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Friday, June 10, 2005 - Page A03, The Toronto Star [Ontario Edition]
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Walkers growl at dog bylaw
New rules limit number of canines to three at a time
'This came out of the blue with no consultation'
Catherine Porter
CITY HALL BUREAU
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Peter Power TORONTO STAR
Boris the bulldog takes handler Deena Cooper for a walk yesterday. Sitting by are
Me-Too (the big one) and Marina (the little one). A bylaw limits Cooper to three at a
time.
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Dogs won't be the only ones yelping in parks this summer. Professional dog walkers say a new city parks bylaw limiting to three the number of dogs one person can walk will put them out of business.
"I'm outraged," said Eric Pressman, driving across town in his minivan yesterday to pick up the first of seven dogs for a walk in Sunnybrook Park. "This came out of the blue with no consultation."
"This will cut our business in half," agreed Andrew Morris, business affairs manager of Metro Dogstop. "What are dog walkers who have companies and families and car loans supposed to do?"
Toronto City Council passed the rule without public debate as part of a package of park bylaws last September. But bylaw officers have only recently begun enforcing it - giving warnings to people they find in the parks with more than three dogs. Soon, they'll be issuing $380 tickets, said Moses Cabral, the city's supervisor of bylaw enforcement in parks.
The city has just eight bylaw officers to patrol its parks, enforcing everything from picnic rules to setting off firecrackers. In the case of the dog walkers, animal control officers will also be allowed to issue the tickets. The city is also stepping up enforcement of its off-leash bylaw, and has issued 15 tickets in the last few weeks, which range from $130 to $380.
The dog-walking rule was drafted to comply with an existing animal control regulation, which limits the number of dogs in any home to three, Cabral explained.
"We feel that three dogs in a person's care or control is more than enough to take on. Anything more than that is quite difficult and park users are at risk, safety-wise," he said.
There are reports of dog walkers pulling up in their vans to unleash 10 unconstrained hounds on a park at once, he said. Plus, there's a growing concern about dog walkers using city parks for their business.
"There's an ever-increasing number of dogs and dog walkers that are utilizing our parks - respectably or not," said Sandy Straw, the city's manager of a "Dogs in Parks" strategy team that's addressing concerns.
"We're trying to be clear about the codes of conduct in parks, the business use of parks, and how we can get a handle on it."
But are professional dog walkers being penalized for the acts of a few bad, negligent handlers?
Most handlers have obedience training, canine first aid, and walk no more than six dogs at a time, said Dianne Eibner, founder of the Professional Dog Walkers Association International. The group has set down a code of conduct for its 95 members.
Instead of three dogs, Eibner thinks the bylaw should allow six. She said her dog walkers always meet and assess their furry clients before taking them on. "We pay attention to the dogs. We know their behaviour and personalities and what they're typically going to do before they do it." Morris has organized a forum of 100 dog walkers in the city, called the Dog Walkers Coalition of Toronto, to address the new rules. Dog walkers aren't alone in using public space for work, he said.
"There's nannies that use the parks, yoga classes in the parks, all kinds of business going on in parks," Morris said.
Heading out into Cedarvale Park with her dogs, Deena Cooper admitted some city regulation is required. She's heard of dog walkers with 12 dogs.
"That's a catastrophe waiting to happen," said Cooper, who runs Deena's Dog Services. "It only takes one dog to go off and you're toast."
City Councillor Paula Fletcher agrees. She's investigating a permit-system, where qualified dog walkers could pay for city permits to walk more than three dogs at one time. "So if you weren't in control of your four or five dogs, you would not be able to walk them," said Fletcher (Ward 30, Toronto-Danforth). Any amendment to the bylaw would take months, however. In the meantime, bylaw officers will be issuing tickets.
"If you don't want dogs in parks, where am I supposed to walk the dogs? " Pressman said, "Down Bay St.?"
Here are some responses to the article:
It's about time. I have struggled with dogwalkers for years to have space to walk in the park without them telling me where and when I can walk around and enjoy the park. They have been using our public parks like an office without paying any rent or taxes. They boss people around in the park like it is their domain. I can't walk my dog in the park because they have sometimes 11 dogs per person and with three dogwalkers in the park there are way too many dogs running around with and without a leash.
Laura Crompton, Toronto, June 10
The issue is uncontrolled dogs, and people who are unable and unwilling to take responsibility. An irresponsible person with one dog is more of a nuisance than someone who is walking six under-control animals. Instead of enforcing existing bylaws which are more than adequate to handle the problem, the City has once again passed a new bylaw which after a brief flurry of activity, will languish unenforced like some many other "flavour-of-the-month" bylaws.
Alison Curtis, Toronto, June 10
I too have used dogwalkers in the past and know that they are 99% of the time not just someone who decided do this as a hobby - they are trained, have back up methods and are responsible. Why is there no bylaw for parents taking their screaming children on public transit into malls and libraries?
Annie Steel, Toronto, June 10
A better idea would be to step up aggressive enforcement of current leashing laws. I am a runner who often gets pestered, and sometimes threatened, by unleashed dogs, particularly when I run at night. But I have never been bothered by groups of multiple dogs, as long as they are leashed. Let's deal with current problems before we invent new ones.
Charlie McMillan, Toronto, June 10
Does the person have control of the dog? That should be the only issue. So few people get bothered by dog-walkers that it is a unnecessary by-law, except where the dog poses a threat. A person must have control of a dog at all times, whether on or off a leash. That should be the bylaw.
Patrick Reilly, Toronto, June 10
As a dog lover, but not a dog owner at the moment, I agree with this by-law. Too many people in this city think that because they love their dog everyone else does too. And in response to one of your other comments, if you work and the only way you can walk your dog is to pay someone, then guess what? You should not own a dog.
Heather McDonald, Toronto, June 10
I agree with the bylaw but unless it is effectively enforced it will amount to little. One need only observe the many unleashed dogs in parks where bylaws prohibit the practice.
Daniel Robinson, Toronto, June 10
I've never had any problem whatsoever with anyone walking more than three dogs at the same time. In fact I've rarely seen anyone walking three dogs at the same time, let alone more than that. Shouldn't the City be focusing on enforcing more important things (such as air polluters), and be leaving the dogwalkers who appear to pose no problem at this time alone?
John Missios, Toronto, June 10
I'm glad to hear that the city is finally doing something about the annoyance posed by many of the dogs in the city's parks. Too many dogs are running off leash in flagrant violation of city bylaws, and too many walkers are irresponsible when walking their charges.
Joe Toole, Toronto, June 10
Dog owners should have complete control over their pets. It is unrealistic to expect complete control walking more than two dogs. The city is being generous for allowing three as a maximum limit. The public needs to be assured of our children's safety in our public parks. It is unfortunate that people lack the common sense that require laws like this have to be put in place.
Scott Spencer, Toronto, June 10
Walk as many dogs as you like - just make sure that people are picking up after them.
Diego Fernandez-Stoll, Toronto, June 10
It seems reasonable to raise the limit to six dogs for people who make their living by walking dogs. Dogwalkers need to walk more than three dogs at a time in order to make a living. They cannot simply work longer hours, taking fewer dogs on each walk, because customers want dogs walked in the middle of the day, not at 9:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m. Certainly, something has to be done about the small minority of irresponsible dogwalkers who take huge gangs of dogs to the parks. They are a nuisance and a hazard to other dogs and dogwalkers, as well as the general public. Surely a solution can be reached which does not deprive responsible, hardworking people of their livelihoods.
Timothy Monaghan, Toronto, June 10
With the fiscal mess Toronto is in, why in heavens good name would Mayor Miller, want to detach by-law enforcement officers, to ticket persons walking in excess of three (3) dogs? It certainly won't add significantly to the city treasury. Is this a perplexing problem?
Paul Mulhern, Toronto, June 10
Three is NOT a crowd! As a professional dog walker and member of Professional Dog Walkers Association International I'm obviously against the bylaw. I never walk more than 6 dogs at a time. I'm confident the my dogs are well behaved. Aside from being dogs and playing they do not run rampant around the park. I've invested a lot of time and money insuring that I'm qualified to manage dogs. This includes education in behaviour, training, communication and first aid. I always pick up poop. The parks are for everyone and I respect that; I stick to the off-leash areas. I'm all for issuing permits to professional dog walkers. If that happens I'll be first in line.
Kelly Manis, Toronto, June 10
So I can walk twelve dogs down a narrow sidewalk, but if I only take three at a time into a spacious park, while tying up the remaining nine outside the park, my actions are in full spirit of the new regulation? What, exactly, is the city trying to accomplish with this new regulation? It appears to be another money grab, especially in light of the money-based permit approach for professional dog walkers.
Mike O'Brien-Walker, Toronto, June 10
This is going too far! Dogs are pack animals and as long as a dog walker has control of a few of the dogs, all the dogs will follow. There may be cases where some dog walkers aren't in control, so maybe a method of regulating the industry is an alternative. But I think this is just another example of the city becoming angry with dogs, while forgetting that dog owners are taxpayers AND voters as well. Yesterday, another dog owner told me that there were bylaw enforcement officers at her local park disguised as city workers. When a few dog owners showed up to let their dogs have a run, they started handing out tickets. What are dog owners supposed to do? No place to let their dogs off leash and no one to care for their dogs when they’re at work. Are there no dog owners on city council? Or is 'dog' becoming a dirty word now?
Michael Gagne, Toronto, June 10
I agree with the city's view that three dogs per person or dog walker are more than enough for one person to handle, and I am glad to know that these restrictions have been put into place. I, and others I know, don't feel safe when we see one person walking with a large dog, because occasionally one person cannot control one dog. I have been attacked by such a dog. I would be extremely concerned to see one person with six dogs!
Simone Gabbay, Toronto, June 10
Just exactly how does one get ticketed by a bylaw officer? Just refuse to identify yourself and walk away, they can't touch you.
Ron Ensing, Toronto, June 10
I have been to off-leash parks where a dog walker comes up and opens the door to 8 dogs barreling out. The dog walker in this case felt he was very responsible but we had to leave as the dogs were unruly and not well behaved. They jumped on us, other dogs and he sort of laughed it off saying they meant no harm. Well, if my dogs don't feel safe, then it's not an environment they should be in. Plus no one can control 8 dogs at once.
Darlah Potechin, Richmond Hill, June 10
This law is good! I think that 3 dogs are too many. Having multiple dogs on leads is fine until something goes wrong. At that point the handler is out of control and so are the dogs. Raise the fine to $500!
Kevin Rogers, Toronto, June 10
As a former resident of High Park in Toronto, and one that also utilized a professional dog walking service, I am outraged as well. Our dog walkers were trained, knew the dogs extremely well, and though my dog was walked in a group, he was placed in a group based upon traits that matched against others in the group. There are irresponsible dog owners out there, just as there are irresponsible parents, but don't punish the majority to reach the few.
Mark Fronczak, Richmond Hill, June 10
Enough is enough. These under-educated tree hugging politicians better start worrying about other things than dog walkers walking dogs. If it weren't for dogs, dog owners and dog walkers half the cities parks wouldn't even be partially used. Worry about poverty, homeless, crime. Stop with the nonsense.
Jack Carr, Toronto, June 10
I totally agree with the bylaw. The city must also enforce the leash policy in the city. There are way too many dogs, especially unleashed in the parks. No matter how well a dog is trained, it remains an animal with unexpected reactions. I think even three is too much, because if all of them start acting, it is very hard to control them.
Adry Mateus, Toronto, June 10
I can certainly understand the public's concern about walkers with too many dogs. I used to be a dog walker in Toronto and I've seen walkers lose control of their dogs. However, the public should also understand that on most days of the year, dog walkers are the only people who use Toronto's parks. Why penalize these folks when there are so few days when the bylaw is actually necessary?
Andrew Woods, Halifax, June 10
To put it bluntly, it is another tax grab and nothing to do with how many dogs a dog walker can take. It is all money, money, money and it has to stop. I notice the elected officials are always quick to vote themselves a raise with no regards to the taxpayer. Don't you think it is about time they came clean as they are not fooling anyone with these secondhand schemes of getting tax dollars?
Robert Reeson, Pontypool, June 10
An excellent idea. Lets give the parks and sidewalks back to our children, away from the packs of dogs running around barely controlled by a single person. If someone wants to have a dog, but can't be bothered to walk their own, perhaps they should reconsider their need for the pet.
Gyl Midroni, Toronto, June 10
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Saturday, Jun 11, 2005. - Page F06, The Toronto Star [Ontario Edition]
Muzzle this dog bylaw
Editorial for Toronto Star...June 11th, 2005
Toronto's professional dog walkers are snarling over new rules that limit, to three, the number of canines one person can walk in a public park.
And outraged leash-holders have good reason to howl.
For the sake of efficiency, including effective use of limited hours, their business depends on walking a substantial number of dogs at once.
Leashed packs of four, five or six are not uncommon. That is set to end with a new bylaw now in force.
The animal control regulation, capping the number of dogs being walked at three, was slipped quietly onto the books in September, when city council passed a stack of bylaws.
The dog walking community realized its full implications only a few days ago, when bylaw officers began enforcing the measure by issuing warnings, with fines soon to follow.
The local association of professional dog walkers has 95 members, but there are even more people in Toronto who earn money walking canines for busy urbanites.
Many have spent years building a business, buying vehicles and other gear, and cultivating a clientele.
All that is being put at risk by a new rule that the dog walking community insists has come into force without due public consultation and without input from its members.
The association says most handlers have obedience training, knowledge of first aid, and walk no more than six dogs at a time.
Clearly there is no crisis in need of addressing here.
Rather than being driven by a specific problem, such as a case where too many dogs were allowed to run out-of-control, the new bylaw appears to have been drafted mainly to comply with an older rule limiting, to three, the number of dogs living in one home. That need not apply to professional dog walkers.
City councillors should act immediately to reverse this unnecessary and unwarranted bylaw.
A reasonable compromise would be to allow one person to walk up to six leashed dogs. That would prevent excesses, such as one leash-holder trying to handle a dozen animals. But it would also give professional dog walkers some flexibility in the number of canines they choose to handle.
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Friday, June 17, 2005 - Page A12, The Globe and Mail
City throws bone to dog walkers
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BY ROB SHAW
Dog walkers who daily face the requirement of pooper scoopers, mandatory leashes and, recently, a city limit on the number of canines they could walk in city parks, caught a small break at Toronto City Council yesterday.
Council voted to temporarily allow them to contorl as many as five dogs a person in a city park while it reviews a controversial bylaw it passed in September limiting that number to three, Councillor Paula Fletcher said.
Bylaw officers warned this week that they would soon begin handing out $315 fines to anyone walking more than three dogs in a park. They had yet to write their first ticket.
But professional dog-walking companies, being hired increasingly to pick up dogs for midday exercise while the owners are away at work, said the bylaw, put in place to better control the city's busy off-leash areas, would effectively put them out of business. They typically walk six dogs at a time at an average of $15 an hour each.
Dianne Eibner, president of the Toronto-founded Professional Dog Walkers Assoc-iation International, called Ms. Fletcher's motion yesterday good news.
"this at least shows a little bit more faith that we can actually do what we've been
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doing for years," she said.
There are as many as 200 dog-walking companies in the city serving an estimated 10,000 households, according to information from the Dog Walkers Coalition of Toronto. As business rises, so do the number of complaints of irresponsible dog walking in parks, city bylaw supervisor Moses Cabral said.
Mr. Cabral said he once saw two dog-walking-company vans pull into a city park, open the tailgates and let out as many as 30 dogs race out into a playground full of children.
"They ran through the playground with children in there," he said. "Just the look on the child's face and on the parent's face said it all."
The city's municipal health code restricts the number of dogs alowed in a single household to three, and the park bylaw was designed to match that number, Mr Cabral said.
Parks and recreation and city licensing staff will report back to council next month with reccomendations on how, or if, dog-walking companies could be exempted from the bylaw. Ms. Fletcher had previously called for some sort of permit system and said the city will hold public consultation on the issue.
Until Then, dog-walking companies "have a little breathing space" Ms. Fletcher said.
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Observer, Barbi Price, 1998
WAG THE DOG WALKER: Long-time dog walker Dianne Eibner takes some time out to play with four of her cuddly clients: Chester, Eloise, Puck, and Paisley. While Eibner feels confident and competent enough to take them all for a walk simultaneously, a proposed Toronto bylaw may prohibit her from doing so in the future.
Proposed bylaw upsets professional dog walkers
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By Barbi Price
It looks like there are some "ruff" times ahead for dog walkers like Dianne Eibner.
For along with the proposed harmonizing of the megacity's Animal Care and Control Bylaw comes a serious threat to her buisness and those of others similarly employed.
In a matter of weeks Toronto City Council will be voting on a contentious issue for Eibner and the other members of the newly formed Professional Dog Walkers Association.
In an effort to set universal standards of pet care across the megacity, it has been suggested that the number of dogs under one person's con- trol be limited to a maximum of three, which is consistent with the number of dogs allowed in a dwelling-unit.
For Eibner, who has been dog-walking for eight years, the proposed bylaw evoked shock and disappointment.
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"All of the sudden, in April 1999, I'm not qualified any- more," she says.
Eibner is not alone in her frustration. For approximately six months, she and a group of 10 others have mobilized as the Professional Dog Walkers Association. They have been to various deputations and meetings to voice their dissent on the tentative legislation and vow to continue their protest of the bylaw.
"There are dog walkers, and there are professional dog walkers," says Eibner. For the latter, who are more qualified and serious about their voca- tions, she believes different rules should apply.
A maximum of six dogs per "professional" is what the association is proposing.
However, according to Councillor Michael Prue, sep- arate rules for certain people will not likely be feasible. To his knowledge, there is no organization that certifies
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"professional" dog walkers, making the distinction Eibner requested impossible.
In addition, Prue says he is doubtful that even a trained dog walker could manage to control six dogs at once, as Eibner claims.
Yet despite the obstacles the Professional Dog Walkers Association has encountered, members will continue their struggle against the new bylaw.
Eibner recently created the outline for a course to train and certify professional dog walkers.
She claims to have support from the Animal Advisory Committee, and hopes council will listen to her pleas.
"(Dog walking) is a much needed, convenient and humane service," says Eibner.
But if council proceeds as expected, the dog days of walking more than three canines at once may be coming to a close.
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