Dogs make people more sociable

To the editor:

Re: 'Why do Torontonians need to put dogs before other people?' Letters, March 5.

As a former dog owner and dog lover, I feel I must enter this discussion.

After reading Carey Morgan's letter about a cure for 'dogitis', I wonder if she has statistics to back up her statement about children being mauled in the parks by off-leash dogs?

It is precisely to avoid such incidents that a request was made for a properly fenced area to keep the dogs in and the children out. Many people live in apartments or small townhouses with postage-stamp yards so do not have the opportunity for their pets to 'run free in the backyard'.

I have met many responsible dog owners and they are particular about picking up the output of their dogs.

Owning a dog has been proven to be beneficial. Many people live alone and the unquestioning love and devotion of their pet helps them get over a bad day at work. Taking the dog for a walk and a run gives them both healthy exercise. The dogs socialize with other dogs, the owners chat and interact with other people. People actually talk to other people and some of the former community spirit of neighbours knowing ne another has returned.

The parks in my area are not the sort that invite you to picnic. A creek runs through them and even though it was covered over, the natural drainage makes the ground a bit soggy in certain areas - not the sort of place to sit on the ground.

Most of the garbage lying around is from humans throwing wrappers and pop containers away. Dog owners pay taxes for the parks and a license fee for their pets and feel they should also be heard in this debate.

As moving to the country is not an option for most dog owners, it would be better for all concerned to have more areas for dogs to run freely without interfering with the right of children and people to use the other space in the parks for recreational purposes.

The scarcity of dog parks in the City of Toronto has led to overuse of the few available ones and the subsequent odour problems.

I have been to a well-maintained one in Mississauga and in Indiana. The U.S. one was divided in two so small dogs could have their own space and the dog owners paid a fee for a swipe card to gain admittance. All the dogs were well behaved and owners who did not conform to the rules had to forfeit their cards.

I think most responsible owners in Toronto would be happy with such an arrangement.

Aileen Carter