Wanted: a cure for 'dogitis'

To the editor:

Recently I attended a meeting for the public to express their views on unleashed areas in parks for dogs and was amazed at how many people in Toronto suffer from 'dogitis'.

What is dogitis? Dogitis is an affliction that people suffer that puts dogs above people.

If these people could channel their love and affection for dogs to their fellow humans, the world would be a better place.

Whatever happened to the days when you put your dog in your backyard to run around or when you took your dog for a walk on a leash? Dogs were dogs.

Since when do dogs need to have an area of the park to socialize and run loose? If you want dogs to run loose, you should live in the country.

Green space and parks in the city are already limited services are being cut back and more apartment dwellers require more outdoor space so a park should be there for the enjoyment of people and especially children. Existing parks with unleashed areas have already turned into cesspools.

Children shouldn't have to step in meadow muffins, tennis players shouldn't have to smell odours from excrement, joggers shouldn't have to slip on doggy doo and you should be able to spread a blanket on the grass and enjoy a picnic in the park.

I urge all citizens of the city to take back their parks, write to their councillors and express your views to make city parks clean and safe places for people. Don't wait for another child to be mauled by a dog that before the incident was 'the friendliest you could ever meet.'

Carey Morgan