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Benny_park.jpgDear Dog Lovers: That’s Benny Bix Ochman Labradoodle puppy in Carl Shurz Park, where leash Nazis never allow dogs to run off-leash. That’s why we get up at the crack of dawn and head to Central Park, where, before 9, dogs, hundreds of them, gleefully run free. Whether its 2 below or 102, raining, snowing, sleeting or hailing, we dog people are in the park so our pups can have their exercise.
For many years, there has been an unwritten rule in Central Park that dogs can be off-leash before 9 am and after 9 pm. Now some crazies called the Juniper Park Civic Association have brought a lawsuit against the Parks Department to end this privilige for dogs and their people.
The Urbanhound newsletter says “We don’t think this lawsuit stands a chance (already, a judge has said it lacks reason). ” But the leash Nazis won when they sued to keep dogs on leash in Riverside Park and now no dogs run free there.
Urbanhound makes a petition and links to all pertinent city officials available, and encourages dog lovers to take action.
The leash Nazis make dogs sound like terrorists. But in all the years I have been a dog owner, I have seen only one of two fights between dogs in the park. There are constant fights in dog runs. It is the difference between caged and free run. I want my boy to run and jump and wrestle with his dog buddies. So do millions of other dog owner/voters who oppose the leash Nazis.
Dog runs are dirty. They have no running water. There is not enough room for dogs to run in any of them, with the possible exception of Tomkins Square Park Dog Run. The surface of the dog run in Carl Shurz Park is pebbles. They get into Benny’s paws, and cut his feet. There is no way to clean the run because it is dirt under the pebbles, so giardia and other diseases thrive there and every time I have taken Benny there he has gotten sick.
My message to Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Mayor Bloomberg reminded them that there are millions of dog owners in New York and we VOTE. In Tribeca, thanks to one loony tune man who sits on his terrace taking pictures of dogs peeing in the street as evidence of their menance. there are parts of Battery Park City where a dog is not allowed to walk on the sidewalk.
Dog owners of New York, get off your duff before it’s too late. Fight the leash Nazis.
And if you just love dogs, please write to the officials and tell them to let dogs be dogs. Please.
Love,
B.L. and Benny Bix Ochman Labradoodle