It is much healthier for all of NY's dogs to have this opportunity to get some exercise and socialize and it is great for the parks as it makes them nice and full during off hours, and safer. Much less likely a criminal will be sneaking around when the park is full of families and their pets. This is a critical quality of life issue that would be devastating to pet owners city wide if it were not continued. Thanks for your support.
City parks are for everyone, that includes NYC dog owners. Permitting limited hour off-leash time is not only a benefit to the dogs that reside in NYC, but to all new yorkers. During off hours - when parks under-utilized, has been a great crime deterent. Law abiding dog owners have taken over city parks when they were once ridden with crime.
please allow responsible dog owners the privilage of having their dogs offleash in n.y.c. parks during the proposed hours- it results in better behaved,exercised ,healthier pets! thank you-sal vivo.
I believe that a socialized dog is a better pet. The exercise and socialization that our dogs get at the park, off leash, is priceless. The dog owners who go to the park with their dogs are caring and responsible and will observe the rules if it means a better quality of life for their pets.
Without dogs and their caregivers, the park near my home would be filled with vagrants and druggies. Help keep NYC safe by letting dogs share our parks. We need to keep NY's quality of life high and this goes a long way towards that.
Clarifying the off-leash hours policy is a reasonable balance of legitimate interests of various park constituencies. Responsible dog owners appreciate and respect the opportunity to enjoy off-leash hours in City parks.
There is so much in our lives that is regulated and regimented, perhaps beyond necessity. We should have some space and time within those regulations which allow for play and free expression.
Properly socialized dogs are less likely to fight or bite. This is borne out in part by statistics on dog bites citywide, and in parks, in particular, over the twenty years this policy has been in effect.
Dog-owners are a presence, which is a deterrence to crime and a positive advantage to the well-being of the animals, owners and the community at large.
Off-leash hours give all concerned a framework within which they can work.
Adrian Benepe
Commissioner, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Attention: Office of General Counsel—Alessandro G. Olivieri
830 Fifth Avenue, Room 313
New York, NY 10021
Dear Commissioner Benepe,
I wish to voice my strong support and thanks to you and to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation for your proposed amendments for Section 1-04(i) and 1-05 (s)(3) of Title 56 of the Official Compilation of Rules of the City of New York. As you stated regarding the twenty year old 9 PM to 9 AM off-leash Courtesy Hours, the proposed amendments will “codify the Courtesy Hours by converting the policy into a rule.”
As a New York City dog owner who believes in responsible off-leash recreation, I commend the Parks Department for specifying that off-leash dogs must be under their owner’s control. I also agree that requiring off-leash dogs to be properly licensed and regularly vaccinated against rabies is good for the health and safety of all dogs.
I recognize the privilege of off-leash recreation in city parks brings with it the responsibility to follow the rules that are stated, which are designed to protect people, dogs and the parks while providing a much-valued opportunity for off-leash recreation.
I support your proposed amendments.
Thank you on behalf of all New York City dogs.
Sincerely,
Brian Coleman
465 West End Ave., #1B
New York, NY 10024
I don't have a dog but absolutely love seeing the dogs allwed to roam in the permitted park areas during the hours permitted. We owe it to them when they're mostly cooped up all day in small apts. and they need the exercise and social interaction.
The offleash policy is what has made Prospect Park a safe place for all to enjoy. Properly socialized dogs are happier and better behaved. Since the offleash policy in Prospect Park is only permitted in limited areas and times, people who do not want to be with dogs offleash can use other parts of the park, or the park at other times.
The interaction between the dog owners ensures that inappropriate dog behavior is frowned upon.
Because we live in the city my dogs don;t get to run around as much as we would like, but having the offleash hours lets them run around like crazi. i love to see the joy on their faces when their havn fun.
