Dogs running free in non off-leash of HP near GP

[KPaw]

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge dog lover and owned the world's best (and brightest) Border Collie for nearly 15 years.  I love all animals. Having said that, animal lover or no - everyone should be respectful of nature.  It totally bothers me when people allow their usually completely un-trained large and small dogs to run free along the Grenadier Pond path bordering the pond.  This is a natural habitat (and it is marked as such by the City) for ducks, geese, swans, elusive herons and others and it is marked as a non off-leash area.   To those dog-owners who slowly walk along while their dogs are rushing into the pond shoulder deep frightening everyone and everything shame on you.  Some of those careless owners are unaware that a large territorial swan, particularly now at nesting time, could turn on your pet and inflict injury.  

It is simply unfair for dog owners not to respect the wildlife and waterfowl in that area of the park and allow their pets to run wild disturbing all.  There is a large, lovely off-leash section in the easterly area of the park and those owners should utilize that for the pets to get some exercise.   Interesting how rude these dog owners become when reminded of all of this - they clearly know they are in the wrong and use foul language and rudeness to cover up their ignorance.

All free running dogs should go have their fun (which they deserve to have) in the off-leash area.

Thanks for allowing me to say this - just the other day two young women were allowing their unruly Labs to frighten all and, despite pleas, from bird-watchers and mothers of young children, etc. they did nothing ....

[Kin Lau]

Pick _any_ park, especially a park where dogs are _not_ allowed at all, and you'll find people with dogs off-leash. The same people who also will not pickup after their dogs, and are in fact very nasty if you say anything.

Something tragic is going to happen, it's just a matter of time. You already have people taking the law into their own hands with poisoned bait.

Maybe we need some skunks.

[dawnofthewolf]

What's even worse is being confronted by these unleashed dogs, as happened to me several years ago on the Ridge trail in Rouge Park when I was confronted by 3 threatining dogs.

[Mathew Rossi]

Even as a dog owner, I agree entirely. There are times and places for off-leash, but many owners don't recognize the difference. A budding wildlife area or water full of fowl is not a great spot for the bird-dog, ok? I don't care if he's friendly, he's still got an instinct (like most normal dogs) to chase the ducks.

Maybe if people would have a little more courtesy, and start picking up after their dogs, these heartless episodes of dogs being poisoned would stop.

Personally, I can tell you when I'm carrying thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment that I avoid getting a speck of water or dust on, I'm not thrilled when that friendly wet slobbering off-leash mutt comes my way. I also don't appreciate when I put an effort into quietly and slowly getting into an observation position, only to have a dog go careening in and scaring everything away.

It's also very difficult to birdwatch when you're trying to avoid stepping in all the !@#$ like there is at Sam Smith as an example.

But hey, this is the society we live in, and why I head for the least populated places to see wildlife.

[Anonymous]

Same problem on Wards and Algonquin Islands on the Toronto Isands but to add to the mix are the dozens of Cats roaming the area hunting ( and catching ) the migrating Birds. Many of these birds are easy prey as they try to rest and refuel after a long flight over night.

 Some of the Dogs are not with the owners but let out to run loose. The Cats are let out or left out as many of their owners are over in the city at work or what ever else they have to do.

 All of this is happening in a park and even worse the Cats hunt the " Environmentally Sensitive Area " on Wards.

 The Parks Dept. has been notified many times to no avail.

 By the way. I have 2 cats myself so don't you Cat people send emails about how I hate Cats and yes mine are indoor Cats. And I do not have an issue with Dogs, but with some Dog owners.

[Vicsr]

This is not just a GTA problem! We have a wildlife area set up for public use by Trent University & you can find dogs running around there unleashed at any time of the day. You will also get the same reaction (verbal abuse; foul language) from the irresponsible owners when you raise the issue.

I don't know if the law is the same in Toronto but in Peterborough, cats are allowed to run loose but dogs cannot. I have two cats that come into my yard to "hunt" the birds who come to my feeders. Both look like they belong to someone because they are well kept & one has a collar. I called small animal control to see what I could do to stop this & was told I had could do nothing except live trap them.  The person I spoke to was not amused when I suggested I might get my grandson's paint ball gun & "accidently" hit the cats with a ball or two while I was playing with it in my yard! (She frostily told me I could be charged with cruelty if I did!) BTW, the small animal control would not do the trapping even if I paid them & the Humane Society would charge me a fee to bring them to their shelter! We can't discriminate with respect to humans but we sure can with respect to dogs!

Vic

[egret]

Hello KPaw:

I agree with you

and.. as well
re Wards Island
every time I visit there
the cats are on the paths

My cat is in indoor cat
and I love animals
but.. not to see them catch
wildlife


Egret

[Kin Lau]

The person I spoke to was not amused when I suggested I might get my grandson's paint ball gun & "accidently" hit the cats with a ball or two while I was playing with it in my yard! (She frostily told me I could be charged with cruelty if I did!)

Try a garden hose or super-soaker.

[guinness]

I think the non-dog people don't realize how few off-leash parks there are in most Cities. Now, I know you will all say that there a ton of them in the City(Toronto), but when you take the total number of parks in the City and look at those that have a off-leash area the percentage is quite small.

Dog owners are acutally treated badly by most Cities. You usually have to drive long distances to visit an off-leash. And you often find non-dog people using it, who then get upset when they are approached by loose dogs.

As for the cat's on the Islands maybe they need a coyote or two, that'll solve the problem.

[Axeman]

This is one of my pet peeves....my dog Domi passed away a year and a half ago...he was a Neapolitan mastiff and very obedient...a leash was not necessary BUT...I always used one with him when I walked him in public areas because I recognize that there are people who would be afraid of him...fears are not usually rational or proportional...and while I know Domi was a sweetheart and tolerated being bullied by my toddler daughter, others do not know him and would see him as a big ugly intimidating monster...its disprespectful to others...

People who fear dogs would be afraid of small ones or the bouncy golden retriever...I once caught one golden retriever and held it for the owner only to have him tell me it was OK re: his dog being loose in area with clear signage saying DOGS MUST BE LEASHED...

The thing that really gets me is when you make a comment to these ignorant idiots, they don't get it...I've been called an asshole by one stupid jerk...or had other rude comments...and my approach has always started off being respectful and explaining that there are others using the park who may be afraid of their dog and that they can ruin an outing for someone....so now...I sometimes carry a leash with choke collar on it...I'll collar the next one I see and let the owner complain to the cops that I stole their dog...

And the biggest annoyance I have? I live in the country...15 secluded peaceful acres...I border a campsite...and one of those jerks has a beagle that he lets off the leash to exercise..just lets it go...it wears a bell...and it chases rabbits around my place, baying and ringing....for HOURS.....I have politely talked to him...no avail...I have confronted him and his wife...no avail....

They're turning me into a curmudgeon...and I'm only 42...GRRRRRRRRRR

[Bird Brain]

They're turning me into a curmudgeon...and I'm only 42...GRRRRRRRRRR

:lol:  Axeman ... pardon me for laughing here.  (not meaning to make light of your serious posting).  It's just nice to know I'm not the only grumpy 42 year old around.  

Jo-Anne   :twisted:

[Anonymous]

Guinness

Maybe if they brought in a dog catcher or two that would solve the dog problem. SPCA has a great way to deal with those loose dogs.