Dogs that are given the freedom to romp and play with other dogs are better canine citizens. They are friendlier and more socialized than dogs who are not given this ability. I have read in my local paper about this group who are trying to impose their warped viewpoint on all dogs in NYC because of a few incidents.
People have been injured by children on bikes and roller blades and no one is yelling to have them banned from the parks.
because it is humane and sensible. Dogs need a space to excercise and interact. What are New Yorkers coming to, if they are afraid of dogs? Most dog bites incidents do NOT take place in parks. I am far more afraid of increasingly restrictive laws than of dog bites.
I feel that with these hours unchanged, all dogs will benefit. They will be less likely to tear up the lawn, flowers, or something in the house. And it will make all our lives a lot easier
I have never observed any incident such as the one that occurred in Juniper Park in all my years of walking my dog off-leash in Central Park. The courtesy hours work amazingly well for dogs and owners alike and one careless dog owner in Queens should not spoil this privilege for the rest of us.
because dogs who are allowed health interaction and exercise on a daily basis are more well behaved dogs and are less likely to be a nuisance or dangerous to others. My dog is well behaved and deserves the same basic rights as other animals. if the squirrels are allowed in the park, why isn't my vaccinated and obediant dog allowed?
It is essential to the mental and physical well-being of dogs to have a good run in the morning and learn to interact with people and their kind in the world. If NYC takes away this privilege it would be taking away the lives of many of the dogs (and their owners) who play, run, and walk through Central Park in the early morning and late evening hours. I'm in the park from 7 to 9 every morning (for the past three years) and never have I had a problem with an agressive dog or encountered irresponsible owners. Please do not take away the little freedom our dogs have and cherish.
I have a small, friendly, non-aggressive dog who loves people and other dogs. He is professionally trained and behaves both off- and on-leash. All should not be punished for the bad behavior of a few.
Our loyal, furry companions have the need and basic rights to some socializing, air, and joyful romping around in a safe environment just for them. Being cooped up, or tied/attached to a leash isn't healthy for any living being.
because I fail to see how dogs, responsibly allowed to enjoy the park area, are any more a "nuisance" than picknickers who clean up after themselves and are not excessively loud. What's next, banning children and teens? - they tend to be very noisy, and to drop much litter. Or, we could just fence all parks completely - someone, be it a resident or a passer-by, will always find something objectionable if any being is using the park (noise, litter, just not liking the looks of the user.) Besides, It is not those dogwalkers who utilize offleash hours who are a problem - we police each other. By abolishing offleash hours, you actually remove the safeguard of dog owners policing other dog owners.
It should also be remembered that dog owners pay a licensing fee, essentially a tax that no other NYC resident pays, and being allowed equal use of the park for a few non-busy hours each day is the only "benefit" the city offers in return.
As a homeowner and dog owner, I fully support this petition. Dogs and their owners help to keep the parks safe and clean when others are not using them. Without dog owners walking their dogs in the dead of winter - the parks would be empty and unsafe.
As a dog owner myself living in Queens and working in Manhattan, I resent the fact that a suit has been raised in this matter. Myself and all other dog owners that take advantage of this generous priveledge are responsible dog owners. As long as I have been at the park there have been no incidents that I know of. Why take this away? All our dogs that are exercised daily are less aggressive dogs. They burn lots of energy that otherwise would be targeted towards people, other dogs and at home. (Excessive barking) This priveledge is a benefit to everyone whether they know it or not. Dogs that are able to run off leash will less likely bark when owners go to work. They are also less likely to be aggressive. If their stool is weak it can be picked up at the park because you can grab the dirt underneath and clean it up well. If this priveledge is taken away then I will no longer need to take my dog to the park. I can walk him on the street which is just the same exercise. A weak stool on the sidewalk or street cannot be cleaned, it just spreads. Then people complain. What can I do? There are many reasons why this priveledge is beneficial to us and the general public. We are all hard working, tax paying citizens that are responsible dog owners and constantly on top of our dogs. Most of our dogs are kind and socialized. What is the problem with the off leash laws? We are the only ones that use the park all year round. Rain and snow we are out there. We respect our park and take care of it. I myself chased away a group of graffiti kids as they were attempting to tag the bridge supports. Consider our plea and weigh the pros vs the cons. What are the cons? We are there early morning and late at night. Usually there are very few people there, if any at all at those times. Thank you!
I support the petition for the common good based upon the following reasons:
There are 2 million dogs in NYC. It is legal to own a dog and people do.
Here are your benefits from off-leash hours in your local Park.
Less dog poop on your streets. Your neighborhood dogs will go in the park.
Less dog poop in the park. Dog owners police each other and “remind” them to pick up after their dogs.
Your next door neighbor’s dog will be less likely to annoy you by barking all day. The dog will get exercise and mental stimulation at the park and be more likely to sleep during the day.
Dogs will be less likely to jump at or on you on the street. You’ve had dogs on-leash walk by you and suddenly poke you, smell you or jump on you. This is because these dogs aren’t socialized to people and are restless. Going to the park allows dogs to get socialized to people and to burn off excess energy.
Dogs will be less likely to be aggressive dogs. At the park they will burn off energy and be socialized to other people and other dogs. This reduces the likelihood that they will aggress towards people and other dogs.
An off leash dog = a happy, healty, well socialized dog that is significantly LESS likely to be aggressive than a dog who never gets to run free, confined to an apartment all day.
Parks should be multi-functional places that meet the needs of all kinds of people, families, and animals. With limits to the places and times where dogs can be off leash there shouldn't be problems. There are other ways to manage off-leash related issues than simply eliminating such opportunities.
I support this petition because the park is a public place and if there is a large number of people who would like to use the park in a certain way then it must be listened to. There needs to be a compromise between the two sides and it seems like it has been reached in the past by establishing time limits. The park belongs TO EVERYONE - bird-watchers, dog owners, runners, walkers, bikers, etc.
Others have already spoken to the importance of dogs being able to run free for periods of time.
My dog needs to run. I have never had any trouble with other dogs, dog owners or non dog people and cannot understand why someone would want to take this privledge for dogs who give so much companionship to people that have no one else.
I support this because my dog Madi is a 65lb yellow lab that loves life, people and most of all running in the grass with other dogs chasing her. To take that simple joy away from her would be cruel beyond belief. I would rather pay $100 fines every morning than to do that to her. For people who don't understand that... I feel sorry for them.
because dogs need exercise. The amount of dogs off leash every morning WITHOUT INCIDENT is exactly the proof of how necessary and positive, that dogs running free is. Please let us keep this privelege for the sake of MAN'S BEST FRIEND.
thy NY melting pot has always included animals.
The parks are safer because of the early and late dog walkers. If they want to enforce this law how about bikers, skate boarders and joggers?
I have two mix breeds, ranging from 55 to 65 lbs. One is young and active, needs plenty of room to run around at least two times a day. The other, age 14, just loves to bask in the grass and meet dog-friendly people, or roam around as she pleases, or mingle with other dogs. Their walks that enable them freedom and space is the highlight of their day. If they have to be kept on leash for their entire walk it's hard on them and on the walker(usually me).
I think that dogs should be allowed to have their free time. They shouldn't be kept caged and/or leashed all the time just because some uptight and unsetimental New Yorker feels threatened by our canine companions. I feel threatened by uptight and unsentimental New Yorkers, but I don't see any law limiting THEIR freedoms. Also, if they can't stand dogs off the leash, they should simply not go to places where they know dogs play unleashed for that relatively miniscule window of time. If they want to go to these places, they can go when the daytime leash policy is in effect (which is the majority of the day)
My dog LOVES being off-leash in Central Park! He's 70 lbs, in a CRAMPED studio & city runs are tiny. No off-leash time = inhumane city life for dogs his size. If your #1 fear in a NYC park 9pm-9am is a dog, then be happy & let’s muzzle aggressive dogs during off-leash hours. -DogGoneWalking.com
I support this petition because this is not kids we are dealing with smoking, drinking, or getting into fights. These are responsible people who are just going out for a walk with their dogs I see nothing wrong with that.
I STRONGLY support this petition. I am very responsible with my dog, and I must say that all the other dog owners that I have met on the UWS in the year and 3 months that I have had my dog, are as well. We all apprecaite this privilege and treat it as such....it would be ridiculous and groundless to take it away from us.
I support this petition because well behaved dogs need a place to excercise and socialize. I support low tolerance for aggresive dogs and that is the legislation that opposers should pursue if they are concerned for their safety. Otherwise the space should be shared fairly among citizens with and without dogs.
Having the freedom to let our dogs run free in an environment such as NYC where we do not have traditional backyards is a true treat. It is a tradition that has found a respect between all dog owners.
