protected places that are open and accessible to hunting and I think it’s important that there are still places where dogs can also enjoy different types of recreational activities.
In spite of these and many other benefits that the national monuments and other places in the National Conservation Lands provide, some people want to take our public lands out of public hands – and paws. If that were to happen, I don’t know if I would be allowed on the lands anymore, and that’s a big concern for my mom and me.
Lucie in Rio Grande del Norte
National monuments and other places that compose the National Conservation Lands are America’s public lands. That is why I believe we must protect them, keep them intact, and make sure they remain accessible for all people, and their dogs. Whether you are a hunter or a hiker, places like Berryessa-Snow Mountain, Bears Ears, or Grand Staircase-Escalante let you enjoy some of America’s greatest landscapes with your greatest four-legged companions (horses can come too).
If dogs could vote, they would vote Monuments For All: Monuments For Dogs.
You can submit your comments on behalf of us (your furry friends) at monumentsforall.org.
Lucie is a precocious mini goldendoodle who enjoys following her mom on hikes, taking in all the gossip on the landscape. She prefers the outdoors to a dog park, and does not love having to stay behind when dogs are not allowed.
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