DCDogVoter.com

Well, looks like we found one answer from T.A. Uqdah, former candidate for the Ward 4 Council.

Even though he was promoting the use of dog parks and putting dogs and kids in the same level in his campaign for dealing with gentrification, his last email to the Petworth Dogs listserve shows a clear position against dogs.

His hate against dogs is based on childish and outdated views more than real reasons. His words clearly indicate that he is a fanatic and had some bad encounters with dogs back in the 60’s and his early years.

He generalized about dog owners, not realizing that people that take dogs to parks are responsible owners.

He concluded that ‘dog people, canine lovers are annoying and fanatical’.

He continued to say:

‘they are annoying in the sense that they view themselves and their canines as a protected class. They are fanatical in the sense that they think anyone who opposes them is a hostile enemy to them and are annoyed at those of us who don’t understand their fanaticism’.

‘I can’t understand for the life of me, why anyone would move into a land / space challenged urban setting like Washington, DC and expect to have dog parks established for their animals? I want a horse, but you don’t see me asking for a horse park to run them, do you? So where does this sense of entitlement come from?’

I personally do not think about him as an enemy. This not a war. We are civilized people and we should talk and try to solve our differences in a civilized manner and not, do like he did. He came and exposed his hatred for dogs and walked away. He did not try to talk to us nor to understand why dog parks are necessary. They are good for the dogs (dogs that are not socialized in parks are the ones that escape and bite people). They help people to meet other neighbors (that is how I met most of my neighbors).

He was a candidate for the Ward 4 Council. He should know that if he has a horse he has a place to take the horse to be exercised within walking distance from his house.

He says that DC is a space-challenged urban setting, but DC has plenty of unused green areas. NYC does not, but they have 100+ parks.

He explains his hate against dogs towards the end of his email, where he says:

‘… I have trouble reconciling owning an animal that in my genetic experience was used to hunt and track me down for my continued enslavement or lynching, not to mention these were the same mangy animals used by law enforcement and other southern crackers to intimidate, bite and in some instances maim or kill human beings fighting for their civil rights; and I’m expected to embrace offering them a dog park?’

I think that he is confused and living in the past, he should realize that he is in DC in the year 2007. We live in a very diverse city, where no one should try to take any rights from anybody.

Called DPR lately to check on the status of the park?

First they were closing down the park for “maintenance” and “cleaning.” Then we heard they would tear down the fence (and have an open field?)… or fix the swing set and use it as a playground. The latest idea? Use the fenced-in area as a soccer field for little kids. At every turn DPR has a new story for how they plan to use the vacant, fenced-in park space at Allison and Arkansas Ave. NW. Never mind that dog owners used the space for over a year with the knowledge and (at least implied) consent of DPR.

And now we are all locked out (dogs, dog owners, two-foot soccer players) while the park stands vacant and padlocked shut.

Why not re-open the park to dogs and their owners while DPR debates internally the future of the space?

According to DPR, DC 8-1808 disallows us from using the space without an easement by the DC City Council. (This seems to be because we are barred from having dogs off-leash in any public space other than an official dog park—and without the regulations we can’t establish an official dog park.)

But as Cleo has noted, illegal activity in other parts of the Upshur park hasn’t caused DPR to shut the whole park down. Walk your dog through the park and she’ll find drug paraphenalia, glass shards from liquor and beer bottles, condom wrappers, etc.–not to mention witnessing some of the activity. Clearly, there’s a double-standard.

Let’s be clear. We’re glad the city is moving forward to establish dog parks and regulations to go along with them. But how about some tolerance for those demonstrating responsible dog-ownership NOW? Here’s an unused space, next to a dumpster, out of the way of residences and businesses–and a proven meeting ground for dogs and their people. (Responsible people, by the way. While we’ve heard tales of dog owners leaving ballparks without cleaning up after their animals, here’s a park that was used exclusively for dogs–and clean to boot.)

The DC City Council has the power to grant us an easement. Join me in sending this message: Open the Allison/Arkansas park to dog owners until a neighborhood dog park has been established.

Write to Councilwoman Bowser now. Ask her to support dog parks in Ward 4 and an easement re-granting access to the Allison/Arkansas park. template_letter_to_bowser2.doc

Sign the Arkansas & Allison petition.

Anyone catch last week’s DC Politics Hour with Kojo and Jonetta? http://www.wamu.org/audio/kn/07/07/k1070706 (Scroll to about 42:24.)

 It featured a segment on dog parks that lasted all of eight and a half minutes, during which Jonetta complained about the “secret taskforce” meetings [to review and comment on DPR's draft dog park regulations] that “advantage dog owners and professional dog walkers.”  Let’s hope that’s true, folks. 

I can agree with Jonetta on one point: she hasn’t heard what’s going on with the taskforce and neither have I.  It’s a problem that more information hasn’t come out about the taskforce.  But I digress. 

Apparently, we dog owners are “extremely well-organized” (as a professional organizer I’m thrilled by this) and “very intimidating” and those opposed to dog parks are afraid to make their views known.  Jonetta noted that her friends are concerned that “we now have to have cow parks and pig parks” and next it’ll be, gasp, cat parks!  Kojo piped in, “Alligators have no place whatsoever!” (roll over, Kojo, why don’t you.) to which Jonetta replied, “Exactly. See, we can go from one extreme to the next on this.”  So dog parks are “extreme?”   

The dogs did have one advocate on the show.  Here’s a bone for Bill on Capitol Hill, a member of the “secret taskforce” Jonetta fears.  He was given a scant few seconds to comment during which he dropped this bomb: “Parks and Rec staff, themselves, admitted they’re opposed to the concept of dog parks in the city!”  When he noted that he and other dog owners had lobbied for dog parks (effectively, I might add; the City Council did, after all, enact legislation calling for their creation), Jonetta snickered. 

Offering the last words on the topic, Jonetta said, “Dog parks aren’t cheap, Kojo.” 

Cheap? Perhaps not.  Valuable way to build community? Absolutely.  And here’s one dog voter who’d like her tax dollars spent on dog parks.   

By the way, check out (and sign!) this petition:

http://www.petitiononline.com/DCDOG/petition.html

Dear Mayor Fenty:

I am writing to urge you to show your support for responsible, tax-paying dog owners in Ward 4. My neighbors and I are outraged that the Department of Parks and Recreation has prioritized keeping dogs OUT of parks, rather than helping us get them in.

In recent messages to the community, DPR has stated that the city is making it a priority to arrest dog owners for taking their dogs off-leash or taking their dogs to athletic fields, community parks, playgrounds, etc. Where are we to go? Why is the city diverting police resources away from fighting the more serious crimes that plague our community?

Dogs that get the exercise and socialization they need make better neighbors. As a responsible dog owner, I regularly take my dogs on leashed walks and allow them time to play in my yard. However, that’s no substitute for playtime with their canine companions in a space large enough for them to run.

For the past year or so, a number of dog owners have used the fenced park space at Allison St. and Arkansas Ave. NW . This park was formerly a playground used by the neighboring school. We began using the abandoned park with the knowledge of the local park manager. We picked up after our dogs (and each other’s dogs), fixed the hasp on the gate, and got to know each other while our dogs got their exercise. This dog park helped build community in Ward 4.

About two months ago, DPR closed the park and communicated to us they plan to demolish it and remove the fence, making it unusable by anyone. Apparently, DPR received a report that the dogs were causing a disturbance. It’s worth noting that this park is ideally located in that there are few homes facing it and none directly next to it. If it is unacceptable, where can we go? I challenge DPR to find us a better spot that meets their specifications.

I’m an active, voting, tax-paying community member. I want dog parks in my community and I’m asking for your help. Please restore access to the park at Allison St. and Arkansas Ave. NW and call on DPR to make access to dog parks in all wards of the city a priority. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

DC Dog Voter

I believe the quick answer is NO.

DC wants to attract more people not only to work in the district, but to make the district their home. People with kids are moving to the suburbs because the schools are at the bottom of the rankings in the region, a lot of people with no kids have dogs. Should they move outside of the district in order to keep their dogs healthy?

A healthy dog needs exercise and to be socialized. These activities require an off leash area. In Ward 4 where I live there are plenty of green spaces. Within six blocks from my house there are three baseball diamonds that hardly get used.

In the last 3 years we have been completely locked out of four public parks (not even leashed dogs are allowed anymore).

All this time city officials have talked about off-leash dog parks in the district. The former Ward 4 council member, now mayor, promised to have off-leash dog parks in the district. In 2005 the DC Council approved the creation of Dog Parks, 2 years later we have none.

An initiative to amend Chapter 7 of the DC Municipal Regulations for the creation and maintenance of off-leash areas for dogs on District parkland resulted in a document that was oriented to assure the non-existence of dog parks in the city rather than for the creation of such areas. It is very upsetting that our tax money was used to discuss and write such a document, and that at that stage not all of the stakeholders were invited.

We are still waiting for a new document, and while we wait we start seeing some type of persecution against dog owners.A revision of the document will be issued, but apparently no public comment will be allowed. Is this how our democracy works?

The interim direct of DPR wrote in a recent memo:

“The Agency and the District’s residents will need your continued support, as we more aggressively enforce the District’s Off-leash laws and DPR “no dogs on playgrounds” and “no dogs on athletic fields” rules.”

We are witnessing this enforcement. People have been arrested and fined for having an off leashed dog. With the increasing crime in DC, should the city use these scarce resources to go after off-leashed puppies? The area we used to use in the corner of
Arkansas and Allison was closed and the fence is scheduled to be taken down, another waste of our taxes. The unofficial dog parks that we used until Ms Durden decided to use city resources to ‘more aggressively enforce the District’s Off-leash laws’ not only helped to keep our dogs healthy, but also to meet and socialize with our neighbors.

Same as church parking, where illegal parking is tolerated

until a solution to the problem can be found, until new rules and parks are established we should be able to keep using these parks, and we should be notified if a park is scheduled to close.

DPR should not take these type of actions without consulting the public. At least a public hearing should take place.

If I complain about the trash and drinking that goes on at the soccer field on Upshur and 14st NW, will DPR close the field? If that is the case we will be left without parks.

I will like my taxes to be used towards improving the city. Ms Durden should focus on cleaning and fixing the parks (pictures of park attached) and more aggressively enforce the District’s alcohol, drug and loitering laws. Broken glass can be very dangerous, and trash attracts rats, happy playing dogs do not harm anybody.