Mayor Rob Ford cracks down on off-leash dogs

As reported in today's Toronto Star

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1155364--toronto-mayor-rob-ford-cracks-down-on-off-leash-dogs

Mayor Rob Ford loves dogs — he said so on Monday — but he’s not impressed with the ones roaming free in parks across the city.Ford has called for a crackdown on off-leash canines after receiving an “overwhelming” number of complaints about dogs at large in undesignated areas over the past two weeks.“I guess with the good weather, people are letting their dogs run loose through the parks. Two kids got bit,” Ford told reporters.“I just want to tell people, I’ve informed animal services and bylaw to go out and make sure you remind people to keep their dogs on their leash.”Complaints about dogs and their owners tend to spike this time of year, according to Toronto Animal Services.Off-leash dogs, aggressive dogs, yappy dogs and unclaimed dog poop top the list.City rules allow canines to be off leash in their owner’s yard or the property of a consenting friend.Dogs out and about must be kept on a leash — two metres long, maximum — in all public spaces unless otherwise posted. Owners and walkers who let their four-legged friends roam free in undesignated areas can face a $240 fine.“I don’t want to be heavy-handed and start fining people,” the mayor said, “but I want to make sure they’ve been warned. That’s pretty well it.”There are more than 50 leash-free zones in Toronto, most of them gated spaces within city parks.“Owners are allowed to go in to release their dog to run and play,” said Robert Meerburg, an education officer with Toronto Animal Services. “Provided,” he cautioned, “they are there with the dog.“I add that because we’ve had several people that have gone in, left their dogs and gone shopping, and come back.”Really?“Oh yeah,” Meerburg said. More than once, bylaw enforcement officers have gone into a leash-free area and found dogs running around with no owners in sight.At Little Norway Park on Monday, Eddie and Fipsy, a pair of 9-year-old Jack Russell terriers, relished a bit of off-leash fetch.Owner Gopika Awatramani knows they’re not supposed to be on the loose in this area, but her dogs need exercise. At this time of day — late afternoon — the park is empty. Awatramani, 30, takes the extra precaution of keeping her pups’ play area limited to a small space behind the baseball fence, just in case.“I try my best to be as responsible as possible,” said Awatramani, who has never once been fined in her eight years of dog ownership.“As you can see,” she said, “they are not bothering anybody.”