Arlington Dog Owners Group (A-DOG) is submitting this to [Arlington, MA] Town Meeting in support of Article 18, the Green Dog plan. Our website: www.arlingtondogowners.org
Our petition link: www.ipetitions.com/petition/Arlingtondogownerspetition/

A-DOG was formed one year ago and currently has 370 members. A-DOG is incorporated in MA as a nonprofit organization and is volunteer-run. Our mission includes "promoting responsible dog ownership, emphasizing respect for the rights and interests of neighbors and the community as well as the welfare of our companion animals."

We have attached a list of more than 600 Arlington residents (so far) who have signed, by ink or online, our petition favoring legal off-leash recreational opportunities for dog owners.

Arlington’s leash bylaw was enacted about 40 years ago. Based on the transcripts from debate of this new bylaw in Town Meeting, it was intended to address dogs roaming free without owner supervision, or “at large.” In the transcripts, the Animal Control Officer, Mr. Femia, was even quoted as being against the "leash law," saying that what was really needed instead was a "dog control law."

Things have changed in the last 40 years. Our understanding of dog socialization and exercise needs has advanced, and many notable animal behavior experts like Dr. Nicholas Dodman at Tufts’ Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine consider off-leash exercise necessary for well-socialized, well-behaved dogs. Yet, as currently enforced, our leash bylaw prevents dog owners from exercising and socializing their dogs off leash, even if such activities occur under owner supervision and at times when few, if any, others are using the parks. This was not its original intent.

Arlington’s dog owners enjoy meeting in the parks to give their dogs the exercise and socialization that promote their health and calm behavior. Arlington’s dog owners would also like to be able to play fetch with balls or Frisbees with their dogs or train their dogs on long leashes, as suggested by the AKC and many dog trainers. Current enforcement has been used against all these benign activities.

Other municipalities, including Somerville, Cambridge, Burlington, Boston, Brookline, Lexington, Bedford, Weston, Wellesley, and Wayland, have bylaws that recognize this need, and each has found its own solution, from allowing dogs off leash under voice control in public open spaces to restricting off-leash dogs to specific, often fenced, areas.

Arlington has been trying to address this issue since at least 2003, when a provision for “dog exercise areas” was added to the bylaws. However, in the six years since, no such areas have been established. This is primarily because neighborhood opposition prevented the selection of a single site, even as a cautious “first step” for our community. (Programs in both Somerville and Boston began with one dog park site, followed more recently by others.)

We support the efforts of the Board of Selectmen’s Green Dog Committee, which has worked for about two years to find a town-wide solution. The three most active members of this Committee are experts on public open space and, in particular, know our parks and their usage patterns quite well. This plan, in contrast to a single fenced-in dog park, spreads the “burden” of dogs throughout the town, in respect of the prior opposition. Yet, we have now heard criticisms by some that it is “too much, too soon”. In the past two years, the Green Dog Committee has sought public opinion in many meetings and has continued to modify the draft plan to address concerns raised by various parties. It even convened smaller negotiation groups to give individual park abutters an opportunity to veto dog activity right near their homes, despite the fact that such activity is to occur on public land. The goal of this process was to reach some reasonable compromise, yet even as the TM vote draws closer, it is clear that no proposal will satisfy everyone.
 
The Green Dog plan will be presented under Article 18 of this year's warrant. The Board of Selectmen, as of this writing, has not reported to TM with a recommended vote. (Last year, the Selectmen requested that TM wait for a plan by the Green Dog Committee before taking any action on off-leash dogs, and TM complied.) We expect that, even if the Selectmen recommend “no action” on the outcome of this long effort, there will still be a motion on the floor in favor of the Green Dog plan.
 
We urge Town Meeting to vote in favor of the Green Dog plan. Although it is not perfect, we believe that, with the diversity of opinions, there will never be a plan that everyone considers perfect. The Green Dog plan, as intended, will give those who wish to avoid off-leash dogs clearly-defined times and places to avoid. We believe it is a good first step, and will also allow for modifications. In other towns, off-leash programs have been modified, as needed, to address issues arising during actual testing.

A "real-life" trial is what is needed to actually see if a program suits a community. The Green Dog plan, as a pilot program, would finally allow such a trial in Arlington.
 
We are certainly aware that there is some opposition to allowing any such off-leash opportunities to dog owners. Much of the opposition cites the behavior of a few irresponsible dog owners and incidents that would not be made legal under the Green Dog plan—such as off-leash dogs approaching working Guide or Service Dogs outside of designated areas and times, dogs running across others’ private property, or dogs jumping on people. We believe that responsible dog owners, many of whom are members of A-DOG, should not be penalized for the acts of few irresponsible ones. Instead, enforcement should focus on those individuals actually causing the problems.

The Green Dog plan should help alleviate the many concerns people have about Arlington’s current dog situation. Other communities that have tried similar programs report greater compliance with the leash law, more self-policing by the dog-owning community, and, in the case of New York City which operates more than 40 “dog parks”, as well as shared-space and time in other parks, decreases in dog-related injuries to humans.
 
Our parks are public land. All of us, including dog owners, pay taxes to support and maintain this land. While some object to dog owners getting “special treatment” by setting aside some time and space for their activities, certainly the same argument would apply to soccer and Little League games, Pop Warner football, the cheerleading program and many other approved uses that prevent full use of a field by others for a few hours, or, sometimes all day long. A dog playing fetch would not necessarily preclude all other use of the park, and a dog group on one side of a field would not preclude other uses, though it is understood that some people would choose to avoid the park during these hours. The community spirit of shared-use has worked well in other cities and towns, and ought to be possible in our town, too.

The Green Dog plan includes user fees to help defray the costs of the program. Given the current budget challenges Arlington faces, many dog owners are willing to contribute in this manner to making an off-leash program more feasible. A-DOG supports such measures, provided these funds are used for purposes that strengthen the program and, thereby, benefit dog owners. In addition, as a nonprofit community organization, A-DOG would continue to contribute positively to worthy programs in Arlington. Such contributions could include funds and volunteer labor for efforts such as park clean-ups, construction and beautification of fenced off-leash areas, dog training and canine safety classes. Overall, by promoting a culture of responsible dog ownership, A-DOG is committed to contributing wherever possible to the success of Arlington’s Green Dog plan.