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Reader comment on:
A Victory for City Dogs That Prefer To Run Free
in response to reader comment: not a "total victory"

Submitted by Voice of Reason, Dec 2, 2006 15:34

Michael:

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of responsible offleash recreation.

We actually all have something in common. Responsible dog owners want to have better signage, more education about the rules, clear rules, strict enforcement.

We're out there in the park everyday. We don't want to see dog feces in the fields, dogs out of appointed areas, nor the parks damaged.

I was out in Prospect Park this morning and there were hundreds, if not a thousand dogs, and their owners recreating and socializing in the park. It's amazing to have that many people in the park on a cold December day. Everyone leashed up at nine o'clock. And the beautiful Long Meadow was clearner than it was before Offleash Hours, because reponsible dog owners cleaned up beer cans and other debris left the night before by irresponsible park users. The fields were spotless and not worn down at all (which is unlike the case where the pickup football and soccer games occur and the grass is badly damaged).

The ruling on November 30th was, indeed, a total victory for responsible offleash recreation. The JPCA tried to eradicate Offleash Hours policy in the city through their failed lawsuit. And others like you tried to fight the Health amendment at the Health Board hearing on November 1.

Ironically, both the lawsuit and the Health hearings have strenghtened the Offleash Hours policy more than any reponsible dog owner could have hoped for just a few months ago. The lawsuit and the Health hearings galavanized reponsible dog owners like nothing else has in the past and has established legal precedent, and will likely change the Health Code to prevent frivolous lawsuits in the future.

Now it's precedent that the Offleash Hours policy is legal under the Park Commissioner's discretion, and hopefully on December 5th, the Health Board will add additional requirements to encourage responsible dog ownership. And the Parks hearings will hopefully set proper guidelines for a successful 20-year policy to become even better through more education, more stress on responsible dog ownership, more signage, and hopefully more enforcement of the rules.

It's ironic that the responsible offleash recreation users of NYC have folks like you and the JPCA to thank. You tried to extinguish the policy, but in the end, offleash recreation is going to be stronger, more formalized, hopefully with better enforcementm and better for all New Yorkers because it will foster responsible dog ownership.

So, thank you!

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Poll: Overwhelming majority of city residents want dogs leashed The daily weekday newspaper, AM NY, conducted a poll of New York... [MORE]	Voice of Reason	Dec 4, 2006 15:06
Of approximately 13,500 comments submitted to the Board of Health on the off-leash issue, only 200 were anti off-leash and... [MORE]	Bob Marino, Pres. NYCdog	Dec 5, 2006 15:57
here's the poll, folks: http://www.amny.com/news/local/newyork/am-dogs1206,0,4468006.story?coll=am-topheadlines&vote26671059=1 Should dogs always be on leashes in city parks? 35.4%Yes (1747 responses) 64.6%No (3190 responses)4937 total responses [MORE]	Matt	Dec 5, 2006 16:28
Should dogs always be on leashes in city parks? 41.3%Yes (2303 responses) 58.7%No (3269 responses)5572 total responses as of 12/5/06 [MORE]	Voice of Truth	Dec 5, 2006 22:26
The question should have been "Should Dogs be allowed to run off the leash in city parks between the hours... [MORE]	R Oliver	Dec 6, 2006 10:11
Here's an update on the facts as of this morning - looks like it's getting closer... Should dogs always be on... [MORE]	Michael Chimenti	Dec 8, 2006 08:52
Here's an update on the AM-NY poll as of this morning - looks like it's closer than you've led people... [MORE]	Michael Chimenti	Dec 8, 2006 08:57
The recent ruling in the leash-law debate is in no way a "total victory for dog owners", as one dog... [MORE]	Michael Chimenti	Dec 1, 2006 10:21
Michael: You have a fundamental misunderstanding of responsible offleash recreation. We actually all have something in common. Responsible dog owners want to...	Voice of Reason	Dec 2, 2006 15:34
MR. HOLDEN WAS DEFEATED AGAIN. THAT IS REALLY A SHAME!!! I FEEL MAYBE THEY SHOULD GET A NEW PRESIDENT FOR... [MORE]	JOHNNY MURTHA	Dec 2, 2006 16:10
Mr. Chimenti, As the dog advocate who was quoted as saying the court ruling was a "total victory" for dog owners,... [MORE]	Bob Marino, Pres. NYCdog	Dec 3, 2006 22:55
Dear Voice of Reason: I think you have a fundamental misunderstanding of the issue. The issue was never about whether dogs... [MORE]	Michael Chimenti	Dec 4, 2006 10:42
Michael: The Offleash Hours policy was never "unofficial." It has been, however, little publicized by the Parks Dept up until now.... [MORE]	Voice of Reason	Dec 4, 2006 12:11
Like most issues, we are more in agreement than we are in disagreement. I am glad the "Junipers" filed their... [MORE]	Michael Chimenti	Dec 4, 2006 14:20
Michael: We are more in agreement. I have personally wanted to see Parks clarify and publicize the rules for many years,... [MORE]	Voice of Reason	Dec 4, 2006 15:41
As I said in an earlier comment, I think we agree more than we disagree.The results coming out of this... [MORE]	Michael Chimenti	Dec 4, 2006 15:55
In response to Michael Chimenti's post, as well as all of the efforts by the Juniper Park Civic Association, I'd... [MORE]	Matt	Dec 5, 2006 14:22
Stop being so smug, Matt. We did not lose. The Parks Dept. now has to designate an off-leash area in... [MORE]	Michael Chimenti	Dec 6, 2006 14:58
Michael, We can argue back and forth about who might have won or lost. I am laughing because it sounds... [MORE]	Bob Marino, Pres. NYCdog	Dec 7, 2006 02:20
Well said - I agree, and have said before, I think this situation has proved that our system works. Let's... [MORE]	Michael Chimenti	Dec 8, 2006 10:25
To J. Murtha: You say that "... THAT ALL THE OWNERS I HAVE OBSERVED ALWAYS PICKED UP AFTER THEIR CANINES... [MORE]	Bob from Middle Village	Dec 11, 2006 13:13
N.Y. dog lovers doo right When it comes to picking up after Fido, New Yorkers rank near the top of the... [MORE]	Bob Marino, Pres. NYCdog	Dec 12, 2006 12:35
The Leash Law has always promoted exercising and socializing dogs. It fostered healthy activity for both the dog and the... [MORE]	Bob from Middle Village	Dec 1, 2006 08:53
Bob H: Still at war with Commissioner Benepe? You lost fair and square. You called offleash recreation illegal. A NYS Supreme... [MORE]	Voice of Reason	Dec 2, 2006 15:17
Gee Bob H. (of Middle Village): The hundreds of responsible dog owners (perhaps as many as a thousand) that congregated on... [MORE]	Boo Yah!	Dec 3, 2006 00:00
Twenty years of a successful Offleash Hours policy in NYC just was OK'd by the NYS Supreme Court on November... [MORE]	NYCoffleash.com	Dec 1, 2006 02:05
The New York Council of Dog Owner Groups (NYCdog.org) applauds today's State Supreme Court ruling by Judge Peter J. Kelly... [MORE]	Bob Marino, Pres. NYCdog	Dec 1, 2006 01:45

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Reader comment on:
A Victory for City Dogs That Prefer To Run Free
in response to reader comment: not a "total victory"