VICTORY!! THE TOWN OF GREENWICH HAS OFFICIALLY REVERSED THE DOG WALKER BAN!! THIS IS A MASSIVE WIN FOR EVERYONE WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO USE THE TRAILS AGAIN!! STAY VIGILANT AND KEEP RESPECTING THE PARK SPACE SO WE NEVER HAVE TO FACE THIS NONSENSE AGAIN!!
December 4, 2017
Support Greenwich Dog Walking Companies & Owners! Lift the Dog Walker Ban from Town Park Land
Final supporters
On Thursday, June 15, 2017 The Town of Greenwich installed large signs at the trailhead of Mianus River Park stating –
Park Restricted
Greenwich Municipal Code
7-30-3 No Commercial Use of Parkland
and
7-31-10e Prohibits Advertising/Profit-Making Use of Parkland
Without any prior
notification from the town, and on that same day, dog walkers who travel those
trails with their client’s dogs on a daily basis – were cited and given tickets
for walking dogs.
Although many companies “profit” from the use of Town of Greenwich Parks property (summer camps, personal trainers, babysitters, food vendors, etc.) the Town is using these municipal codes only to target and ban dog walking companies. Why should only dog walking companies be targeted, while other profiting businesses are not?
Professional dog walkers using the park were told these signs apply to all town parks in Greenwich, including Greenwich’s only dog park on Grass Island. Companies were advised that the signs, and enforcement of the codes, were in response to isolated complaints from local residents who do not like seeing the dog walkers and their groups of dogs in the park.
Read article written by the Greenwich Free Press, regarding July’s Town Parks and Recreation meeting discussion about the dog walker ban HERE.
We fear that the continued enforcement will:
- Inconvenience hard working dog owners who rely heavily on dog walkers to exercise their dogs
- Deny Greenwich residents use of parks by not allowing them to use parks through a proxy (dog walkers)
- Force successful area dog walking companies to close and leave employed dog walkers out of a job
- Force dog walkers to walk client dogs on dangerous, busy streets with no sidewalks
- Limit the exercise and socialization necessary for a well behaved dog
- Stigmatize Greenwich as an anti-dog town, harming its reputation and decreasing home values.
Our solution is for the Town of Greenwich to:
- Require dog walking companies and individual dog walkers to register with the Town and buy an annual permit. ideally, a portion of the funds from the permit would be used towards the maintenance of the trails and revitalization of the Greenwich Dog Park
- Require dog walkers to wear a badge or carry a permit when using parks;
- Establish reasonable hours for use of parks by professional dog walkers;
- Require dog walking companies to ensure all client dogs are vaccinated, licensed and tagged;
- Require insurance for all dog walking companies
Our Request: We hope to have your support in requesting the Town of Greenwich lift the dog walker ban from town parks by offering an annual permit to dog walking companies while supporting the reality that the Town of Greenwich has a need for the services of these dog caregivers for the convenience of residents and health of our furry four-legged friends.
PAWS of Greenwich, is a non-profit organization and a collective of dog lovers, working to make Town of Greenwich a paw-some, pet-friendly community. Funds support Grass Island Dog Park revitalization efforts, local pet-friendly programs and initiatives, and various animal welfare causes in the community. www.pawsofgreenwich.com
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 27, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
August 28, 2017
68 Comments
Targeting the dog walkers is clearly driven by neighbors who dislike dogs. I'd prefer to see signage prohibiting litter and enforcing fines. I always have extra bags with me to clean up the park, especially for glass, food wrappers, reflectors from bikes, and fish hooks/lines, etc.
Our petition makes sense and I support finding a safe and fiscally responsible way to allow professional dog walkers to utilize town resources. They are effectively our proxies when we hire them to watch our dogs when we are away.
Dog owners/walkers represent a significant percentage of the Greenwich population, but unfortunately their voice is often overruled by the few who sit on committees. Hopefully, this petition will show that our voices matter too.
As a greenwich resident who pays for my dog to have a license in the town it is ridiculous that someone cannot take my pet to a park if I am not there. This needs to be changed!
I know from being in the Mianus that the professional dog walkers are more considerate with their dogs than other dog owners. I feel they are being unfairly stigmatized.
SERIOUSLY??
I see many flaming bags of dog poo on their doorsteps.
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VICTORY!! THE TOWN OF GREENWICH HAS OFFICIALLY REVERSED THE DOG WALKER BAN!! THIS IS A MASSIVE WIN FOR EVERYONE WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO USE THE TRAILS AGAIN!! STAY VIGILANT AND KEEP RESPECTING THE PARK SPACE SO WE NEVER HAVE TO FACE THIS NONSENSE AGAIN!!
December 4, 2017
Support Greenwich Dog Walking Companies & Owners! Lift the Dog Walker Ban from Town Park Land
Final supporters
On Thursday, June 15, 2017 The Town of Greenwich installed large signs at the trailhead of Mianus River Park stating –
Park Restricted
Greenwich Municipal Code
7-30-3 No Commercial Use of Parkland
and
7-31-10e Prohibits Advertising/Profit-Making Use of Parkland
Without any prior
notification from the town, and on that same day, dog walkers who travel those
trails with their client’s dogs on a daily basis – were cited and given tickets
for walking dogs.
Although many companies “profit” from the use of Town of Greenwich Parks property (summer camps, personal trainers, babysitters, food vendors, etc.) the Town is using these municipal codes only to target and ban dog walking companies. Why should only dog walking companies be targeted, while other profiting businesses are not?
Professional dog walkers using the park were told these signs apply to all town parks in Greenwich, including Greenwich’s only dog park on Grass Island. Companies were advised that the signs, and enforcement of the codes, were in response to isolated complaints from local residents who do not like seeing the dog walkers and their groups of dogs in the park.
Read article written by the Greenwich Free Press, regarding July’s Town Parks and Recreation meeting discussion about the dog walker ban HERE.
We fear that the continued enforcement will:
- Inconvenience hard working dog owners who rely heavily on dog walkers to exercise their dogs
- Deny Greenwich residents use of parks by not allowing them to use parks through a proxy (dog walkers)
- Force successful area dog walking companies to close and leave employed dog walkers out of a job
- Force dog walkers to walk client dogs on dangerous, busy streets with no sidewalks
- Limit the exercise and socialization necessary for a well behaved dog
- Stigmatize Greenwich as an anti-dog town, harming its reputation and decreasing home values.
Our solution is for the Town of Greenwich to:
- Require dog walking companies and individual dog walkers to register with the Town and buy an annual permit. ideally, a portion of the funds from the permit would be used towards the maintenance of the trails and revitalization of the Greenwich Dog Park
- Require dog walkers to wear a badge or carry a permit when using parks;
- Establish reasonable hours for use of parks by professional dog walkers;
- Require dog walking companies to ensure all client dogs are vaccinated, licensed and tagged;
- Require insurance for all dog walking companies
Our Request: We hope to have your support in requesting the Town of Greenwich lift the dog walker ban from town parks by offering an annual permit to dog walking companies while supporting the reality that the Town of Greenwich has a need for the services of these dog caregivers for the convenience of residents and health of our furry four-legged friends.
PAWS of Greenwich, is a non-profit organization and a collective of dog lovers, working to make Town of Greenwich a paw-some, pet-friendly community. Funds support Grass Island Dog Park revitalization efforts, local pet-friendly programs and initiatives, and various animal welfare causes in the community. www.pawsofgreenwich.com
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 27, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
August 28, 2017
68 Comments
This is appalling. Dog are a part of our families and dog walkers are as intigral as nannies. Just because a few residents don't care for dogs doesn't mean that they should be banned from the areas we pay to maintain. They are our families. A community who doesn't support their dogs doesn't support family. It's that simple.
Targeting the dog walkers is clearly driven by neighbors who dislike dogs. I'd prefer to see signage prohibiting litter and enforcing fines. I always have extra bags with me to clean up the park, especially for glass, food wrappers, reflectors from bikes, and fish hooks/lines, etc.
Our petition makes sense and I support finding a safe and fiscally responsible way to allow professional dog walkers to utilize town resources. They are effectively our proxies when we hire them to watch our dogs when we are away.
Dog owners/walkers represent a significant percentage of the Greenwich population, but unfortunately their voice is often overruled by the few who sit on committees. Hopefully, this petition will show that our voices matter too.
As a greenwich resident who pays for my dog to have a license in the town it is ridiculous that someone cannot take my pet to a park if I am not there. This needs to be changed!
I know from being in the Mianus that the professional dog walkers are more considerate with their dogs than other dog owners. I feel they are being unfairly stigmatized.
SERIOUSLY??
I see many flaming bags of dog poo on their doorsteps.
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This is appalling. Dog are a part of our families and dog walkers are as intigral as nannies. Just because a few residents don't care for dogs doesn't mean that they should be banned from the areas we pay to maintain. They are our families. A community who doesn't support their dogs doesn't support family. It's that simple.