In order to keep NY dogs physically/mentally healthy, off leash hours is necessary. Without it, more dogs will be stressed out and NYC may see more of the tragic mauling incidents, which I really don't want to see any of them happening here.
I moved back to NYC about 6 mos. ago, w/ 2 dogs. During this time, I have never seen any dog off leash in Riverside Park behaving inappropriately toward any other dogs or people. Allowing my dogs off leash at permitted times has helped maintain their sanity and the good behavior that they had developed in their former freer, largely rural environments.
Off leash hours are essential. The Parks Department has become an arm of real estate developers. It has abandoned its mandate to protect animals and plants. for the pleasures of off-road bike-riders and ever larger swaths of asbestos driveways. It's time to return to basics. Let the animals free.
Can there really be any doubt that all lovers of the parks, both two legged and four legged, support this measure? The parks are safer and cleaner then ever because more people are using the parks, and the most active users are dog walkers. More users equals more safety equals more users equals more safety. This is such a no brainer that it's obvious why the DOPR sees the logic of the off leash law and supports it. WAY TO GO DOPR!!!
Dogs need proper exercise and socialization to be happy and healthy. Happy and healthy pets are acknwoledged by the medical and scientific communities to be a benefit to their human's health and happiness.
I feel that dogs should be allowed off the leash not all dogs are aggressive. If a persons dog is aggressive then they should already know that there dog should not be off leash under any condition. Dogs have the right to be free just like people.
Great idea! Mugzie and Beluga Love playing here in San Diego at all the Leash Free Dog Parks. We even have a special park on the ocean where all the dogs can chase balls and swim all day every day!
parks with no off-leash ares should have them, a dog run, for both big and small dogs.better for the dogs and the parks, and people who use the park, don't have to worry about dogs off leash in the park.
Dogs bring New Yorkers together and unite neighborhoods, as well as being their owners' best friends in a big and sometimes lonely city. Making a little space for these loving creatures shouldn't be so difficult. Why some people want to take the joy out of everything, I will never know.
