Gothamist: Brooklyn Pups Greeted with New Sign in Prospect Park

bklynpetunia

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:18:23 -0500

Uh, no Roe, that's not what Famdoc's comment was saying. By your logic, we should also ban all picnickers, BBQ'ers and perhaps bike riders too, because a percentage of them are irresponsible. Judging by the litter all over the park on Monday mornings, the % of irresponsible picnic people is higher than the other segments of irresponsible park-users hands down. I let my dog offleash in the park every day and we follow the rules. Those signs refer only to the ballfield areas, and honestly, they're there because people were letting their dogs run on the field during games, mess up the sand, bark at the maintenance workers, and so on. So be it - there's still lots of space elsewhere in the park. Dog owners tend to be more of a self-policing bunch than others in the park - off-leash hours were a hard-won privilege, not to be jeopardized by the laziness/obliviousness of a small percentage of us. A little nagging is a fair price for freedom.

roe

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:40:41 -0500

#6, famdoc's comment says it all. While there are many responsible dog owners--and we really, really appreciate you all--there are unfortunately a lot more who do not properly leash, curb and clean up after their pets, who let them jump or approach people walking by, etc. That creates a dangerous and unsanitary condition for everyone. It's a lot easier and safer to keep all dogs out of the park than it is to try to run after and ticket all the irresponsible owners, and to clean up the mess they make. If people are upset about it, why not campaign for a dog run, or pool your money for an independent dog park, the same way neighbors work together to make a community garden?

NannyState

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:08:41 -0500

Just don't take Fluffy to Rodney park.

hulaedwyn

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:02:04 -0500

As far as I know, these signs are only in the area around the ballfields. Which is only a small part of the park. I'm a dog owner, and this seems fair.

Felix Hoenikker

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:18:57 -0500

Perhaps the cat-kicking guy can enforce this.

Nick S

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:42:45 -0500

How is dogshit not plausible???

handsomedevil

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:21:14 -0500

Jeez, so much for taking the pup to Prospect Park. I really don't see the logic in confining them to paths - what is the problem, exactly? (Brooklyn Paper mentions "wear and tear" on fields, and dogshit, neither of which are really plausible.) AFAIK, they don't even have this rule in Central Park.

fugothamist

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:52:49 -0500

i hope this applies to all types of dogs, including those that bbq and leave garbage everywhere

everyAframe

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:50:57 -0500

I hve a dog. He stays on a leash on walks where there are people around (i.e. New York City vs. open land in Colorado on summer vacation). He also stays on paths in park. WTF is so hard, folks?

smitty

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:36:45 -0500

People trash that park every weekend. it is crazy to go jogging there in the early evening and to see the plastic plates and cups and wrappers littered everywhere.

Pull My Finger

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:33:59 -0500

Dog hating bastards.

famdoc

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:28:14 -0500

I'm sure I'm going to get flamed on this one, but, as a dog owner who walks my dog in Prospect Park twice daily, I think some of my fellow dog-owners think their pets are somehow privileged and I see flagrant abuse of our beautiful park that sometimes exceeds reason. Besides, some of the dog people in the park are weirdos.

Toby von Meistersinger

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:05:25 -0500

No doubt the signs will be unofficially removed and/or vandalized soon.

blackwhole

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:03:04 -0500

Just so we're clear, you can still pay for sex in the woods, as long as you don't bring your dog?