So when they were fencing in part of the vacant land at the triangle of Cogswell and Rainie, I dared to hope that it might actually be a useful substitute for taking my pup to the Commons in the summer and having everyone yell at me for having a dog who needs to run.
And then they finished the park and slapped signs all over it FOR SERVICE DOGS ONLY. I am not calling into question the need for a fenced-in park in the downtown area. I just can’t see why other responsible dogparents can’t use it when it’s vacant? I have never seen anyone in there, and there it sits, completely fenced-in, safe dog-running territory, and I don’t want to look like an asshole for taking my (very obviously NOT a service animal) dog in there to use it.
—Angry At Being Told To Get Off The Commons With My Baby
This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2009.
Maybe they’re worried that if regular dogs and their owners use it, the service dogs will see how terrible some of them have it. I really feel sorry for some (not all) service dogs. Most of the ones I see look so sad and dejected that it makes me want to scream.
What the fuck are service dogs, are we talking the visually impaired assistance dogs?
If you trained your dog properly you could take it pretty much anywhere. If people are yelling at you it’s probably because your dog is an out of control, dangerous, nuisance. Even when I see dogs off leash where they are not meant to be (I’m looking at you PPP) if the dog is walking patiently with its owner I could care less. Put some TIME and money into a trainer instead of complaining about parks for dogs who are not only properly trained, but whose sole purpose it is to make someone with a disability’s life better. Shame on you.
The area for service dogs is there because their lot in life is to live in a city with their disabled owners.
Other dogs, however, especially ones who “need to run”, are lucky enough, of course, to live in the rural areas and countryside where there are many opportunities for them to live a healthy out-door life…
I don’t know about that, Frosty…a lot of dogs I see in the rural areas are chained up to a doghouse or tree outside, or they are lying on the side of the road after the car that they jumped out at hit them.
Exactly, Frosty
c,mon this a lame one…they are service dogs for fecks sake…let them have some butt sniffin before they go back to work
First time I’ve ever heard of such a thing. I thought the OP was talking about K9 dogs. Makes me wonder just how many of these uppity service dogs are downtown.
The place is also designed with blind & disabled people in mind, ie. no sudden changes in the landscape for someone to trip over. And I’m sure a wheelchair or mobility-impaired person or blind person will appreciate not having to deal with dog fights involving their laid-back service dog versus some of the no-so-well-trained mutts roaming the streets with their equally untrained owners.
Understandable, but when it’s not being used by a service dog, why can’t a regular dog take a run in it?
I suppose it would be kind of like using the handicapped bathroom when the rest are occupied, though. I mean, if someone in a wheelchair happens to come in while your in there, it would be hard to stop what your doing immediately.
Pretty much. There are people who would not leave, thereby ruining it for everyone else.
I imagine the visually and hearing impaired are at a disadvantage if their dogs are attacked in some form or scared away (they’re given tons of training, I know, but there’s always a chance I guess). That’s probably not the *only* reason though. It would be nice to have a big fenced-in place for all dogs. Some rescue dogs come with provisions that you can only let them run in completely fenced-in spaces.