QUESTION 1
What are the rules in the dog run?

The following rules are posted at both gates and inside the run.

Gate Sign 1:
You are financially liable for any injury caused by your dog.
Please settle all vet bills with the owner before returning to the run

Gate Sign 2:
Neuter your dog to use the run safely. Unneutered dogs are likely to be attacked or provoke aggression.
(Puppies under 6 months get to keep'em)

Rules Board:
Please exercise common sense. Only enter with dogs that get along with other dogs and people.

1. No dogs without people. No people without dogs.

2. Tennis balls only. (No other dog toys, they cause fights)

3. Neuter/spay your dog to use the run safely. Intact dogs are likely to provoke aggression or be attacked. (Puppies under 6 months get to keep'em.)

4. Clean up after your dog.

5. Watch your dog at all times. Discourage barking and digging. If your dog digs a whole, fill it in.

6. No agrressive dogs. Do not let your dog pester or mount other dogs. Watch for signs of aggression.

7. No dogs in heat.

8. All dogs must be licensed and immunized. No dogs with communicable diseases or infections.

9. If your dog gets into a fight, exchange contact information and leave. You are financially responsible for any injury caused by your dog. Please settle all vet bills with the owner before returning to the run.

10. Bring children at your own risk. Kids must be with an adult and remained seated.

11. No spike, prong or pinch collars. However your dog must wear a collar or harness in the run.

12. No glass containers or food.

13. The small dog run is for dogs 23lbs. and under (and not for use by large breed puppies.)



QUESTION 2
Can I ask someone to leave if they are breaking the rules or if their dog is causing trouble?

ANSWER:
When the city officially sanctioned First Run, they mandated that the community post dog run rules and encourage responsible use of the park. However we are not law enforcement. You can politely point out a rule but egregious behavior should be reported to 911 or the park office directly in front of the run.

MONITORING THE RUN is the duty of all its users. It is up to us to patrol the activity of ALL dogs and request that owners remove an animal that may be "having a bad day." Dog squabbles are part of dog play. However DOG FIGHTS are not. Its OUR duty to prevent them before they occur and see that the posted rules are followed.



QUESTION 3
My dog was injured by another dog in the run. "Am I off-base in thinking that there is a responsibility on the part of the owner of a dog that bites my dog and causes medical damage?"

ANSWER:
Please download the Dog Owner's Guide to Small Claims Court.

The rule is that owners pay the medical bills of any dog attacked by their dog. This includes behavior by a dog that singles out another dog for attack or a dog that is clearly out of control for sometime. In such cases, the dog's owner must assume total responsibility and cover the cost of the entire vet bill.

However many dog fights fall into a gray area where it is hard to tell which dog is at fault. This includes dogs being bitten when play escalates out of control, or when one dogs mounts another and that dog turns around and bites. Its called "no fault" because neither of the dogs should have pursued the fight. I know it gets touchy figuring out which dog growled first, or whose behavior escalated, but they are dogs afterall. In these "no fault" situtations, the owners should split the costs of a necessary vet bill.

All of this gets exacerbated if a dog is in heat, near a heat cycle or unneutered. I mention this because this scenario concerns at least 1/2 the serious dog fights in the run.

The owner of a dog in heat (or near heat) should never be in the run in the first place. The owner of an unneutered dog should be within spitting distance of their dog and always on guard. These owners must assume the complete financial burden themselves since bringing an intact dog into the run is a known risk and they've assumed it -- as well as placed the rest of our dogs at risk. Warnings about intact males and females in heat are clearly posted on both gates of the run.



QUESTION 4
What is the off-leash rule in New York City parks? I heard that dogs were allowed off leash before 9 a.m and after 9 p.m.

ANSWER:
The Parks Department's long-standing "courtesy hours" are now a formal part of the Park Rules and Regulations. The policy states that with proof of current dog license and rabies vaccination, owners can allow dogs to run off-leash in certain designated areas from the time the park opens until 9 a.m. AND from 9 p.m. until the park closes.

Click here for a list of New York City parks with designated off-leash hours.