This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
To the moronic parents that take their children to Seaview Park
There are 2 off leash dog parks in the city: Seaview Park and parts of Point Pleasant Park. I have no idea how many regular parks where dogs have to be on leash there are but I know that there are many more than 2.WHY IN THE HELL DO YOU TAKE YOUR KIDS
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You know I wouldn’t take my kid to Seaview park to have dogs jump all over her. But I have been to other parks in this city where dogs are required to be on leashes and yet their owners let them run all over the place and jump on everyone. I was at Yorke Redoubt, where there are CLEAR FUCKING SIGNS that say dogs must be on leashes, yet there were about a dozen dogs running around not on a leash. One large dog jumped up on my two year old daughter with its muddy paws, and its owners didn’t say a thing. What assholes. Are dog owners illiterate or what? What sort of sign do they need to make them realize they should keep their canines on a leash if the signs say they must? How about a smack to the head the next time their dog jumps on my kid? I’ll stay out of Seaview with my kid, but keep your damn dog on a leash at the parks that require it.All Dog owners can go to hell.
Dogs should not be allowed off their leashes in any public area. I love dogs but the last time some shitbrain dog owner at PPP yelled: He won’t hurt you! I had the sleeve of my new leather jacket ripped to fucking shreds by his mutt. If you want your dog to run free, buy a fucking farm but don’t inflict your beast on the unsuspecting public.
“Off-Leash Park” does not mean “Dogs Only Park”, as a pet owner you are still responsible for the behavior of your canine or feline in the park. Suck it up, my taxes pay for shit I don’t use too.
Well now Lily. Didn’t you just jump straight from “bitching” to be being a straight up “bitch”. Grouping all dog owners together like that? My dog passed away a few years ago when she was almost 15 and there’s not a day that goes bye that I wouldn’t trade you breeders to have her back. Some of us have extremely well behaved pets, just like some parents have extremely well behaved children so let’s not generalise here.I would much sooner be in a park with a bunch of dogs running around than be anywhere with you fucking breeders and yer little misbehaved bastards.This stupid mantality of “i can be here too if I want” is just retarded. You know exactly what you’re getting into when you go to an of leash park, just like I know what I’m getting into when I have to suffer through your crying out of control like brats when I go to the mall & grocerie store. Deal with it or don’t go there. That’s the great thing about freedom of choice. You may not like it, but you still have the choice.
Carnate, re-read your post and apply it to yourself. Talk about generalizing…And I’ll go to whatever park I’m legally allowed to, off-leash or not, and expect to NOT be intruded upon or jumped on by an out of control dog.
That’s just it, there are responsible dog owners and irresponsible ones. Pets are a huge part of our society and we’ve all got to accept it. Responsible dog owners know that to keep a dog happy and healthy, they need plenty of (off leash) excercise.One thing I’ve heard recently about Calgary (not that I enjoy promoting Calgary) is that they have more off-leash parks than other cities, but also less incidents of dog violence. They are also really strict about fining people for being outside of those off-leash areas.So, as long as there are plenty of places for dogs to go, and they stay in those places, it seems to work.The problem with Halifax now, is that neither of those conditions are true.
Okay cranky. The point is, dogs don’t know whether you’re there to play or not. A lot of people go with their animals to these places with the very idea that their dogs can play with other dogs & other people. That makes for a happy pet. The dog has no idea whether or not you’re there to play with them or not. I know people (myself for instance) that live in an apartment and can’t have a dog, but will go to the park so they can have some fun with them, throw a ball / frisbee etc… I don’t understand why it’s so hard and such a burden on people to realise that (in this case for instance) it’s a bit of a haven for the animals and you’re walking into their play ground.All you do is create a tense invironment when you really don’t have to. Either don’t go there at all or accept the fact that someone’s dog may take an interest in you and want to play.There’s entirely too much of this shit going on. You people bitching and moaning that you’re life is being impeded when you have direct control of keeping yourself out of the situation.
Actually, I own a dog (well, not really ‘own’, we’re more just buddies than anything) and I see it as my responsibility to keep him under my direct control at all times and not impose him on anybody else, even in an area designated as an off-leash area. Like I said, off-leash is not a license to run amock and detract from someone else’s experience. There are people out there who are afraid of dogs. Now, obviously they should avoid places where dogs are going to be expected to congregate, but should they *have* to avoid these places? No. How would you like a ‘dog exclusive’ park, at the expense of being excluding from *all* other parks, regardless of whether you keep your pet on a leash. Not a very good trade-off there….
There’s a difference between being a responsible owner and being an unreasonable bistander who just wants to cause a scene, which in my view is someone who knowing puts themselves in a situation with potential for conflict when they really don’t have to.As long as there were enough exclusive parks for the owners to get to, I can’t see that being a huge deal at all. Gotta give a little to get a little.And it is not imposing your dog on anyone if you’re taking them to a designated dog area. They are imposing on you and your dog by complaining. If they’re just there and leave you alone, that’s fine, but people can’t have it both ways.
Well, sure, if you’re in one area and they let their kid (or an adult) runs wildly through where the dogs are, well thats just stupid, but I don’t think anyone ‘deserves what they get’. Theres a difference between sharing a common area and just being a dick about it.
Kids are our future economy, dogs are pets – who should be more protected?
God bless you Ellbee.I’ll give them a park, IF I do not see a dog on the sidewalk leash or no leash.I think that’s a compromise.
Carnate, I think there should be more off-leash parks so dogs can be dogs. I would certainly avoid taking my kid there. But at parks where dogs are required to be on their leashes, I expect them to be on their leashes! I am selective as to what sort of restaurants where I take my kid so I don’t offend other patrons who are trying to enjoy a nice meal. But even when I take her to a more family-friendly place, I still don’t let her run around everywhere. It’s about respecting other’s right to enjoy the space too. Having your dog run arounnd at a park where they are required to be ON A LEASH, is clearly an infringement on everyone else’s right to enjoy that space,too. Just like kids, dogs don’t know any better. their parents — or owners — have to teach them and take responisbility for their behaviour.Oh, and I believe all dogs are capable of biting/hurting people despite what their owners say. They are, afterall, animals.
Basically there is no argument here. As a former dog owner, sure you can release the animal off leash. The reservation is that the animal has to be under some form of effective control. For that, dear dog owner, read: voice command for a start. Dogs look up to you, go ahead, take charge of it. I rather doubt that anyone that takes their dog to Seaview has bothered with doggie classes. It’s never too late, even for the owner. Lawsuits are expensive, a child even knocked over is going to potentially be an issue. Since your animal is covered by your home owner policy, (you have one of those, right?) perhaps if your behaviour continues, eventually your overwriter will drive the lesson in responsible dog ownership home. A middle of the road lawyer runs around 200 an hour.