From: shazam@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: City Parks - We can walk there now!!!!
Date: 11 Nov 92 16:19:49 -0500
Organization: Carnegie Mellon Computer Club

I am so excited!  I just had to write you and tell you about it.
I thought besides my sharing it with you, it may also help some of you
to do the same in your area.

A little over 2 weeks ago I was walking Min for the first time in
a local park near where we live.  I used to walk the last dog I owned
there years ago.  She was on leash, in control, and I had a plastic bag
with me in case of an accident.  I was actually very proud of how well
she was behaving.  I took her there to try to help her with socializing
with people, and possibly other animals.  She was heeeling and really
calm.  She never barked, not even at the squirrels!  That is a feat!

I had a man stop me and inform me that dogs were not allowed there.
He was not really ugly, but it was evident he thought I shoudl leave 
immediately.  I told him I was not aware of that and he made sure to 
tell me where the two signs were.  I politely thanked him and kept 
walking.  I was stopped later my a lady who took the time to take her 
headphones off to inform me of it.  I politely told her i had
been informed already and that I would be calling the mayor's office about
it.  I smiled and kept walking.  I did look and I saw one sign that
said "Please no dogs".

It really aggravated the hell out of me that Min was doing so beautifully 
and they stopped me to say something.  Had she been out of control they
would never have felt comfortable enough to say a thing!

I then called the Animal Control office who had been so kind to me
before and he looked it up in the City Ordinances.  He told me what it 
said and the only dogs taht were prohibited in teh parks were those considered
to be a nusience (spelling).  And that was defined as a dog off leash.
A dog who was just roaming.  

Well, true to my word I called the mayor's office, and after several
followup calls and over 2 weeks, I finally got an answer!  I was right!
Animal Control wsa right!  The mayor's assistant told me he had talked
with their legal department and that the signs were coming down.
I had suggested if I was correct that they take the old ones down
and put up new signs saying that the dog should be leashed and that
the owner should clean up after his dog.  He said that the additional
signs may take a while longer due to budget constraints.  I wanted to
say that they could have save a hell of a lot of money had they
not put signs up regarding something that was not a law.

He is in the process of memoing the proper people (police, animal control)
and when I mentioned that I was going to try to work out some way of 
better educating the people about being responsible pet owners, he
said he woudl call the Ms. Animal Rescue League too.  *smile*

And on that note, do any of you have an suggestions or experience
in trying to help educate people?  Some of the problems I have seen
is making peopel aware of how accepted our dogs will be if they will
just keep them leashed and in control, and if they will clean up 
after their dogs.  Also, to my horror, one of our neighbors
throws things across a STREET for his beautiful balck lab to 
fetch for him.  He does this when most people are using the street
to come home from work.  I want to try to help people see 
when they do something stupid.  They just need to think...some of them.
Some will never love animals enough to be responsible.  But there
are some who just need to learn and they need someoen to show them.
Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I am just glad that Min and I can walk in the park now!  So if you
have a problem, check it out first.  Know your rights.  And be
responsible.  I wonder how many park walkers are going to put up a 
fight now?  Hummmmm.......

Thanks for listening to my proud ramblings *laugh*

Suzanne

Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs