Clearly codified off-leash rules and hours allow all NYC residents, animal lovers or not, a fair and equal chance to enjoy public spaces, which are created to benefit everyone
Dogs exercised off-leash are less aggressive and more social. That results in fewer bites - dog on dog or dog on human. It's in EVERYBODY's interest to preserve off-leash recreation!
NYC Parks unofficial off-leash policy, encourages dogs and their people in the fight against the epidemic of obesity and helps our entire society! Let freedom run!
Off leash must continue in NYC parks, it is not only vital to the well-being of NYC dogs (and their guardians) but to others living outside the area who like to visit (and spend money) in NYC, and like to bring their dogs with them.
Claudia
Editor, The Bark
Urban parks need to meet the needs of a variety of types of users, including those who need to exercise their dogs off-leash. I urge you to vote against the amendment to 161.05.
I support off-leash rights for dogs and dog owners in every park in NYC. I believe the benefits inmensely outweigh the potential drawbacks. I encourage the NYC authorities to continue to be fair when trying to accomodate the needs of every park user.
Timed use is an excellent compromise for sharing a park. Dog owners have always been a major park user constituency. Space for offleash recreation is essential for the health and wellbeing of urban residents, both human and canine.
I fully support off-leash rights for dogs in NYC Parks. Remember it is wrong, and perhaps unlawful, to NYC to discriminate against this group of park users. We are no more or less "dangerous" than cyclists, picknickers, or teenage boys,
It is good for the community for dogs and their owners to be able to play in the park. We're only off leash at times when no one else is in the park anyway! And we love and take care of the park. It's good for everyone.
I believe that it is safe for all concerned for dogs with responsible owners to be off leash during the hours of 9PM and 9AM. There is very little park use during those hours except for dogs with owners.
A lot of people are talking about how happy this will make them or their dog, which is true. But, here's something the city and parks might be more interested in:
Before I owned a dog, I made very limited use of the parks, I never thought about litter or about trash receptacle placement, I never thought to volunteer my time to a park, I never EVER stopped and talked to "strangers" (aka: my own neighbors) on the street at night, I certainly never contributed ANY of my income to the city, to the parks or to neighborhood and community groups, I never thought I would meet so many wonderful people in NYC/Brooklyn.
I do all of the above now and you can directly thank my dog for the care, time and income that NYC Parks and a diverse range of Community Groups receive from me and my household.
Please remember that dog owners are members of the community just as much as those who participate in other hobbies. Dogs require excersise to maintain good health just like people. Leash walking is not excersize. Dogs who are not socialized with other dogs are more likely to become aggressive than dogs who are.
Lack of free excersize is, for dogs, physical abuse. We are many, and we VOTE.
NYC's timed use policy is an example for the nation on how to accomodate a wide variety of park users, including those who go to the park with their dogs. Thank you NYC, and good luck with the DOPR!
I've been delighted to read the rational comments by NYC politicians in support of this important activity. Your mixed-use, time-based solution gives something to everyone. Go NY!!
We pay lots of taxes to support Brooklyn, and this is our most valuable use of the park for dog owners. Thanks for changing the laws so that we are doing it legally!
This is the best part of living in Brooklyn; being able to go to the park with friends and our dogs in the mornings for safe and healthy interaction makes us ALL better citizens!
