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Dog ban on boardwalks afoot
An advisory board recommends all county parks restrict walkway use after a jogger is bitten.
By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published March 12, 2007
CLEARWATER - A nip to a jogger's calf at John Chesnut Sr. Park could soon lead officials to ban dogs on boardwalks at all Pinellas County parks. The county's park advisory board recently voted 3-2 to recommend banning dogs from boardwalks countywide, not just John Chesnut Sr. Park, where the nipping incident occurred. Two south Pinellas parks, Sawgrass Lake Nature Park in St. Petersburg and Boca Ciega Millennium Park in Seminole, already ban dogs from their boardwalks. A temporary ban that started at Chesnut Park last month would spread to other county parks in north Pinellas like Wall Springs Park and A.L. Anderson Park, where dogs are now allowed on boardwalks. Joe Lupardus, Pinellas County's north district parks operations manager, had said before the meeting that he knew of no problems with dogs on the wider boardwalks at Wall Springs Park and A.L. Anderson Park, and expected them to remain open to dogs. In October, Keith Bartley of Palm Harbor crossed paths with Louie, a 20-pound Shih Tzu mix, on a boardwalk at Chesnut Park. As Bartley jogged past Louie on the 4-foot-wide boardwalk, the dog nipped his calf. Bartley complained to park personnel after Louie's owner, Mike Guyler of Palm Harbor, refused to hit the dog on the nose to discipline him. In February, that brought a temporary ban on dogs on Chesnut's three boardwalks. The north boardwalk was later reopened to dogs temporarily. About seven residents attended a recent park advisory board meeting on the issue, said Paul Cozzie, Pinellas County's bureau director for the culture, education and leisure department. Most who spoke cited concerns about meeting dogs in tight spaces like boardwalks with no escape route. Cozzie said an animal control officer and park managers also spoke against allowing dogs on boardwalks for safety and sanitary reasons. "We're not trying to prohibit dogs in parks," Cozzie said. "It's a matter of which areas are suitable for dogs." In the next few weeks, Cozzie said he will bring the board's recommendation to ban dogs from county boardwalks to County Administrator Steve Spratt. "If he supports it, we will implement a dog ban," Cozzie said. Theresa Blackwell can be reached at tblackwell@sptimes.com or 727 445-4170.
[Last modified March 12, 2007, 07:16:40]
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by Kristy
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03/14/07 06:55 PM
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A dog and his responsible owner should be able to walk on the boardwalks and around the parks - being responsible includes not allowing your dog to approach strangers as well as cleaning up after them- Irresponsible owners are the problem.
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by Carey
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03/13/07 05:57 PM
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As a responsible dog owner AND one who enjoys nature, I understand the 2 are not always compatible. Some boardwalks are in areas for birding, etc, but others are just essentially wood paths. Dogs should be welcome on THOSE.
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by steve
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03/12/07 05:48 PM
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Dogs do NOT belong on boardwalks which are built for the benefit of birders and other nature enjoyers. There are dog parks all over this county where these pet lovers can take their animals.
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by Carey
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03/12/07 01:45 PM
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Maybe next we should ban children from boardwalks. They run around, potentially tripping joggers. They yell, disturbing those who want to enjoy nature. Unless, of course, their parents are taking responsibility for them. Like responsible dog owners.
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by Carey
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03/12/07 01:43 PM
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This is ridiculous. Dog owners should know their dogs, and muzzle them or keep a distance from others if necessary. But let them on the boardwalks, so many places ban them already.
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by MATTHEW
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03/12/07 09:11 AM
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SORRY,BUT MR GUYLER IS AN IDIOT IF HE
THINKS THAT HITTING A DOG ON THE NOSE
AFTER HE BITES-WILL TEACH ANYTHING. A
DOG THAT BITES SHOULD BE MUZZLED WHEN
IN PUBLIC. THE DOG PROBABLY THOUGHT THE
JOGGER WAS A DANGER TO HIM AND HIS MASTER.
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by JT
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03/12/07 09:08 AM
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Great news! Ignorant dog owners have spoiled it for knowledgeable dog owners and others who enjoy dogs. Always stay between your dog and oncoming traffic, depending on dog heel and wait for traffic to pass. No one should be subject to aggressive dogs
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by Hector
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03/12/07 08:33 AM
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Bad idea, next we'll be banning dogs from cities when someone gets bit.
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by Fred
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03/12/07 08:21 AM
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This should be a no-brainer. Protect us from the idiots that own dogs. Thanks.
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by chrisztina
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03/12/07 05:05 AM
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the smell of dog do on a hot summers day covinces me thats the rite thing to do,and how about no doggie dining out ether ,who cleans up the pee ?????my waiter yucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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