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Reader comment on:
A Victory for City Dogs That Prefer To Run Free
in response to reader comment: Clarity

Submitted by Voice of Reason, Dec 4, 2006 12:11

Michael:

The Offleash Hours policy was never "unofficial." It has been, however, little publicized by the Parks Dept up until now. For instance, in Prospect Park, there are signs put up by the Parks Dept. that clearly indicate the areas and times where Offleash Hours recreation can occur. If you'd like, I can post pictures of these signs on the web and point you to the link. In Prospect Park, the only places dogs can ever be offleash are in the Long Meadow and Peninsula area before 9am and after 9pm. In the Neathermead area, it's before 9am and after 9pm, but in the winter months, it's after 5pm. This is all official with Parks signs in several areas of the park clearly indicating the rules. Though it's true that not all parks have clear signage about Offleash Hours and locations. Hopefully the Health Code amendments passing tomorrow will change that.

Also, the issue was not whether offleash hours were "anywhere" in the park. The issue, brought on by the JPCA's failed lawsuit, was whether it was legal, and whether the policy would be discontinued. Now the judge disposed of the legal question and the policy is preserved.

We are in agreement , however, that the signage could be MUCH better. Much of the education that has occured about the rules has come from volunteer offleash user groups such as FIDO in Prospect Park, PUPS in Ft. Greene Park, and PAWS in Central Park. These usergroups have spent thousands of dollars and thousands of hours printing and distributing information to those who use Offleash Hours in the park.

If you believe that Parks should increase its signage and education and put out clearer rules, you should have spoken IN FAVOR of the proposed Health Board amendments that are being voted upon tomorrow, since the amendments require the Parks Dept to do just that. Leaving the "Leash Law" the way it is right now, does not require the Parks Department to better publicize the Offleash Hours policy.

Responsible dog owners look forward to the Parks Department spending Parks money to educate the public thought hand outs, better signage, rules clearly posted on their Website. Now that the 20-year Offleash Hours policy is saved from the failed lawsuit that tried to extinguish it, responsible dog owners look forward to working with the City to improve the policy.

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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... [MORE]	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....	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

Reader comment on:A Victory for City Dogs That Prefer To Run Freein response to reader comment: Clarity

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Reader comment on:
A Victory for City Dogs That Prefer To Run Free
in response to reader comment: Clarity