On the subject of dog walkers I would remind people that no level of government supplies funding for doggy day care even though the government collects a large amount of taxes from pet related products.
As outdoor living rooms, parks
must be safe for all
Opinion, July 12
I read this article with dismay. I was also in attendance for the deputations to the parks committee on July 4.
The gross generalizations made by Premika Ratnam do not reflect the actual statistics regarding dog- bite safety, and can be considered fear-mongering to benefit the position of anti-dog activists.
The Dog Legislation Council of Canada summarizes that 64.5 per cent of all dog bites occur within the home, not in off-leash parks as alleged.
In addition, while the presence of any animal feces is a deterrent to enjoyment of parks and outdoor areas, the transmission of infectious agents is lower through dog feces than it is through bird feces. Responsible dog owners stoop and scoop s and encourage others to do so, keeping parks free of feces and litter.
It is disheartening that the issue of dogs in parks has been redefined as an issue that argues the rights of dogs versus the rights of children and seniors, who are perceived to be at high risk due to the presence of dogs in the city of Toronto. The issue is actually about the rights of people who choose to have dogs as their companions versus the rights of those who dislike dogs in public spaces.
Dog owners are taxpayers, and are as deserving of appropriate public spaces in which to play and walk as are other taxpayers.
Ratnam further identifies that professional dog walkers should be held to the standards of hot dog vendors, a comparison that is no way valid.
Professional dog walkers provide a service to the taxpaying dog owners in this city, and the services vary greatly among different companies in this city. Hot dog vendors are supplying a product that, without proper standards and control, can produce a health and safety hazard to the general public.
There are an estimated 250,000 dogs in the city of Toronto. Information about the health and psychosocial benefits of dog ownership are widely available from reputable sources, and indicate that dog owners have lower blood pressure, lower medical expenses, and homes with dogs are linked to higher self-esteem in young children and greater cognitive development.
If Ratnam is concerned that the childhood obesity epidemic is affecting the lifespan of children, perhaps it would be prudent that she recommend more children have a dog in the family to increase their activity and social skills. Otherwise, there is no responsible reason why she would draw comparisons between these two separate issues.
Lara Willis, founder, All Canadian Pet Services Network, Toronto
Am I the only person who finds it quite ludicrous that Premika Ratnam thinks that dog owners and their dogs are somehow responsible for the child obesity epidemic and will prevent these children from ever being healthy? Personal responsibility applies to everyone. And, by the way, dogs also poop when they are on leash, so to keep the grass "free from remnants of dog excrement" implies that dogs should not be allowed to set foot in parks at all.
Amy Seabrook, Toronto
I live near St. James Park, which is not an off-leash park, but you would never know that as most dogs there are illegally off-leash. If you dare mention this fact to thedog owners, you are often met with verbal abuse.
There is even a tiny fenced park within the park with swings for children and a huge sign on the gate that says "No Dogs" but even that is used by dog owners.
Sandra Lowe, Toronto
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