NYCityPets.com

The thought of watching dogs fighting is terrifying for many people. Believe it or not, there are magazines and DVD’s out there that help you get your fight on for both dog and cock fighting enthusiasts. You can find these resources at Amazon.com! Real action, real dogs, really illegal activities.

Here are all kinds of links about this issue. (Side note, Netflix got rid of one of the videos in question back in June 2006)

Although the argument is steeped in free speech rhetoric, it is troublesome at best that any products depicting illegal activities in action are allowed to be marketed. Why don’t they sell bestiality videos too? You can say that there might be more of a market for the dog fight videos, but you never know who’ll come around and buy a bestiality video…

Seriously, is there really a difference between people who train dogs to be aggressive and watch them tear each other apart and those who do the deed with their pets? Both are incredibly cruel and indecent.

All dog fighting should end everywhere. Now. It is already illegal to fight dogs in all 50 states. Sadly, cockfighting is still legal in New Mexico and Louisiana (so says the ASPCA).

If you truly care about this issue, then visit the ASPCA page introducing a new federal bill called the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act.

Let’s put those bully breed dog jaws to good use instead of fighting: throw those dogs a bone!

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via email from NYCDog:

November Judge Kelly issued an opinion in Juniper Park Civic Association, Inc. v City of New York denying the petition in its entirety and affirming the authority of the Park’s Department to allow off-leash time for dogs in City Parks. It is a total victory for City Parks and NYCDOG. In his opinion he also wrote:
“The court is keenly aware that while it can dispose of the legal issue presented, the broad emotional effect of the issues raised will remain. In the face of the angst and vitriol exhibited herein, common sense would dictate that something more than an ‘unwritten policy’ governing the off-leash use of parkland by dogs, which is known by few and misunderstood by many, is required in this instance. With this in mind, the statement by respondent’s counsel during oral argument, as amplified in writing, that
respondents will formalize the details of the current off-leash policy within the Park Rules, is, hopefully, more than mere puffery.”

NYCdog statement from Andrew Otis, Esquire: Today the court disposed of the legal issues in this matter and left the question of when and where dogs may be off leash in City Parks where
it belongs: in the hands of the Park Commissioner. NYCDOG applauds this ruling and looks forward to working with the rest of the City’s Park users, including the Juniper Park Civic Association, to develop workable rules that allow both for the benefits of off-leash time for dogs and their human companions and other park uses.

Congratulations to all the dog owners who showed their support for off-leash play. Congratulations also to the Parks Department for being given the, as Eric Cartman calls it, authority to make the best possible policy for all parties involved, human and dog alike. Now if only all the entrances to the parks get new informational signs about off-leash activity. NYC will be an even better place for dogs!

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…or so says an opponent to off-leash activity in NYC parks.
That statement would’ve could put any pet-loving person in a state of rage.
This just shows that some people will never get the appeal of off-leash recreation.
Here is a proposal for the Parks Department: post signs in front of every park that clearly state when and where dogs are allowed off-leash. Spread the word far and wide, since many New Yorkers have no clue about this struggle between the JPCA and NYCDog or off-leash hours for that matter.

Photo of off-leash hours promoter from the 2006 Great Pupkin event at Fort Greene Park

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In honor of Election Day, (a day we should not have to work, so as to celebrate the day we give voice to the state about just who we want-or don’t want-to represent us in government), here are some links about the things our dogs will want to know before deciding at the polls:

League of Humane Voters of NYCcandidate endorsements

ASPCA Lobby for Animals: Join the Advocacy Brigade and get alerts about state and federal issues pertaining to animals.
You can also read more about NYC Intro 13: the Pets in Housing Bill.

Find out which candidates the SAOVA (Sportsmen and Animal Owner’s Voting Alliance) endorse here.

MyDogVotes.com has a whole website dedicated to educating you about issues that matter to your dog. As they say, “If your dog matters, your vote matters.”
MDV also has a map where BSL has been passed to help people avoid those places if they have dogs that could pay the price if they wander into the wrong town.

**Not all animal-related organizations will support the same candidates or take the same side on an issue. The research is for the voter to do and these links are a starting point.

So get out there, walk your dog to the polls if you are able, and vote with your dog (and your heart). Unless someone gives you trouble….

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NYCDog representatives held a press conference yesterday at Foley Square to tell people that off-leash recreation (specifically, the 9 AM to 9 PM courtesy hours in parks without designated dog runs) is an important part of the quality of life of New Yorkers and their dogs.
The Health Department heard comments regarding the current leash regulations and we are certain many of the comments included pro-off-leash recreation.
Let us hope that the Health Department will come up with the right way to keep the 9 AM-9 PM privileges available for our dogs and those of the future. In the words of the newly formed Juniper Valley Park Dog Association’s President, Terri Sullivan: “The only difference between the ball players and us is that they interact with inanimate objects and we interact with animate ones.”

(For more photos, visit our Flickr page).

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The NYCDog volunteers have been hard at work getting petition signatures and informing people about the state of off-leash affairs.
We commend their efforts and heartily urge you to contact the health department right now with your thoughts on off-leash recreation. The hearing on this issue will happen on November 1st at 125 Worth Street in Manhattan. (Only 11 days from now).

*******************************************
October 17, 2006

Dear NYC Off-Leash Hours Supporter:

Re: FINAL 2 WEEKS - SAVE NYC PARK OFF-LEASH HOURS
Thank you for previously signing the online petition to continue the successful 20-year policy of 9pm-9am Off-leash recreation in NYC parks.
As you may know, this petition was circulated in response to a lawsuit against the City that threatens to end the off-leash hours. While we continue to fight this lawsuit, we’re doing much more to preserve the off-leash hours.
Today, we need your help!
We are proactively working to actually amend the existing Health regulations so that the off-leash hours policy is clarified.
Doing so will undercut the lawsuit against the City, and hopefully protect the off-leash hours policy for years to come. In fact, we hope that if the regulations are amended, a ruling on the lawsuit might not even happen.
We’re in the final stretch.. Today, we need your help!
We have just two weeks left to make our voices heard to save the Off-leash hours policy for all NYC parks (and dog runs), or we might lose it forever.

Here’s a quick summary of major events:

* A State Supreme Court judge heard oral arguments on the lawsuit seeking to end Off-leash hours policy on August 29th and said a judgment would be coming. This legal judgment could end Off-leash hours in all NYC parks—permanently.

* However, both the NYC Health and Parks Departments support the current Off-leash Hours policy and the City announced in court that it would seek to amend the “Leash Law” (which are individual Health and Parks regulations) to render any court judgment moot.

* The Health Department began a 90-day public comment period in mid-September. A public hearing to consider an amendment to the Leash Law that would save Off-leash hours is scheduled for November 1st. But there’s no guarantee that the amendment will be adopted.

* That’s why we need your help!

There are two things you can do TODAY to help save the Off-leash hours policy for years to come:

1. EMAIL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT - Send an email to the NYC Board of Health telling them why the 20-year Off-leash Hours policy has been a public health success. Click here to send a pre-addressed email to the Health Board
* Visit www.nycoffleash.com and follow the directions for sending an email to the Health Board.
* Please remember that the Health Department is on our side, but needs to hear support from the public.
* Please keep your letter polite, concise and focused on the public health benefits of the Off-leash Hour policy (you’ll be provided with some suggested points). Your email will be entered into the official public record.

2. TELL YOUR FRIENDS - Forward this email to at least five of your friends, family, co-workers, or acquaintances who live in NYC to spread the word.
*Print out this page and give a copy to your trusted dog-owner friends that you see each morning. They may not know about what is going on, but if they are responsible dog-owners who care about exercising and socializing their dogs off-leash, they may want to weigh in as well.

We only have two weeks left!

We need your help to influence the decision of the Board of Health so that they adopt the amendment to the “Leash law” that will render the lawsuit inert.

Full information, including the language of the proposed amendment, is located at: www.nycoffleash.com.
Your five minutes today could make the difference that will allow your dog an hour of off-leash exercise tomorrow.
Please email the Board of Health today!
Thank you for all that you’ve done and continue to do so that we can win this fight!
We want you to continue to responsibly exercise and socialize your dog off-leash in NYC parks from 9pm-9am.

Your email can make it happen!

Matthew H. Parker

New York Council of Dog Owners Groups (NYCdog.org)
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(For previous posts, go here, here, and here)

Tuesday’s court proceedings have caught the attention of the media and many more people are now talking about the future of the 9-9 off leash hours in NYC parks.
Time Out New York has dedicated their weekly poll to the issue, asking the question:

A controversy in a Queens Park has the New York dog world barking. Should off-leash hours in parks be curbed citywide?

a. Yes, dogs should be leashed at all times in city parks.

b. No, it’s vital for dogs to have some time to run wild.

To vote, go to timeoutnewyork.com/poll. Replies must be received by 10am on Tuesday, September 5. Results will be published in TONY572.

This morning, even the morning alarm clock (set to NPR), was reporting the news about off-leash hours to us. This makes it difficult not to be a little concerned for the welfare of our doggie friends.

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The next trial date for the Juniper Civic Association vs. NYC Parks Department is set for tomorrow. (Tuesday, August 28th)
Members of NYCDog will be in attendance, along with their team of lawyers, and some Queens dogs who want to keep off-leash hours in effect, as they seem to enjoy running and playing.

Our understanding is that there is a lack of support for off-leash hours and a fenced-in dog run in Juniper Park. With the attention this park is receiving, hopefully the dogs and their companions will benefit from this legal battle with the establishment of the biggest and best dog run in the city or a great public awareness campaign that off-leash hours are both here to stay and a benefit to the community. See NYCDog’s press release below:

NYCDOG to Defend Off-Leash Rights
In NYS Supreme Court,
Tuesday, August 29, 2006

PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED 11:30 AM AT COURTHOUSE

Additional information: Bob Marino, President, NYCDOG
212.873.0006 / Email Bob Marino

The New York Council of Dog Owner Groups (NYCdog.org) will be in court at 9:30 am on Tuesday, August 29th to represent the interests of the owners of the 1.4 million dogs in NYC. At 11:30 am, a press conference will be held outside the courthouse All media outlets are invited. Information about the press conference is at the end of this press release.
* * *

In March 2006, the Juniper Park Civic Association of Middle Village, Queens filed a lawsuit against the City of New York and Parks Department to force the abolition of the 9pm-9am off-leash privileges that have existed for nearly twenty years in most city parks. The rule was devised by former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, and has been continued by the current Commissioner, Adrian Benepe. The Queens lawsuit seeks to abolish the off-leash privileges in all city parks.

The New York Council of Dog Owner Groups, an umbrella organization of nearly three dozen neighborhood based dog owner groups throughout the city representing nearly 20,000 dog owners, has filed papers to Cross-Motion to Intervene in the lawsuit. NYCdog’s motion papers seek to make the organization a party to the suit in defense of the off-leash privileges.

The case was first heard on June 27 by Hon. Judge Peter Kelly. In conference, the judge postponed the hearing until August 29th and asked both sides to attempt a compromise resolution.

Despite its reduced budget, the NYC Parks Department offered to resolve any perceived problems with off-leash dogs in Juniper Valley Park, Middle Village, Queens by constructing a dog park within its 55 acres. The civic association refused to even consider a dog park as resolution of the issue and has waged a campaign of dis- and mis-information about dog ownership in New York City.

The New York Council of Dog Owner Groups (NYCdog.org) has attempted to resolve the suit by offering to escort leaders of the civic association to view some of the successful dog parks that have been constructed in smaller parks throughout the city and to Prospect and Central Parks where no dog parks exist or are planned but where off-leash privileges have helped create a community of dog owners while reducing crime within parks. The civic association did not accept the offer.

IN addition to its motion papers, NYCdog submitted affidavits of support from
Former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman
Meena Alagappan, Esq., Chair of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York Standing Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals (ABCNY LIPA)
Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor’s Alliance for New York City ’s Animals
Daisy L. Okas, Assistant Vice President of Communications for the American Kennel Club (AKC)

The NYCdog papers challenge both the standing and reading of the law as stated by papers submitted by the civic association.

The case is on the Motions Calendar of Judge Peter Kelly. The calendar starts at 9:30 am . There is no time certain for hearing the case. For that matter, the Judge may postpone it again. If heard, a ruling is expected in 4-12 weeks.

THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES AND POSTCARDS TO BE SUBMITTED TO MAYOR, COUNCIL, AND PARKS

WHETHER OR NOT HEARD: NYCDOG WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE AT 11:30 AM, AUGUST 29th.

NYCdog and its member groups from throughout the City have collected thousands of signatures and postcards in support of off-leash privileges. The petitions will be submitted to the Mayor, City Council, and Parks Department.

This will be announced at the press conference as will additional efforts to solidify support for the 1.4 million dog owners in the City.

MAJOR, INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRMS STEP-UP TO
DEFEND NYC DOG OWNERS AND DOGS “PRO-BONE-O”

The New York Council of Dog Owner Groups (NYCdog.org) is represented by Andrew Otis, Esq and Dora Straus, Esq. /Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP and Matthew Greller / Blank Rome, pro bono, for the off-leash case. Four other attorneys also contributed their expertise in drafting the documents submitted to the court.

The international law firms of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP and Blank, Rome , Comisky & McCauley LLP stepped forward to defend the rights of New York City dog owners and their companion animals.

NYCdog has filed papers seeking to become an Intervenor in the suit which would make us a party to the suit and any appeals, settlements, and negotiations. The case will be heard by Judge Peter Kelley in NYS Supreme Court in Queens on August 22 at 9:30 am . The courtroom is at 88 -11 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica , Queens .

Following the hearing NYCdog will hold a press conference outside of the court house. We hope that you will be able to attend. Representatives of some of our nearly three dozen community based dog owner groups will participate

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Why does the Intro 13 bill matter?
Say you live in a dwelling with a “no pets” clause in your lease and you’ve had a pet there for over 90 days (you have not kept the pet hidden from the landlord or management).
If your pet dies and you attempt to bring a new pet into your home, the landlord can take legal action to evict you.

This is horrible for any New Yorker who loves pets and even more so for the homeless pets that need new families.

What will Intro. 13 accomplish?
Intro. 13 is a bill that will give tenants legal rights to get a new pet (of the same species) if the previous pet happens to die. In reality, the bill will not impact very many people because it cannot keep “no pets” clauses out of future leases. Therefore, landlords, co-ops, and condos will still keep their power to keep pets out of buildings. Although our dream of a 100% pet-friendly city could not come from Intro. 13, at least people will be able to give good homes to adoptable pets if the bill passes!

Where to Learn More:
If this interests you, then Team 13 needs your help to spread the word.

For more on why this bill matters, read
Democracy for New York,
Animal Friendly NYC,
League of Humane Voters of NYC.

To read the full text of Intro 13, go here.

Current Status of Intro. 13 in NYC City Council:
This bill is (stuck) in the Committee on Housing and Buildings. We hope the City Council stops sleeping on this issue!

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From NYCDog:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 10, 2006

Central Park Paws alerted dog owners that on the morning of August 9th, a dog being walked in Central Park found a brown paper bag tied with ribbons and promptly torn it open to gain access to what proved to be chopped meat laced with straight pins (Central Park alert is below). Though severely injured by more than 30 ingested pins, thanks to the efforts of a caring Veterinarian, the dog will survive.

Unfortunately, sick people like the individual who planted the chopped meat exist everywhere. Each year we are alarmed by reports of Halloween candy laced with similar items. And recently, we have all read of a psychopath who poisoned a church picnic to inflict pain or death on his fellow church members. Fortunately these people are a small minority of society and most people do not act in such anti-social ways.

Sadly, the booby-trapped meat was meant to lure dogs so that they might be injured or killed. This individual is sick, malevolent, and dangerous to both dogs and citizens alike. People like this are no better than terrorists who would destroy our society and as such should be treated no differently when apprehended.

Any claims that may be made by some people that this incident would not have happened had the injured dog been on-leash should be dismissed as political posturing. As any responsible dog owner knows, discarded food on the streets and within parks –whether poisoned or not- is an almost irresistible lure to dogs. Many dogs are able to consume items found on the street within seconds and without missing a stride while on walks.

As responsible citizens, all of us should respect one another, be on the look-out for nuts who would hurt our pets, children, elderly, tourists, and our families. We urge park users to be to be on the alert for any items that might pose a threat and to immediately report any suspicions to the proper authorities. Do not touch anything.

NYCdog reminds all dog owners to constantly monitor their dogs whether on or off-leash. Do not allow dogs to roam through woodlands, underbrush, and flowerbeds. Do not allow your dogs to enter children’s playgrounds, ball fields, or any other designated-use area. Clean-up after your dogs. And, above all, respect all citizens and our parks.

The NEW YORK COUNCIL OF DOG OWNER GROUPS (NYCDOG) is a coalition of 35 dog owner groups throughout New York City representing over 25,000 dog owners. NYCDOG was founded to unite dog owners and dog owner groups throughout New York. We are dedicated to improving our communities by promoting the establishment and maintenance of humane off leash recreation opportunities, responsible dog ownership and respectful park stewardship.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Robert A. Marino
President
NYCdog.org

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