Prospect Park Vigilante Wages Canine Campaign
Off-leash dogs have driven one frequenter of Prospect Park cuckoo. According to a NY Post story yesterday, Orrin Tilevitz, merchant banker and ardent birder, has been waging a war against dog owners who let their dogs run free, blowing the whistle on them to the cops and posting videos of their off-leash carousing on his…
Off-leash dogs have driven one frequenter of Prospect Park cuckoo. According to a NY Post story yesterday, Orrin Tilevitz, merchant banker and ardent birder, has been waging a war against dog owners who let their dogs run free, blowing the whistle on them to the cops and posting videos of their off-leash carousing on his anti-dog blog. While plenty of people wish dog owners would keep better control of their dogs, a traumatic attack seems to have turned Tilevitz into something of an anti-dog zealot. According to one source in The Post story, Tilevitz routinely carries pepper spray around with him and recently used in on two dogs. The major problem seems to be, according to a blog post by Tilevitz on Committee for Responsible Dog Ownership, “The presence of unleashed dogs interferes with–prevents–our ability–and right–to watch birds.” One of Tilevitz’s trademark “gotcha” videos in embedded in the post.
Vigilante Unleashes Dogs of War [NY Post]
Photo by rlj
some dog owners are just nuts, it has to be said. One crazy woman on my block lets her dog jump over the tree guards to poop, amid the flowers, in the tree pit. Could anything be nuttier and more thoughtless? Another fairly young peron lets her dog off-leash on the sidewalk. I mean, sometimes crazy people get pets to help them cope with the world, and sometimes that shows on the street.
Between the crazy dog-haters and the equally crazy dog-lovers, it’s a jungle out there.
petunia- the only way I would ever pepper spray an animal is if i were directly fending off an attack. And then i would be sure to pepper spray the moron of an owner for putting his/her dog in such a position by their own irresponsibility. As far as litterbugs go, they don’t frighten people nearly so much as a dog- that probably explains it.
I love dogs and birds. My children, dog and I all enjoy the off-leash hours at the park immensely. I sincerely believe that off-leash time, used *responsibly*, can head off behavior problems in dogs because many of them need a level of exercise that their owners cannot provide by simply walking them – not everyone can jog several miles a day w/ their dog.
However, I see way too many people in the park just turn their dogs loose without the appropriate training and direction, and then the dog causes headaches for others enjoying the park. Dogs are like kids in the sense that it’s your responsibility to guide and manage their behavior, if left to themselves the choices they make won’t be good ones. I’d say that 99% of this bad behavior is directed at other dogs though, not at humans in the park. If all owners worked on a good, solid recall for their dogs, that would solve a majority of the problems.
And I’m totally fine with people being ticketed for letting their dogs run in the woods – it’s completely selfish to let your dog chase the little critters that live there.
The “lady with the walking stick” mentioned in the Post article, with the two “jack russells” (actually, they’re rat terriers)? PLEASE, by all means let a birdwatcher pepper-spray her – that’s Marcia, she lets her dogs hunt squirrels and rabbits in the park. I’ve seen her many times, the police have given her many tickets but that’s all they can do. But please don’t pepper-spray the dog, it’s not their fault, it’s the blockheaded owner who should pay.
I also wonder why the same level of hostility and ticketing efforts aren’t directed at the weekend litterers. These people know exactly what they’re doing, and their (in)actions have a hugely negative impact on the park, way more than the occasional annoying dog.
first of all, the guy was attacked by a dog so it’s understandable that he feels this way. Secondly- as anyone who has every read the NY Post and knows it is a junk paper that practices witchunting, not journalism- the article is more on the order of a character assassination, not reportage. They call him a vigilante in the headline, barely mention the fact he was attacked, and pretty much slanted the article to make him sound like an irresponsible nut, instead of the dog owners who don’t respect the law or other people. He carries pepper spray to protect himself- because he was attacked.
I love dogs, I think dog runs are a great idea- but I don’t feel dog owners are entitled to them, and if a dog owner is irresponsible enough to disobey the law, they shouldn’t have a dog. (I also think parents who can’t control their kids need to get parenting classes too but that’s another story).
Dog owners should be responsible — of course. People also need to chill out. Sometimes you have to tolerate something even if you don’t like it. If there’s no one around, I sometimes let my dog off leash “off hours”. I don’t see what the big deal is. Sometimes little kids come over, pet my dog, throw the ball — it’s fun stuff.
… and if someone even tried to use pepper spray on my dog, I would absolutely kick their fucking ass in.
In an area where most people do not have backyards, there is a genuine need for people to let their dogs get exercise in public areas. Unless you are a runner, it’s difficult to do that with a leash. Anybody who’s been to Prospect park before 9am knows that the off leash hours are extremely popular and generally respected.
I really don’t see what’s so hard about following the rules, which are designed to allow people with different needs share the parks without getting in each others’ way. In my experience the vast majority of people do follow the rules.
FYI, New York legally defines pets as property. Calling your dog your roommate is cute, but it’s bullshit.
As a dog owner who lives nearby, I don’t understand why a park as large as Prospect Park does not have a dog run. It would probably reduce the need for owners to go off leash in the park. The dog beach is okay in the summer, but even then it’s stressful to be there when the stroller moms have their kids off leash who run up to “pet” (ie. pull your dog’s ears/tail while screaming) your dog. End rant.
I love dogs. Dogs aren’t the problem. Dog owners are the problem. Almost ten years ago when my son was 9 years old, a bull terrier went after him in Owl’s Head Park and bit him pretty badly on his leg…he still has very noticeable scars from the incident. This dog was doing what I believe someone trained him to do, as my son was not even aware that this dog was around (nor was I) until the attack was in full swing. Unfortunately I injured the dog while defending my son. I’m not proud of that, but tell me who wouldn’t do whatever it takes to defend your own child? As for the owners, their attitude was one of callous indifference. Even now I can honestly say I feel sorry for the dog that attacked my son for having such shitty owners.
Dog owners, just obey the law. That’s all we ask. If you don’t like the law, then by all means try to change it, but for now, obey it.
I don’t have any problem with a guy pepper-spraying a dog that is running at him and whose intentions he can’t determine. I love dogs and wouldn’t WANT to pepper-spray one, but you can’t know for sure what a dog’s intentions are when it comes barreling down a path at you.
If dog owners don’t want their dogs to get hurt, they should keep them on a leash or in the designated off-leash areas at the designated times. That’s not exactly a tough request.