TCDOG Agenda in the News

Article in The Ithaca Journal, March 16, 2005.

ITHACA -- A local group dedicated to promoting a legal dog park in Tompkins County will hold a key organizational meeting tonight.

The Tompkins County Dog Owners Group -- TCDOG -- will gather for its first general membership meeting from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center gymnasium, 318 N. Albany St. The purpose of tonight's meeting is not to hash out plans for a dog park, but to tackle basic organizational tasks necessary before the big issues can be dealt with. More... [or... archived article]

Letter to the editor in The Ithaca Journal, March 9, 2005.

...Complaints made in the past few months are outrageous. We, as dog owners and taxpayers, deserve to have an official dog park! We should have a place to take our companions to run free under our close supervision.

We have an obligation to speak up and support an official dog park at the north end of Allen H. Treman Park, a place where we have gone to exercise our dog's off-leash in the past and should be able to continue in the future. More... [or... archived article]

Letter to the editor in The Ithaca Journal, March 5, 2005.

...I hope Ithaca's dialogue about a dog park -- a dialogue that should be focused on meeting the needs of the whole community -- will not deteriorate into people battering others with stories of gruesome dog attacks.

I believe that, whenever possible, most of us want to defer to those who have been traumatized. I also believe that such deference isn't always appropriate or fair in community life.

Advocates of an off-leash dog park are not proposing that dogs run at will in the city. We aren't insisting that leashed dogs, their owners or people anxious around unleashed dogs be forced into contact with those of us prefer off-leash activity for our dogs. In fact, we are proposing the opposite. More... [or... archived article]

Letter to the editor in The Ithaca Journal, Feb. 23, 2005.

I am not a dog owner. Years ago, when owners kept their pets at home, I used to walk in the fields behind the Hanger Theatre.

However, the strip of land near the water was frequently populated by unsavory folk who appeared to be trading, selling or using various illegal substances. Our little group of walkers never got close enough to see exactly what these other people were doing, but for me, the peaceful atmosphere became tainted and it was no longer pleasant to go there. Now that this same parcel of land is so well used by dogs and their owners, it is again one of our favorite places to be. More... [or... archived article]

Cap'n Ken's Table Squad Hits the Chili Fest

After an auspicious debut at GreenStar on Feb. 12, Ken Zeserson's table commandos took up position outside P.A.W.S. for the Feb. 19 Chili Fest. Scores of concerned citizens signed petitions urging the establishment of an off-leash dog park at Treman Marina.

Thanks to Patrice (GreenStar) and Jay (P.A.W.S.) for hosting Ken's Tablers!

Below, as the crowd thins out in late afternoon, Marsha ropes in the stragglers. (Click for larger images.)

Letter to the Editor from Bill Hansen

We need a safe place to exercise our dogs
...I see unleashed dogs, with and without their owners, on city streets regularly. I'd love to see some consistency in enforcement -- or better yet, a return to tolerance of off-leash dog walking in the marina area... Letter on Ithaca Journal Web site [or... archived article]

Fill out the Recreation Survey

An Ithaca Journal article by Roger Dupuis II on Feb. 10 calls attention to a Town of Ithaca Recreation Survey. The specified deadline is November 15, 2004, but according to the article,

"Officials still want to hear from town residents about their views on community recreation resources."

Since they had only gotten about 180 responses, our views can make a difference. You can download the survey at http://www.town.ithaca.ny.us/Rec%20Survey.pdf

Also Susanne Morgan suggests that

"if someone knows or uses one of [the other park] areas, that person could be part of a TCDOG presence in the planning for it. Tutelo Park is an area the earlier TCDOG group explored briefly but then planning for its use was delayed by the town."

Dog Park on Cable News (Feb. 11, 2005)

Channel 10 reporter Megan Driscoll was shooting a story at the Ithaca Dog Park today around noon. Unfortunately, there was not much of a crowd at the time. Proton posed patiently while her owner explained the importance of this facility. Maya, who was having [yet another] bad hair day, stayed in the background, pouncing on a wounded tennis ball. Text and video [or... archived article]

Arthur in the news (Feb. 11, 2005)

ITHACA -- Not everyone sees the prospect of dogs running free in Allen H. Treman State Marine Park as a positive thing.

In fact, it's a nightmare for at least one man. "It is only a matter of time until someone is seriously mauled," Vestal resident Arthur Samodovitz wrote to state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer last August, saying he had been assaulted three times by unleashed dogs. More... [or... archived article]

[Webmaster's Note: Arthur refers to being assaulted by dogs three times. Being a lawyer, he is of course using the legal definition of "assault," which is "a threat or attempt to inflict bodily harm" -- not the definition current in the language at large, in which the word means "violent physical [or verbal] attack." Coming from a cynophobe, the word is subjective and highly questionable: even an inquiring "woof" could be characterized as an assault in the sense of a "threat." Given Arthur's suspicious manner and dress (broad-brimmed hat and insectoid dark glasses), it is not too surprising that he would attract the attention of dogs.]

Ithaca Journal editorial delivers! (Feb. 10, 2005)

Unheeded constituency
Let's build a dog park!

...In September, 2004 a Binghamton lawyer who rented a boat slip at the marina wrote the city claiming that the dogs caused him such emotional distress that he was deprived of his rights to use public park land, Ithaca City Attorney Martin Luster told The Journal. He threatened to sue unless the city aggressively enforced its leash laws.

Park police officers suddenly began issuing tickets to patrons who walked their dogs off-leash. This past weekend, they went on a ticket blitz, sealing off the parking lot with squad cars as if they had Osama bin Laden penned in by the picnic tables, instead of a bunch of dogwalkers celebrating the thaw.

Before this silliness goes any further, city and state officials should move to establish an official, fully-legal area for dogs in Cass/Treman Park. More... [or... archived article]

Wednesday in the Times (Feb. 9, 2005)

Is Ithaca going to the dogs?

The seemingly endless debate over a dog park in Ithaca could have been resolved when New York state offered dog owners two to three acres of fenced-in land exclusively for off-leash dogs. But, this being Ithaca, instead of fetching the offer, owners pooh-poohed the state for not offering enough space. More... [or... archived article]

Monday in the Journal (Feb. 7, 2005)

State park police dishing out tickets to Treman dog walkers by ROGER DUPUIS II, Journal Staff

ITHACA -- Dog walkers weren't the only people to converge on Allen H. Treman State Marine Park Saturday. More... [or... archived article]

Monday at the Park

Saturday At the Park

Arthur is back with a vengeance. This time he managed to get three cruisers and four officers to ticket alledged leash violators. If you have received a ticket for having a dog off-leash at Treman Park, you may want to contact TCDOG for informal advice on how to approach the legal issues.

Roger Dupuis, journalist for the Ithaca Journal and author of the article referred to below, would like to speak with ticketees. You may contact him on Sunday, Feb. 6, at 274-9246.

Dog Parks in the News: On Friday, Feb. 4, the Ithaca Journal published an article on dog park issues.

For more information, see www.IthacaDogPark.com and www.Ithaca4Dogs.com

SPCA Meeting to Discuss Dog Park Organization Message from Kerry Barnes:

Thanks to all who made the meeting Wednesday night at the Adoption Center. It was great to see such a large turnout!

To recap briefly for those who weren't able to be there:

We discussed the history of the dog park in Treman Marina and the current situation as it stands now. Genevieve Kocienda from the Tompkins County Dog Owners Group (TCDOG) handed out surveys for interested indivduals to fill out about what's wanted in a dog park. She's going to compile the results and share the info with the SPCA so we can get a better idea of what it is we're going to be working toward. Genevieve also handed out TCDOG membership forms and announced their next meeting is March 16th.

Kerry Barnes and Jim Tantillo from the SPCA announced to the group that the SPCA has a parcel of land it is interested in using as a secure off-leash dog park. The land does have some drawbacks, however; the greatest one being the marshy, swampiness of the area. The project will require a commitment to fundraising in order to provide the fencing, water supply and other amenities needed to make the park a success. It was discussed that a successful dog park at the SPCA could be used as a model and motivation for the community and a means of gathering support for other dog parks in Tompkins County.

The next steps are research and unity. The SPCA and TCDOG will continue to share information and support as we move forward toward realizing our goal. Meeting attendees were encouraged to research other successful dog parks and speak with the people who made them happen for advice, suggestions and direction. Researching/brainstorming creative fundraising ideas was also suggested.

The SPCA is planning on holding another dog park meeting in mid-to-late March when Dog Care Coordinator Donna Davie returns from her training in California. The public is encouraged to attend TCDOG's meeting on March 16 and joining the TCDOG listserv to stay informed.

Thank you again for your support and commitment to establishing a place our dogs can play and socialize free of restraint!

Kerry A. Barnes
Development Coordinator
Tompkins County SPCA
1640 Hanshaw Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-1822 ext. 232

February 1 in the Journal

Dog park meeting set for Wednesday

ITHACA -- The Tompkins County SPCA will host a brief information meeting Wednesday for those who are interested in creating an off-leash dog park in the county. The gathering will be held at 6 p.m. at the Dorothy and Roy Park Pet Adoption Center, 1640 Hanshaw Road.

According to organizers, an off-leash dog park is not only a secure place for dogs to engage in vigorous exercise, but a place where they can interact with other dogs and people. A well-socialized dog is less likely to develop behavior problems such as aggression and excessive barking.

For more information, contact kerry@spca.online.com or call 257-1822.

Lynn Metrulis' opinion in Ithaca Journal, January 5, 2005: www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20050105/opinion/1827047.html

It's time for the City of Ithaca to catch up with the rest of the planet and designate a dog park for our families to enjoy. Doggie guardians who have had it with their marginalization in Ithaca formed a group a few years ago to rectify the situation.

Ithaca Town Board Goals "Town boss lays out '05 goals," by Roger Dupuis II; Ithaca Journal, Saturday, January 1, 2005. www.theithacajournal.com/news/stories/20050101/localnews/1814820.html

Councilman Will Burbank said the board seemed largely appreciative of Valentino's suggestions, and said he might offer a few priorities of his own. Among them are what he sees as the need for a dedicated dog park, improved trails for the area and a thoughtful evaluation of town government processes.

Nov. 23, 2005 in the Journal "We need off-leash dog walking areas," by Pat Prior, guest columnist.

Recent reports of ticketing for off-leash dogs at Treman Marina and negative comments about dogs in local papers are very dismaying, especially the suggestion that off-leash dog walking is not a recreational activity which should receive government support.

In a community that prides itself, I think, on the breadth and variety of recreational options available for its residents, the idea that off-leash dog walking is not a worthy activity is astounding! More... [or... archived article]

Letter to the editor in The Ithaca Journal, June 25, 2003

Park dogs

In response to a recent letter writer who was troubled by dogs in a city park: Try another park. Ithaca has so many parks and so much public land where ther are no dogs at all.

If you were picnicking next to the ball fields and got hit with a ball you might get up and move someplace safer. You wouldn't ask the ballplayers to stop the game so you could have lunch. Same for dogs. Dog owners have one place to go -- the city dog park. Strollers and picnickers have hundreds. Try Steward Park (no dogs allowed), Buttermilk, Taughannock, Treman, Mulholland Preserve, Lick Brook, the rest of Cass Park, Washington Park, or any of the many beautiful, accessible, open spaces in our area. Just as you wouldn't picnic in the middle of a ball field, you can't expect your food to be safe in the middle of a bunch of happy dogs.

Let the dogs have their park and enjoy one of the dozens of others.

Diana Drucker
Town of Lansing

Contact TCDOG at info@tcdog.org.