Thursday, April 1, 2010

WALKIN' THE DOG

When Journey and I arrived at the beach this morning, we were greeted by a clear blue sky, the water dancing in the sunlight and the sad realization there would be no more joy in our daily visits to the boardwalk.
You see, after April 1st, dogs are forbidden on the sand and beach, on leash or off, anywhere except the off-leash areas in The Beaches.
This all started when our City Council decided to apply to get a couple of the beaches in Toronto designated as Blue Flag Beaches.
Dogs are allowed on the sand and beach from November 1st to March 31, when no one else is using it; when it's windy and cold and snowy and blowy . . . and then only behind the snow fencing that is put up during those months (of course, keep in mind the City of Toronto exercises their police horses on the sand throughout the year without worrying about cleaning up after their companions!).
From today until November, our dogs will have to remain on leash, unless they are in one of two off-leash areas.
The off-leash area down at the eastern end of the boardwalk doesn't have any fencing at all to keep the dogs in the designated space and the other off-leash south of Lee Ave. has gates that don't close securely.
Neither of these areas are totally fenced-in, the dogs can get out of both of them. But if they do--there is a sizable fine waiting if an animal control officer is in the area.
The off-leash areas have a posted code of behavior:
Comply with all signs and boundaries and carry a leash at all times. All dogs must have a municipal dog license. Dogs must remain in off-leash area so as not to trample or endanger plant material and other park resources. Dogs excluded from use of off-leash areas: dogs identified under the Dog Owners Liability Act: 1. Pit bulls; 2. Female dogs in heat; 3. Uncastrated male dogs; 4. Any dog that has been issued a muzzle order by the Medical Officer of Health. Discourage your dog(s) from chasing wildlife. Pick up after the dog(s) and carry the dog(s) waste home to the Green Bin or use the receptacle provided. Dog(s) must be under voice or signal control and in sight at all times. If your dog does not respond immediately, retrieve your dog and leash it. Leash your dog(s) immediately, if aggressive behaviour is demonstrated. Respect other park users. Dogs that dig holes must have their owners fill them in immediately. Holes create safety hazards for other users especially after dark. Always carry a bag, a spare and one to share. Municipal Codes Chapter 349 & 608 Violation of bylaws are punishable by fines.
I wonder how many people who use the off-leash areas have actually taken the time to familiarize themselves with the posted code because there sure is evidence to the contrary.
Dog walkers who have five or six dogs in the area just stand and yap with other dog walkers who also have five or six dogs, while many times their charges wreak havoc on individual dogs and their owners using the space.
Owners who are oblivious to their dog's whereabouts or their dog's behavior, instead enjoying a phone conversation or a social hour with other dog owners. Nothing wrong with that--if their eyes and ears are on their dog!
If one happens to remind the owner of an unruly dog about the code of behavior, a verbal fur-flying will undoubtedly ensue.
I can't count the times I've witnessed dog fights in the off-leash areas. I'm not referring to the momentary scuffle when dogs have a disagreement or the 'it's my ball--didn't you see my human throw it for me?"
I'm referring to a dog on the prowl desiring to exert it's dominance on any dog it's size or larger. (the drunken-bully-in-the-bar syndrome!) I know of people who've politely asked another dog owner to please leash their dog if they feel it's getting too aggressive with their own dog and we know where that leads--the echoing, "this is an off-leash area", as if anything is permissible.
It seems any dog behavior is acceptable in the off-leash areas. As well as any human behavior.
Perhaps it would just be more realistic to post an "ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK."
Exactly whose responsibility is it to let children who join parents on visits to the off-leash areas know they are not in their own backyard? Their dog may be used to the kid racing around, yelling, dodging in and out of the bushes acting like a young, aggressive maniac. But I tell you, if my one-hundred-and-fifty-pound dog comes barreling around a bush at full speed and knocks a child down, the broken bones involved will not be fixed by a veterinarian!
So now I'm supposed to keep my dog from racing around in the off-leash to ensure the kids in there don't get knocked down???
Don't think so!
Then there are the tourists who come down to the beach for the day, saunter into an off-leash area and proceed to set out their blanket on which to enjoy a picnic lunch.
When dogs start circling the picnickers fried chicken and they are trying to shoo them away, I enjoy asking them if they realize they are eating their lunch in the biggest kitty-litter box in Toronto.
Once again, it becomes my responsibility to keep my dog away from these fools??
I think not!
It's only fair that one of the most dog-dense communities in Canada has space for tax-payers to exercise their dogs--this goes without saying. Just as the children in our community need their safe play spaces.
Access to safe, clean off leash spaces shouldn't be something we have to grovel and or do penance for.
Since dogs are allowed in the city, we must ensure they have proper space to get the exercise they need to develop into social, well-balanced companions.
I don't see a problem with designating times dogs can have free-run of the beach all year round. Perhaps 6:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. and again from 8 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
Now that's something to chew on!!

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