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Vol.15 No.24
Pelham’s independent news source from the Heart of Niagara
The
VOICE
Local boy awarded for teamwork. Page 6
Library has books for sale! Page 6
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Local woman helps orphans. Page 7
Pelham dog park supporters create online survey to gather local residents’ thoughts BY TINA CHIVERS VOICE Staff The Pelham Dog Owners Group (DOGs) has organized a poll, with the help of MyPelham.ca. The group has created a survey to try to collect data on Pelham’s general opinion about a dog park in Pelham. “We are trying to get this out to as many Pelham people, businesses and organizations as possible,” says Pam DeFazio, a member of the group.”I think that we are making good progress; it has been a lot more work than I ever expected, but worth it.” DeFazio says that the group is working hard on the next proposal. “I have a good group of people to work with,” says DeFazio. “As far as I can tell, the majority support the idea.” DeFazio says that the biggest obstacle is educating people about dog parks. “Understandably so, people have concerns about safety at dog parks, but there are creative ways to make a dog park safe,” she says. “People also have concerns about the town spending tax dollars on a dog park.” According to DeFazio, Pelham DOGs is
committed to helping pay for the project through fundraising. “After almost a year of research and trying to get a dog park in Pelham, I am realizing more and more that there are many misconceptions about dog parks and about my dog park group, Pelham DOGs,” she says. DeFazio wants the public to keep in mind a few key points when forming an opinion on having a dog park in Pelham. “Pets are valuable members of our society; they provide companionship for the elderly and people living alone, and as therapy dogs, they visit ill people in hospitals, they visit children in schools, they assist disabled people, they work and protect us as police dogs—to name a few,” says DeFazio. “People who own pets make up about one-half of our population, and people who own pets love them as family members, and they own them because they realize the physical and mental therapeutic effect of pets; a dog park is as much for their owners as it is for the dogs.” While she is in favour of a dog park, DeFazio says that she understands others’ concerns about the safety of dog parks. “There are cases where many dog parks
have been thrown down in a community with minimal thought and maintenance going into them,” she says. “These parks are what seem to stick in peoples minds.” DeFazio points to a recent incident of a child getting attacked in a public park by a dog running off-leash. She is concerned that, after hearing about the incident, some people will draw the conclusion that a dog park could be dangerous for children. “I have a young child of my own, and there is nothing more tragic than a child getting hurt by a dog,” says DeFazio. “Owners of dogs should be held responsible, and they can be—through the Ontario Dog Owners Liability Act.” The Ontario Dog Owners Liability Act applies to incidents that happen in dog parks, outside of dog parks, and on private and public property. “I want people to know that the incident of the child being attacked did not occur in a dog park,” she says. “Most dog parks are fenced areas, with a rule of no children under a certain age alowed.” Moreover, DeFazio believes that, without dog parks, many dog owners blatantly break the law and let their dogs run loose in public parks.
“A dog park could decrease the need for dog owners to let their dogs loose in public areas,” she says. “And most importantly, decrease the contact between loose dogs and children.” DeFazio says that there are some examples of dog parks that have been done well, and are successful and safe places to take one’s dog and families. “Unfortunately, these parks do not make the news as often as the unsuccessful ones,” she says. DeFazio claims that Pelham DOGs is committed to setting high standards for a Pelham dog park. “We have done much research and planning to make it a success,” she says. “If problems arise, we will be there to help come up with creative solutions.” Some ideas include consideration of having a swipe card entry to the park will be given which would help enforce rules. “We have a vision of a safe, well maintained space for dogs and their owners to exercise and enjoy the outdoors,” says DeFazio. Anyone wishing to take the online survey about their views on a dog park in Pelham should visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TYQGTBY.
Members of the Pelham Dog Owners Group (DOGs) gather together with their dogs.
/Special to the Voice