Reader Lisa has written to us expressing her concern about the increasing number of dogs without leashes in our area. She wrote:
“I’ve been noticing more and more people walking their dogs without leashes. Inside the bowl at Clark Park is an accepted location, but I’m talking about up on the sidewalk, in the north section of the park, and around the neighborhood. I am afraid this is a bad trend, and something bad is going to happen. My dog does not like when other dogs run up to him, even if they are friendly, so we stay out of the bowl. Today I had to leave the park altogether because two large dogs were roaming the sidewalks quite a distance from their apparent owners. How do I know if they are friendly or not, or how close I can get without them trying to meet my dog, or if they will run immediately to their owners if called? There are plenty of children (and adults) who are not fond of dogs either. It is likely that off-leash dogs make them uncomfortable also.
I’m sure the owners think their dogs are perfectly trained, always friendly, and thus special and safe enough to disobey the law. Many may be right, but certainly there are exceptions. Is it really fair to ask me to assume that any off-leash dog must be friendly and safe just because the owner obviously thinks it is? Can a parent be expected to promise their child that the 80 pound dog down the street is not going to run up to her? Everyone has the right to feel safe. That is the point of the leash law. I’m glad owners of social dogs have the bowl to let their animals run, but that should be the only place. What can we do? Post more leash law signs? Ask the police to give out tickets for a while? Or will a few good dog fights or bitten children solve the problem?”
Lisa adds that she does NOT want law enforcement to ticket dogs that are off-leash. Also, with the number of dogs, it is remarkable how rarely we see missed droppings in the neighborhood. The community is generally good at that. However, she does not want “a few overconfident people to mess things up.”
November 2nd, 2011 at 5:12 pm
As a WP fellow dog owner, I agree with and appreciate Lisa publizing her concern. For many dog owners, the Bowl is a rare privelege and with that comes responsibility
Outside of the Bowl, common sense should apply but when it doesn’t, feloww dog owners should be the ones communicating to non-conformists that they are potentially screwing it up for the many.
November 2nd, 2011 at 6:20 pm
I also really appreciate Lisa voicing her concerns. I too have noticed this off-leash trend around Clark Park and find it not only annoying, but also potentially dangerous. I have small children and we frequently walk our dog to the park. Our dog is not good at all with other dogs; he is always on leash and we stay out of the bowl. Twice in the last month, I have had to deal with off-leash dogs running up to him and the ensuing growling, biting chaos. Not a fun experience, especially with small children. Unfortunately, the owners haven’t been particularly apologetic. I completely agree that this trend needs to be stopped so everyone can continue to enjoy our wonderful park.
November 2nd, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Last year at Clark Park an unleashed dog lunged at my then 2.5 year old. My son had been playing with a ball, the dog came and took it, then the owner threw it back to my son without having her pit bull on a leash. my son reached to grab the ball as it came to him and the dog lunged at him. I have no idea how we made it out of the moment unharmed, but dogs need to be on leashes, ESPECIALLY when with lots of other dogs or around children. There needs to be a fenced in dog park or something near clark park!
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Could not agree more. I have 3 dogs and have had several close calls because of irresponsible owners (overconfident was a nicer way of putting it but I think it’s just as often carelessness).
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:47 pm
if you have a dog that wasn’t socialized responsibly it shouldn’t be in clark park period, leash or no leash. the well adjusted dogs and any other dog off leash and close enough is going to want to come meet your dog. so weather you like the situation as it is in the park or not you’re really asking for trouble taking your dog through the park.
if your taking an anxious or aggressive dog with your child to the playground knowing there is likely off leash dogs running around then you are really stupid and i hope your ignorance doesn’t result in your child being hurt. also your attitude with your dog probably causes most of the anxiety that builds up. learn how to facilitate dog greetings.
i’d hope if i’m the one making someone nervous they will come talk to me and meet the dog i’m with.
also that person that threw that ball back and didn’t have control of their dog should have been punched. i’m sorry that happened to you. at least the dog wasn’t a meanie, just really excited to play ball.
November 3rd, 2011 at 2:52 am
I also agree wholeheartedly with Lisa, and with her observations regarding the overconfidence of some dog owners who allow their dogs off their leashes in public areas. My young children and I have had far too many scares by unleashed dogs running up to us while on the CP playground, walking around CP, and even once while sledding. When the dog owners (apologetically or not) say something like “He’s friendly, he won’t hurt anyone”, this is what I want to say:
Have you ever known a PERSON, even someone you know well, about whom you can honestly say that you can predict, with 100% certainty, what that person will do or say in every circumstance? A person, who has never, not once, surprised you by something s/he said or did? Of course not. People are not perfectly predictable.
Now let’s talk about dogs. Although you may know your dog’s temperament better than anyone (he’s “friendly” or “well adjusted”) and may be able to reasonably predict in many situations what your dog might do, it is simply unrealistic for you to believe that you can predict what your dog will do in all situations. We can’t predict human behavior with complete accuracy, what makes you think you can predict a dog’s behavior with complete accuracy? Has your dog honestly never surprised you with something he’s done? What will your dog do if he is suddenly injured, becomes fearful, or perceives a threat to himself or to you? Even if any of those things have happened before and he didn’t lash out, would he respond the same way again? Can you even predict with 100% certainty what kinds of situations might elicit a fear response in your dog? Of course not. Like people, dogs are not perfectly predictable.
It may be unlikely that your dog will attack a person, but it is not IMPOSSIBLE, and since you cannot predict with certainty when it could occur AND the consequences are potentially very severe (your unleashed dog may protect himself or you with his teeth, the best method he has), why would you risk physical and psychological harm to a person (or another dog) by allowing your dog off his leash in a public venue? What gives you the RIGHT to take that chance with someone else’s well-being? Absolutely nothing, and in fact, there’s a law prohibiting you from doing so.
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:12 pm
“There needs to be a fenced in dog park or something near clark park!”
There is. It’s at Chester and 48th:
http://chesteravenuedogpark.com/
You have to pay to join I think. But if you choose to take the responsibility of owning a dog in an urban environment, you better step up and make sure that dog has access to outdoor places.
I’ve had crazy growling barking dogs run circles around me and my toddler at CP bowl. It’s not a pleasant experience. There’s usually some lame owner off to the side flapping their hands and yelling things like “He’s actually really friendly!”
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:19 pm
And I should add that I have also previously been a dog owner; and in my opinion, there are people with dogs in CP who should not be dog owners.
November 3rd, 2011 at 2:59 pm
My four-year-old was knocked over and jumped on by a “friendly” dog while he was walking near the bowl. He is now terrified of dogs. The owner did nothing but say he was just a puppy having fun. I think the bowl should be fenced or it is not be an off-leash area. I carry an umbrella with me at all times I’m in CP just in case another “friendly” dog decides to jump my child.
November 3rd, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Just to add to all this, my 6yr old was bit in the face by a dog known by its owner to be completely harmless, never bit anyone before but that gave me little comfort. That same dog laid around minding its own business, allowing kids to pet her plenty of times. All it took was a trip and fall that I see happen ALL THE TIME at CP. So, please, yes keep your dogs on leashes and keep them away from the kid areas.
November 3rd, 2011 at 4:52 pm
just fyi. the chester park has a very low membership number.
there should be a fenced in park for dogs in clark park. dog owners and play ground attendees are the largest most consistent groups of users. i don’t know exactly why the proposed dog park a few years ago was knocked down. it would be nice if the triangle south of the bowl was taken back from USP and turned into a dog park. they don’t use it at all.
fact is this people: right now dogs are off leash in the bowl. its been this way forever. most of those dogs are cool. and most of those cool dogs have responsible people. you know they are there and you know the park is huge so don’t take your child down there while dogs are running around. go somewhere else in the park. if a dog runs up into the playground area you should find the owner and rip them a new you-know-what.
i’ve come close to fights trying to explain to some ahole that they need to stay close their dog and be down in the bowl and not up on the hill by the play ground while their dog plays in the bowl. and there are lots of parents who bring their children to the playground and then release the dog. they think they can watch both and their dog is going to run back and forth possibly bringing other dogs back to the playground. those parents need to hear from you guys in person.
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:43 pm
In addition to the loose dogs at the CP bowl, I see plenty of dogs being ‘walked’ on the sidewalks by their owners off-leash. I was recently walking down 48th st. with my (leashed) dog when someone’s unleashed dog ran up to mine. My dog, like most, does not appreciate being rushed by a strange dog when he’s on a leash. This owner had the audacity to question if MY dog was friendly! If it is such a concern, then put your freaking dog on a leash and it won’t be an issue! I’m usually able to cross the street when I see an unleashed dog, but in this instance I didn’t see them.
My leashed dog was also attacked by a ginormous bull mastiff that was tied up outside of a store, but broke free when he lunged at my dog. I also have a problem with people leaving their dogs tied up unattended while they are shopping. It puts the dogs in a stressful situation and also opens them up to being stolen.
I’m a member of the 48th and Chester dog park and there is actually a waiting list to get in, but it’s worth the wait.
November 3rd, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Dogs are animals– and as someone earlier pointed out even in regards to humans: we can’t know for sure what they will do. They shouldn’t be off leash in the bowl at clark park, especially with children around. As someone pointed out: there is a law. Perhaps folks should appeal somewhere for help enforcing it at Clark Park. Anyone know who that would be?
November 4th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
A couple weeks ago I was walking my two large leashed dogs in the courtyard of my apartment building. There is a separate dog run to let the dogs loose. Some owners think it’s a good idea to let their dog run loose in the public area. Well, I had a small dog come charging at me and my pups. I know the dog was friendly and just wanted to say “hey” but my dogs were not happy about it. My one bit the pup on the back of the neck and shook it like a doll. When we finally got the dogs apart I put my guys in the apartment and went to check on the little guy. No blood, he was just shaken up a bit. I could not apologize to the owner of that dog because it was his carelessness that caused the situation. And I couldn’t reprimand my dog because he was, well, being a dog! I was still upset by the matter and quickly called my friend who is an animal law professor. She informed me that I did everything right. The law in Pennsylvania states that a dog must be under reasonable control which, unfortunately, does not mean the dog is required to be leashed. But if that dog is called, and does not respond, that owner is in violation. If the law doesn’t require dogs to be leashed in public spaces, how can the law be enforced?
November 4th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
In Philadelphia there IS a law requiring dogs (actually any animal other than cats) to be leashed:
§ 10-104. Animals Running at Large and Vicious Animals.
(1) No person shall permit any animal other than a cat to go at large upon any street, public place or private property other than the property of the owner of the animal. All animals using any street, public place or private property of anyone other than the owner of the animal shall be on a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length including the handgrip but excluding the collar and accompanied by a person able to fully control the animal at all times.
Horses shall be exempt from the provision requiring a leash but shall under this Section require proper rein and bit or halter and lead shank.
Any animal running at large in violation of this ordinance shall be seized by any animal control officer or police officer and delivered to an appropriate area of confinement approved by the Department of Public Health.
(2) Any animal which is vicious may be seized by any police officer or any authorized animal control officer and may be humanely destroyed at the discretion of the Department of Public Health after a reasonable effort 7 has been made to notify the owner.
November 4th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Things are getting confusing here. What happens inside the bowl and outside the bowl are separate.
Outside the bowl, dogs should be leashed without exception. People should communicate that to the owner at that point in time-not just West Philly Local. Give them the benefit of the doubt as the owner may be unaware of their transgression.
Inside the bowl, the space is consistently shared by folks whether its people playing soccer on one side, while responsible dog owners exercise/socialize their dogs off leash on the other. In exceptional instances, some dogs and their owners do things that are outside the norms and are typically criticized for this by responsible dog owners. Responsible owners know how important it is to socialize their dogs similar to parents who socialize their kids in the playground above. Choosing to isolate the dogs by walking them on leash or restricting to small spaces(e.g. Chester Ave Dog Park) creates not just a false assurance or control but creates more behavior issues in the long run. I am a regular visitor of both environs(the Bowl and Chester Avenue dog park), and can say comfortably that the bowl has dogs that are better socialized.
Furthermore is you choose to invite police in resolving issues that neighbors could resolve themselves, your passive aggressive approach will have unintended consequences not to mention waste Police resources for more pressing issues of public safety.
November 5th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Another problem I see all the time, including today, is parents bringing dogs on to the play surface of the cp playground. Leashed or not this should never be allowed. My children and many others are afraid of large dogs and dogs often respond badly to frightened people. Even “good” dogs. Children are small, quick, and unpredictable and that can also cause problems with dogs.
The issue of leashes in the cp bowl aside, the playground should be a no-go area for all dogs. It needs to be a safe space for our children.
Does anyone know what the laws are about dogs at playgrounds? This should definitely be a ticketing offense if it isn’t already.
November 5th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Wow! I’m amazed by the response. I was hoping for some practical ideas. I totally agree w/ Edde that the bowl is special and should not be disturbed. Owners know the risks/benefits of the bowl, & there is an ediquette among them. My last dog loved it, & I take my current one occasionally when no other dogs are there (freezing cold, rain, etc.) just to run. Outside the bowl is the problem.
Telling owners to leash their dogs:
It’s difficult for me to call owners on their off-leash transgressions, as I can’t get close enough given my dogs dislike of his own kind. I hope this can be done politely.
Playground:
I have not witnessed many dogs actually inside the play area. Can signs be posted: “No dogs allowed in playground”? That might have an added affect of making owners think twice about letting dogs off leash near the play area. It would give parents a bit more power to ask owners to stay away from the kids. It’s a small thing, but could it help?
Again, most owners are responsible. If we can educate & apply social pressure, just like the terror you feel when you forget your poop bag, perhaps we can avoid envoking law enforcement, as that would spoil the bowl for sure.
Thanks.
November 6th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
One of the things about living in a city is that you’re forced to make compromises in order to peacefully coexist. Your dog cannot make compromises, so you have to make them for her or him. Some dog owners don’t seem to understand that NO ONE should have to worry about being approached by an unleashed dog. One of the compromises i’ve been forced to make is to concede the Bowl as a de facto dog park. However, there are too many people living in West Philly for there to be unleashed dogs running around. I don’t care if you think your dog needs to be socialized off-leash — NO ONE should have to worry about an unleashed dog. I don’t care if your dog is friendly or harmless — any dog can be dangerous at some point in its life, and dogs are not citizens, and citizens’ personal safety should take precedence.
November 6th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
I’m tired of unleashed dogs being allowed to run and damage plantings in my flowerbed on my block. I have a small fence be it doesn’t deter large breed dogs and they use it for a bathroom. I’m happy many owners scoop, many still do not. I can’t imagine this job is easier with an off leash dog.
November 8th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
Jason, with the aggression you display in your responses it’s no wonder that you’ve ‘come close to fights’.
There is certainly a problem with unleashed dogs in the area. Yesterday there was a pit roaming around the 42/41st street area of Chester. No owner anywhere in sight. I’ve also seen a woman that uses what I call “Jedi mind powers” to walk her dog along the 43rd street side of the park.
Folks like that are the the problem, not the folks down in the bowl.
Larry, I’m the guy that is often sitting on the side of the playground with my dogs. I hope that you’re not suggesting that they are ever inside the play area. I’ve only noticed 2 other people that do that and both of their dogs are very small and typically in the owner’s laps.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
LW – just as an update. the Chester dog park membership is full.
the website notes “We are taking names for our waiting list, but cannot guarantee any time frame that a membership slot will become available.”
trust me, as a dog owner with three dogs, I would love to be able to walk my guys to the dog park and let them run around alas i have yet to be “chosen” for membership.
any other suggestions for an area in West philly where I can walk my dogs (on leash) without someone having an issue?
November 8th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Hello “anon” –
I’m sorry to hear that the dog park is full.
Thank you for being a responsible owner. I think you can walk your dogs anywhere in West Philly on leash. It’s the off-leash dogs that are being discussed here.
November 10th, 2011 at 7:49 am
I find the nearly religious belief in leashes to be more than a little laughable. A while ago I was at the Penn animal hospital and a woman and her two little dogs came in–all three were torn to shreds, and one of the dogs was nearly dead. They had been attacked by a dog on a leash (her dogs were also on leashes) whom they passed on a sidewalk. Leashes aren’t magic; they don’t protect you from large, aggressive dogs with powerful jaws. If such dogs feel threatened, on or off leash, they are going to take care of business. What you should fear are the people who know, or are told, that their dogs have behaved aggressively and who nonetheless bring them to parks, on or off leash. Most fearsome are the large, powerful dogs bred to kill who drag behind them, on leash, some half-wit owner. The small dogs at Clark Park, on or off leash, are nothing to fear. They haven’t the teeth or the temperament to do any harm. There’s no more reason to fear them than to fear the unleashed squirrels.
November 10th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
I find your confidence in the tameness of small breeds to be more than a little laughable, DI.
November 11th, 2011 at 8:28 pm
What’s laughable about confidence in small dogs, Megan? Small dogs haven’t the teeth or jaws or temperament to do harm. Are you worried that an unleashed chihuahua is going to chew off your toe? In all my years at dog parks throughout the country, I have never seen a small dog attack anyone. If threatened, they may growl and snap, but they couldn’t do any serious damage if they tried. In contrast, as the recent owner of the attacked beagle just attested on another post, a LEASHED pit bull can break through a metal choke collar and attack if it feels endangered or excited. And a PIT BULL can kill you or your dog if it is of a mind. A little dog is unlikely to even break skin, if it is bold enough to try.
November 12th, 2011 at 9:49 am
The people who talk about “what my dog doesn’t like” are the ones whose dogs you should fear. They are telling you that they have an aggressive dog that they cannot fully control, and that their dog is likely to get violent under trigger conditions. Not all dogs are like this. I have had a dog for nine years and it has never once acted aggressively in any manner under any circumstances at the park or elsewhere. It has no trigger situations. I have never had to issue a warning about her. Children can pet her, pull her tail, run away from or toward her. Dogs can run at her or from her; so too squirrels and cats. People can run past her or up to her or away from her. They can throw balls or hats or jump up and down. She is calm and friendly on or off leash.
In contrast, there are particular dogs and particular breeds that require particular conditions, warnings or excuses, and such dogs should never put it in situations where this aggression can be triggered. You should never let it off leash or out of your sight. If you find yourself saying that “90% of the time my dog doesn’t do X,” what that means is that 10% of the time the trigger situation is occurring, at which point you have no control over your dog. If you find yourself blaming various circumstances for your dog’s bad behavior, you have an aggressive animal and are not properly controlling it. Leashed or unleashed doesn’t matter.
People should keep dogs away from known trigger situations. If your dog doesn’t like other dogs coming up to it, then your dog should not be around other dogs. If your dog gets excited and aggressive when it sees children or other dogs running, then your dog shouldn’t be around situations where children or other dogs may run. If your dog doesn’t like people to touch them, or to wave their arms, or to get near you, or if it reacts negatively to certain kinds of people (say, tall white males), well, my friend, you have an aggressive dog whose trigger issues need to be addressed and avoided.
Neither a bowl nor a leash is going to stop them if there is a trigger sitution. We are deluded to think otherwise. It’s true that there’s little difference between an aggressive person and an aggressive dog. And it’s also true that there’s little difference between a non-aggressive person and a non-aggressive dog. Some dogs and people can’t help themselves. And leashes won’t matter if they’re set off. Other dogs are no more likely to attack you than is the person standing next to you on the children’s playground at Clark Park.
November 12th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
“The people who talk about “what my dog doesn’t like” are the ones whose dogs you should fear. They are telling you that they have an aggressive dog that they cannot fully control, and that their dog is likely to get violent under trigger conditions. Not all dogs are like this.”
Honestly, you have no clue what you’re talking about, but I’m glad that you have a passive dog.
November 14th, 2011 at 10:00 am
DI, I’m not going to get into more squabbling about small dogs with you, but it is not uncommon for them to majorly lack discipline because his or her owner bought or adopted for the wrong reasons or just assume small dog = harmless (I assure you that in many instances, it doesn’t). As for me, I have one very small beagle, one medium beagle mix, and one (GASP) pit bull mix, and I volunteer every weekend at PAWS adoption events where I meet several dogs of all breeds and all sizes, and what it really comes down to is that dogs are INDIVIDUALS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do yourself a favor and learn something about dogs labeled ‘pit bulls’ instead of perpetuating the ‘inherently evil/dangerous’ BS that the irresponsible media so loves to perpetuate. A few places to start:
http://stubbydog.org/
http://www.badrap.org/
http://www.theunexpectedpitbull.com/
November 16th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Can we just put up “NO Dogs Permitted in this Area” in the playground and “Dogs must be leashed outside the bowl” around the park?
November 16th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
*put up signs that say, I meant.
…I really need to learn to proofread before I hit Submit :/
November 16th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
The signs aren’t necessary. Honestly, how often do you see dogs IN the playground area? Not very often at all. Usually it’s people on the periphery.
Here’s a story about kneejerkery: Last week 2 puppies ran up from the bowl into the bigger kids playground area. They hopped around until myself and a little kid caught one while the owner caught the other, leashing them both.
No harm, no foul, BUT there was one lunatic parent that ran over to stare-down and get confrontational with the dogs owner because she felt the dogs mortally terrorized a child and parent (which they didn’t).
That woman was worse than the dogs, in my opinion, and my child was playing right beside her kid. She was more aggressive than the dogs and was certainly ready to instigate and throw poop.
November 16th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
As the chair of Membership and Member Relations for the Chester Ave Dog park I just want to clairfy our current membership status
1) Our space, while fenced, is limited. We also have neighbors and our chief complaint we get about the dog park is noise (barking)
2) thus, about 1 year ago the membership VOTED to have a cap of members at 120. When members leave the park, spots are filled.
3) We recently completed our renewal period during which 98 households renewed. This is HOUSEHOLDS not number of dogs. At our membership meeting last week, the membership VOTED to expand the size of the membership. We will extend, in rolling fashion, membership to persons on the wait list as off 11/8 (this will take us until about February) and then the membership will VOTE AGAIN based on our new numbers as well as input from our neighbors, if we can continue to grow our membership
Our dues are VERY low, $62.50 per year. We do not own the land, we rent it from Park Pleasant. In exchange our members volunteer countless hours at the nursing home as well in the maintenence of the dog park. Households are required to dedicate 8 hours per year to dog park activities/functions. All members, human and canine are interviewed prior to admission to the dog park.
There seems to be a great deal of un-ncessary mystery and mud slinging about the dog park, its existence, how to join and us being “elitist”
I can assure you this could not be further from the truth. We understand that we need to be responsible dog owners to our animals, the fellow dog park members, our neighbors and our land lord…and we are really just trying to do that well.
I invite anyone who is interested to please email CADPmembership@gmail.com if you would like to join.
Christina Bach
November 16th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
As another member of the Chester Ave. Dog Park, I think its unfair to criticize it for limitations on the Park that are the result of not being a public park. Its private land that members rent in order to provide any safe and structured “off-leash” area at all on this side of the river. As private land, members are legally responsible for covering insurance and liability expenses for the park. In other parts of the city there are public dog parks where the city takes on the fiscal responsibility for liability issues related to those dog parks, just as it does for “people” amenities, like playgrounds and basketball courts. But without the city’s deep insurance pockets, we would be exposing our landlord to serious legal risks to open the park to non-members.
There is pretty constant turnover and the park membership recently expanded its membership, so dog owners, especially large dog owners, its well worth the wait and at less than $6 a month, its a stretch to call the Chester Ave. dues “elitist”. Try feeding and keeping a dog up on their shots and licenses for less than $6 a month, for a little reality check
Would there be demand for another dedicated city-owned dog park on this side of the river? Absolutely. Would Chester Ave. dog owners also support a second public dog park like the one in Schuykill River Park near 26th and Pine somewhere on our side of the Schuykill? Absolutely.
Speaking of the public dog park at 26th and Pine, as an owner of a very sweet and kid-loving but largish pit mix, there is no replacement for the ability to safely run off-leash in a “real” dog park. I used to regularly make the trek across the river before becoming a Chester Ave, member. Some dogs, including my own, need a lot of exercise and I immediately found the “bowl” in Clark Park just doesn’t cut it for the level of stress compared to the level of dog play – even if you intentionally go to Clark Park at early morning, low park usage hours. Its against the law and its not worth it.
Do the right thing by your pooch and by your West Philly neighbors and make time to cross the South St. Bridge while you wait for a spot at Chester Ave. to open up. Your dog will thank you for it.
November 16th, 2011 at 8:31 pm
If a dog is aggressive, it should be leashed whether in the bowl or on the periphery. If it’s not aggressive, it’s silly to make this an issue, unless we’re also going to make it an issue for aggressive people, the ones who feel the need to have power over something. One of the things that distinguishes West Phil is that it’s we’re a very pet friendly and kid friendly place — and also laid back. The people who want to regulate everything to death should move to Center City or the suburbs. West Phil might just be a little too real for you.
November 17th, 2011 at 7:50 am
Bureaucrats: People are responsible for their own behavior, can reason, can consider the past and the future, and can consider the feelings of others. Dogs cannot do those things. We live in a city, in proximity to a lot of people. Dogs need to be leashed whether you consider them aggressive or not. It’s an issue of respect, not of “being real” or not.
November 17th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Running up and licking people is not “aggressive” per se but not everyone appreciates 50 lbs. of overenthusiatic affection hurling itself at them when they are not expecting it, no matter how lovingly. I’d agree, not leashing your dog is disrepectful and chancey.
November 17th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Also FWIW if a human being you didn’t know suddenly ran up to you and started licking your face and sticking their head in your crotch, you probably would be inclined to call the cops or punch them out. So its not unreasonable for people to expect safe passage from similar “non-aggressive” actions from a random dog when they are out for walk.
November 17th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
If Salma Hayek ran up to me, licked me in the face and jammed her face in my crotch, I most certainly would not punch her out. I also wouldn’t punch out a mini pincher doing the same thing.
It’s just be rude. And Salma’s a cutie.
November 18th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Dogs, like people, either know how to act or don’t. The ones who don’t (people or dogs) should be kept away from the ones who do. I’ve encountered far more obnoxious people at Clark Park than dogs. If the worst thing a person at Clark Park did was greet me enthusiastically I think I could manage to deal with it.
Bureaucrats.