Dog owners want to unleash their dogs in parks
By John Hilliard/Daily News staff
But after state officials required owners to leash their pets while walking on trails, a group of dog lovers is pushing for looser leash rules and greater responsibility from pet owners at the Park.
"We call it dog heaven," said Sue Davis, walking her two dogs on a park trail last week. "The majority of (dog owners) are here enjoying it and are respectful of other people's needs."
Callahan is an 820-acre state park in a quiet, residential
part of town near
But last year, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation imposed new rules on dog walkers. Those rules allow dogs to stay free - but under the owner's voice control - when walking off the trails. While on Callahan's seven miles of trails, owners need to keep pets on a leash, said DCR press secretary Wendy Fox.
Officials are working with pet owners to develop new dog walking rules, she said.
"Bottom line, there isn't a new policy, but we're working on it," said Fox.
Callahan's tighter rules are not unique. In Medway, the
town-owned
While no leashes will be needed, some breeds will have to be muzzled and human activities in the park will be limited so it can remain focused on dogs.
"It just evolved to the point where it is very popular," said Murphy, who noted the Medway park may be "too popular" with residents and out-of-town visitors.
Being "too popular" is a similar issue for Callahan. The state park is used by professional dog walkers from all over the state and residents from the entire region flock to it.
Joel Feingold, president of the Callahan Canine Owners Association, told the News his group advocates to leave Callahan as a place to walk dogs off the leash, educate dog owners about acceptable behavior at the park and work with other groups who use Callahan.
The volunteer group recently incorporated itself into a nonprofit and is seeking 501(c)3 tax status from the IRS, wrote Feingold in an e-mail to the News.
Feingold said the group has developed a Responsible Dog Owners Code for the park and has been in talks with the DCR.
If the group reaches an agreement with DCR, "we will be adding signage, running a Spring Park Serve Day, supplying 'mutt mitts' and educational material," wrote Feingold, who hopes the agency will come to a decision within the next three weeks. A "mutt mitt" is a plastic glove used to pick up and dispose of dog droppings.
DCR's Fox said the agency is studying the group's plan.
"He's made a lot of proposals, and we've got to look at it, review it and think about it," said Fox.
Some dog owners were mixed about whether they could enjoy the park while their pets were kept on a leash.
On a sunny afternoon in Callahan last week, several dog owners walking their pets on the well-packed snow did not appear to be using leashes on the trails.
Friendly dogs walk up to strangers, and people walking alone appeared on the trails occasionally.
While a notice on a billboard at the
Enforcement of the cleanup policy by park rangers can be
spotty because there are no rangers stationed at Callahan. The ranger normally assigned
to Callahan is usually stationed at
Elsewhere in the park, resident Jeff Brown has been enjoying the park since he was a kid, and now walks with his dog, a black lab-foxhound mix named Oreo.
"I can certainly see the (reason to keep) a dog on a leash on a trail," said Brown. "It certainly wouldn't ruin our time here."
She said some owners have no control over their pets, and some professional dog walkers bring several uncontrolled dogs at a time onto the park.
Walkers like them "have no control and no care,"
said
But if all dogs had to be kept leashed on Callahan's trails?
"I think that would be unfortunate," said
(John Hilliard can be reached at 508-626-4449 or jhilliar@cnc.com.)