We strongly support having dogs off leashes and the law that will continue to permit this. Dogs and their owners have the opportunity to meet and greet others, without restraint, yet under everyone's watchful eye. It makes for friendlier, calmer dogs and their owners. If those hours could be expanded, I would surely be in favor of that as well.
Ruth Scheuer
The off-leash hours provide important socialization and exercise for city dogs and their humans. It also provides some additional security for our public parks late at night and early in the morning so that all citizens can enjoy walking, running and biking in peace.
Dog park availability is limited in many areas, and these small parks do not allow dogs to run fast or free. These activities are very important to our dogs' health and well-being. With the current schedule of off-lead hours, there is a fair sharing of our city's resources.
As a responsible dog owner off leash hours are crucial to the mental health of our pets. We all live in small places and letting them run around for a few hours is so important in having a happy pet. As long as we continue to clean up after our pets there should not be an issue. Also people know if they own a friendly dog, no one that has an attack dog is dumb enough to bring that dog out in public. I have a large boxer that looks intimidating but is as gentle as a poodle around children and little dogs. Please keep our off leash hours!!
For many people one of the measures of a person and, by extension, a community, is how well they treat their dog. I hope that the DOPR agrees that New York's dogs and their owners deserve to have the right to retain the off-leash rights.
Dogs really need excercise and socializing to remain happy, satisfied, and calm. All the dogs we encounter in Central Park every day are well trained and well behaved. I strongly support to maintain the policy
This freedom is very important to the quality of life and health of our pets-- who are very important to the quality of life of many city residents. They need the opportunity to be what they are and not be harnessed out of doors at all times. It is very unhealthy for them and will cause greater problems.
The overwhelming majority of NYC pet owners are responsible and nothing suggests that formalizing the policy would lead to a rash of infractions that haven't occurred thus far. Designated offleash programs are a good compromise between pet owners and non-pet owners sharing the city parks.
Please keep dog off leash hours in ALL parks; they contribute to our health, happiness and stability in this world, reminding us of our compassion and humility and strength to love and care for something outside ourselves. More than that, they deserve the very best we can offer them; Is confining them to a 6ft leash for their humans term in nyc the best we can do???? Is this what nyc wants to have an image of nationwide as a not dog-friendly city - this will effect/affect many on multiple levels. I for one need my dog, and she needs to run everyday more than I can keep up with, she looks forward to seeing her friends, who of us doesnt! - Fenced in dog parks are not the answer, they create strange territorial issues at times with alpha instincts....fenced in areas are not sufficient. This system the way it stands now provides the very least....some freedom to do their own thing and let off some steam from all the demands we put on them, don't take that away. As for us, not only do our pets calm our stress and anxiety - but being at the park with them helps us socialze in heart felt ways with other humans instead of cutting them off or cursing them out on a subway or on a que or in a bar.....our dogs prance up to others and say hello to just about anyone looking for love or just plain curiosity, you meet and greet too and share when otherwise youd be in your home watching tv or working or alone. We all need a respite and a place to express oursleves in natural ways to keep healthy - please support the off leash hours. Id be happier if you extended them all day especially in certain designated areas, or during winter perhaps when far less humans use the park. Thank you kindly for your compassion and service.
