I understand we live in a city, and not the valley… but this city is becoming less and less dog friendly it seems. I completely respect the fact that there has to be rules and limitations as far as where dogs can be off leash, but it seems like one day I go somewhere and everything’s fine, the next day I go and we’re told we can’t be there with dogs… A friend of mine got fined by an animal control officer for playing fetch with her dog in a fenced in park with NO other people/dogs on it. The fine was almost $400! Seaview Park is great, and my pups absolutely love it there. But even a few weeks ago an animal control officer showed up and examined people’s dogs and threatened to fine the ones who didn’t have special gold tags you buy at the vet, and she was asking everyone questions about their dogs, and just making the experience rather unpleasant. I understand they have a job to do, but it was quite obvious that everyone at the park just wanted to enjoy watching our dogs run with each other, and not to be harassed by some pig who could barely fit into her clothes. I wish we could get a dog friendly park, completely fenced in, maybe with some agility equipment and who knows what else! But what’s with this… I know more dog owners than not, and I know I’m not alone in wondering why Halifax seems to be becoming less and less dog friendly. —Just let ’em run!
This article appears in Feb 10-16, 2011.
OP, you had me until “some pig who could barely fit into her clothes.”
Pigs provide us with so much that is wonderful; it seems rather churlish to use their name as an insult. So exactly what relevance is there to the officer’s size? Was she rude, arrogant unprofessional? If so complain to the city.
Like the others I do not see how the officer’s size has anything to do with your argument.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but owners are required to register their dog soon after obtaining ownership. One way for animal control to check registrations/tags is to visit dog friendly parks. Sure it may have interrupted a bit of your time, but, as you say, they have a job to do.
Thin people who actually “fit into [their] clothes” can be rude, arrogant and unprofessional too. You’re right, Ivan: what’s the relevance of the officer’s size (except to discredit OP’s bitch)?
The “special tag you buy at the vet” is called a rabies tag and it’s required by law to protect you, your neighbours AND your pet.
Unless, of course, you’re talking about the HRM license tag, then you’re mistaken. Because you don’t buy those at the vet, you get them from the HRM offices, and they help pay for animal control, a necessary evil in any municipality.
There is a reason for all of this OP. You may say your dog is all fine and dandy but there are dogs out there who will attack people and/or get spooked by something and run out into traffic. I’m actually glad there are animal control people out doing this sort of thing. And the tags that the officer was checking, isn’t the tags to prove a dog as been vaccinated and such? I’m sure you’d be pissed if your dog got bitten by an off-leash dog with a disease.
Unless more details are forthcoming I’m going to have to assume that the “harrassment” the OP is speaking of was simply the officer doing her job. Most of the dog owners I know are courteous and responsible. They care for their dogs and understand that part of that involves keeping them from deliberately or inadvertently injuring others or being injured. But clearly not all dog owners behave this way, hence the need for animal control officers and restrictions in certain areas.
“special gold tags” – do you mean the licence? That little piece of meatal, that if up to date means that your dog has had all it’s shots and is not a health hazzard ? Those tags?
“I wish we could get a dog friendly park, completely fenced in, maybe with some agility equipment and who knows what else!” – OK, so why don’t you? What? – ‘can’t be bothered, someone else should do it because you say so?’ Entitled much?
BTW OB, isn’t your dog trained well enough, not to run away when off leash?
Looks like a great park but I haven’t been down there with my dog, but friends of mine take theirs. It seems odd that the animal control officer would give everyone a tough time. Maybe there have been valid complaints, or maybe the officer wanted the dog treats for herself as a snack. That could be why she can barely fit into her clothes anymore.
The best are the “professional” dog walkers that take a pack of 1/2 dozen or so german shephards to provincial parks and let them run amok.I wouldn’t care so much if at least they’d pick up their shit.
“not to be harassed by some pig who could barely fit into her clothes”
Your dog’s name isn’t Brindi is it?
This bitch is a bitch.
Was the officer prettier than you too, OB?
HA HA, Brindi, Martyr to dog lovers everywhere. Remember that piece The Coast did on her that time? It read like a dog version of self-martyrdom of that couple who had the standoff against child services/the police. blah. Happy monday.
Happy Monday to you too, Cranky.
Anyone else’s day going paaaaaaaainnnnnnfuuuuuullllllllllllyyyyyy slow or is it just mine?
It’s bruuuuuutallly slow PK. I feel your pain. 🙁 Maybe it’s ’cause I have a date with friends later that I’m really looking forward to, and the office is annoying and it’s raining and gray out… or, or, or Monday. Mondays stink.
well o.p., if you own a dog, even a modest sized one, you have to control it, feed it, and exercise it. not to mention take care of it medically.
if you let you dog run loose, it’s big, mean, and has bbitten once, then you should know better. but all dogs bite, right? at least that’s what some say, i say bullshit. no, not all dogs bite, but all dogs do shit.
and that is where the problem really is. people not cleaning up after their dogs, or even cats and fucking kids.
people in this city are just too fucking lazy, too even stoop, to pick up something, that should not be on the ground, in the first place.i would love to see the day, when a person gets whacked with a grand, for dropping one little piece of litter, same goes for shit too.
maybe getting nailed once might smarten your ass up, but i’d love to see some habitual offenders get nailed at least once a week. and they know who the fuck they are. some are probly hiding on here.maybe if your asses were hauled into court once a week, then you would fucking learn from it, but i bet not.
..even better,if you and others want a fenced in area,raise money through fundraisers,perhaps city hall will look into finding a suitable park on the peninsula, but nothing will happen until you inquire in the right circles.
My question is why would someone accept a fine from someone who isn’t a police officer with a gun? It’s one thing if a ticket is left on your car, but someone approaches you and wants to give you a fine? You simply leave the area.
The only owners this bothers, are the ones that don’t have all their tags.
There are a ton of awesome parks for dogs around here, Seaview, Point Pleasant, Subie etc. And I’m sure if you spent about 20 seconds looking into it, I’m sure you’d find agility classes as well.
Quit your fucking complaining.
i don’t see it being an issue, there a lots of good spots to take your dog. i am curious about the small area behind centennial pool, i know it’s for service dogs, but i never see anyone using it
Is it the triangular, fenced in bit of grass at the intersection? I go by a lot (it’s on my run route) and I do often see people in there. Not service dogs though…
that’s the one, it’s not very big. i wonder what the classification includes. the’re are lots of different types of therapy dogs, including greys^^
Hey Painey-
People use it. I actually looked into getting one of these animals, but discovered I am wayyyy too independent to need one. When I went through training with the pup, I was told that letting other dogs distract it while on duty is dangerous to training and skill retention, and so on. I look at that park like blue parking spots- reserved for people with the specific need, and just because the spot isn’t taken doesn’t mean it’s open for use. Same goes for that dog park by the pool.
I’m no expert, to go making any big defence about the park, but that’s the way I understand it.
I work right across from it (not at the radio station, thank God :P).
it’s such a small area, i have no issues with it being for a very specific use. sooo 195, i’m trying to narrow it down http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_…
Hahaha I don’t think I can narrow it down any further without giving it away. 😛
it’s otay i know what you look like…DISCLAIMER: i am not a stalker^^
Sodey that would be because they are special constables with the power to do so. Walking away from them would be like walking away from a cop. Both would wind up in your arrest. Ever notice the handcuff pouches they carry? They’re there for a reason.
Wheeliep: a friend of mine used to work as a trainer for assistance dogs out west. She LOVED it and kept in contact with a lot of the people her dogs went to 🙂
if you resist a ticket an armed officer will be called and they will provide you with the ticket. simply get the license, have it on your dog’s collar and there will be no issue.
as for her size, matters not. glass houses my friend, glass houses
i think it would be a very fulfilling job to have http://therapyppetsservingminicassia.com/P…
omg loook at dat kittteh 😀
Unfortunately not every kitteh is cut out for Therapy Cat Training.
http://musetracks.files.wordpress.com/2009…
haha, that looks like wp’s cat