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4545 Supporters

Created by Matthew Parker on December 17, 2006, 3:14 am

We, the undersigned, support clarifying amendments to the Department of Parks and Recreation (DOPR) regulations so that the City’s 20-year old successful off-leash policy, which allows responsible dog owners to exercise and socialize their dogs during limited hours and in designated locations in City parks, can be strengthened.

WHEREAS, On November 30, 2006, NYS Supreme Court Judge Peter J. Kelly, In the Matter of the Application of JUNIPER PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. v. THE CITY OF NEW YORK, ADRIAN BENEPE, COMMISSIONER OF THE NYC DOPR, ruled in favor of the City and the Parks Commissioner; and

WHEREAS, Judge Kelly expressed hope that the DOPR would “formalize the details of the current off-leash policy within the Park Rules”; and

WHEREAS, On December 5, 2006, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOMH) adopted amendments to Article 161.05 (the “Leash Law”), which call upon the Parks Department to adopt rules promoting awareness of dog vaccination and licensure requirements, and the specific locations where, and limited times when, dogs may be off-leash; and

WHEREAS, The amendments to Article 161.05 permit the Health Department to suspend off-leash activity in a particular area in the event of a statistically verifiable outbreak of rabies, or a preventable spike in dog-related bites that occur in that particular area during the off-leash hours, providing a reasonable and fair provision that is good for the City and all its park users;

THEREFORE, We respectfully urge the DOPR to adopt amendments to their own regulations to strengthen responsible dog ownership, comply with the Judge’s decision, comport with the DOMH amendments to Article 161.05, and continue to make parks safe and enjoyable for all City residents.
      


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Petition Signatures


4,545 26 Feb 2007 - 9:14    Victoria Coradin : It is very clear that the so call Juniper Park Civic Association just don't like dogs and responsible dogs owners. On the other hand they don't complaint about people trashing the parks, having sex, drinking alcohol, barbecuing and in the summer people sleeping in the parks, and leaving behind old mattresses and cardboards. These people defecate and urinate all over the parks. All of these are perfectly right because they are not dogs. I would be very offended if anyone compares my dog to any of those pigs. Our dogs are trained and we are responsible.
4,544 26 Feb 2007 - 8:21    Anat rotem :
4,543 26 Feb 2007 - 6:22    madeleine russell : early in the morning our two dogs sunshine and penny are estatic to run sniff and greet all their woof buddies. it is a great start to our day.our dogs happy bouncing gives everybody a thrill.
4,542 26 Feb 2007 - 4:34    Andrea Naier : Aren't there enough restrictions in the park already? Areas that are fenced off to humans and animals! What's the point of a public park if the public isn't allowed to enjoy it?! Dog owners with well-trained, friendy canine companions deserve at least some of the same considerations as those with 2 legged offspring!
4,541 26 Feb 2007 - 4:26    Tracey : sending support from CA - www.santacruzpugs.org
4,540 26 Feb 2007 - 0:25    Helen Collins : Off leash hours are necessary for the proper socialization of dogs. There is an offleash area in my park, and in the six years that I have lived here, there has NEVER been an incident.
4,539 26 Feb 2007 - 0:19    Satisha Balfour : I own a pit bull and he is so friendly to people and other dogs b/c he is socialized due to the off leash policies.
4,538 25 Feb 2007 - 23:24    Pat Savoie :
4,537 25 Feb 2007 - 20:05    Carole Griec : Where else would the dogs get to be mingle "freely"?
4,536 25 Feb 2007 - 19:11    ROBERT SUDSKY :
4,535 25 Feb 2007 - 9:35    Aviva Rahmani :
4,534 25 Feb 2007 - 7:58    Barbara Shumannfang :
4,533 25 Feb 2007 - 3:45    Hillary Rubenstein : Please keep and protect the off-leash hours. There are fewer accidents, dog fights and injuries in Prospect Park during off leash hours than in the small crowded dog runs on Manhattan.
4,532 25 Feb 2007 - 3:37    Geri Crane :
4,531 25 Feb 2007 - 2:15    Diane Hope McAfee : Some of us do not live near a dog run. Animals and humans benefit from exercise and socializing with freedom.
4,530 25 Feb 2007 - 2:02    Kelly Smith-Powers : Central Park (and other city parks) would not be the same without the off leash time. It keeps the park safer and brings far more people into the park each morning and night.
4,529 25 Feb 2007 - 2:01    Al Criscuola :
4,528 25 Feb 2007 - 2:00    Alfredo Ventura :
4,527 25 Feb 2007 - 1:59    Margaret Criscuola :
4,526 25 Feb 2007 - 0:37    Karena Ostrem : Off leash hours make everyone happy!
4,525 25 Feb 2007 - 0:10    meredith allen : meredith allen
4,524 24 Feb 2007 - 23:55    Patricia Katz :
4,523 24 Feb 2007 - 23:18    Jason Porter : The dog owners that get up that early to let their dogs stretch their legs seem to me to be of the most responsible variety and extremely appreciative of the benefit that the park provides. Additionally it is one of many ways in which Prospect Park brings such a wide variet of Brooklyners together.
4,522 24 Feb 2007 - 22:39    Jihan Kim :
4,521 24 Feb 2007 - 20:33    Karen Morrisey :
4,520 24 Feb 2007 - 20:11    mardi tuminaro :
4,519 24 Feb 2007 - 17:07    kim yu tiamco :
4,518 24 Feb 2007 - 12:20    Kristi Schrittwieser : Please continue letting the dogs run free. The dogs are definately a big park of NYC. Dogs make people smile.
4,517 24 Feb 2007 - 11:55    Neal Merino :
4,516 24 Feb 2007 - 8:33    Sahara Briscoe : The number of dogs in our local park at night, has seriously kept down the occurance of crime.
4,515 24 Feb 2007 - 8:03    heidi thomas : it is necessary for a dogs well-being to have some off-leash
4,514 24 Feb 2007 - 4:18    Daniel Tapias :
4,513 24 Feb 2007 - 3:56    Kate Potts :
4,512 24 Feb 2007 - 3:04    Mayelly Moreno : This is a great step forward - it deserves support.
4,511 24 Feb 2007 - 2:54    DeAnnie Reeder : Hopefully, dog owners will be responsible for the behavior of their dogs off leash.
4,510 24 Feb 2007 - 2:42    Jimmy Lardizzone : Right on
4,509 24 Feb 2007 - 2:19    Lila Harris : Please support our responsible use of the park as a place where we can enjoy being with our dogs while respecting other users' rights
4,508 24 Feb 2007 - 1:25    colleen o'neal :
4,507 24 Feb 2007 - 1:20    Sharon Kingston :
4,506 24 Feb 2007 - 1:03    Channa Steinberg : Sensible policies lead to reasonable behavior on everyone's part. Give our dogs reasonable off-leash time and we will keep them on leash at other times.
4,505 24 Feb 2007 - 0:01    shelly scho :
4,504 23 Feb 2007 - 23:23    Michelle Bodner : This policy makes better behaved, more socialized dogs, is a wonderful use of our beautiful park.
4,503 23 Feb 2007 - 23:03    umberto aponte :
4,502 23 Feb 2007 - 23:02    linda wolstein :
4,501 23 Feb 2007 - 22:59    leslie weil :
4,500 23 Feb 2007 - 22:55    samantha castrellon :
4,499 23 Feb 2007 - 22:00    monica brown :
4,498 23 Feb 2007 - 20:57    Danita Brill : Please support the Off-Leash rules for responsible dog owners in dog parks.
4,497 23 Feb 2007 - 20:34    Diana Feldman :
4,496 23 Feb 2007 - 20:32    Valerie Kotelevets :
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