Pup Politics

There is an organization out in Queens, called the Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA), that is trying ruin my (and the rest of New York City’s) off-leash time. Don’t they understand that I need to have some freedom on clean grass so that I can socialize with all kinds of people and dogs? It's one of the reasons that I am such a happy pup!

The suit that is being heard in the State Supreme Court Of NY is going to be decided in the next couple months, so I thought I would try to send out word:

KEEP OFF-LEASH HOURS, NEW YORK!


We not only wuff off leash time when we get to run and play, but it makes for a safer park. Because mom and I are out there in the dark, early in the morning and late at night, we act as a neighborhood and park watch. And can I just say there aren't too many people out at 9pm anyway (except for dog owners) so what is the big deal??? I just don't get it. The prime time for families and group gatherings is durning the day (when we're only allowed to be there if on a leash), so it's the perfect compromise.

Facts:
• Annual Reported NYC Dog Bites Before Park Offleash Hours (1960s): Over 40,000. (source: NYC Dept of Health)
• Annual Reported NYC Dog Bites in 2005: 3,956, with 86 (2.2%) occurring in the 1,700+ NYC parks. (source: NYC Dept of Health)

The NYC Off Leash website that talks about the issues:

The Juniper Park Civic Association (JPCA) originally brought suit against the Parks Department in March 2006, but the judge refused to take the case. The JPCA then refilled the case against Parks in May 2006, and that time the court granted an Order to Show Cause.

The JPCA postures that they are "being held hostage" by a Parks commissioner who is tyrannizing the community by forcing dogs off-leash in Juniper Park. The JPCA doesn't want either Off-leash Hours or a dog park in Juniper Valley Park. The JPCA president was quoted in the New York Times in April 2006 when asked about a dog park in Juniper Park saying, "Tell me why our park has to be turned into a dog toilet."

It seems to me that dogs have to go to the bathroom irregardless of our leashed status (on or off, we still gotta go!), and that it's our mom's and dad's responsibility to pick up after us. So why do these people think that off-leash hours are going to mean clean parks?

They are simply not thinking it through, especially considering that mom and I see PEOPLE without dogs using the parks as a bathroom and not cleaning up after themselves. Perhas non-dog owners should be banned from the parks, as well??

Won't you please sign the petition? Click Here.