Residents Oppose Off-Leash Dogs
Last month, some residents of B-Block had a war of words with some people who walk their dogs in the neighbouring park. A person has been walking their dog in the B-Block Park without a leash. The dog likes to run up to people, and this scares those who walk in the park. Also, pet owners were not cleaning the mess made by their pets either. Requests to the person to leash their dog fell on deaf ears as they insisted that the dog was friendly and did not bite. Matters escalated when other residents also started bringing their pets to the same park, albeit without a leash. As request after request was ignored, the war of words reached a crescendo one late evening. One RWCS guard was informed, who immediately rushed to intervene and told the dog walker to leash their pet. A short video of the altercation also was posted on the sector’s WhatsApp groups.
As per the residents, for a few days, the dog walker leashed their dog. However, one early morning, the dog walker let their dog free of the leash while the said residents were doing yoga in the park. The residents protested this, saying that the dog could have been walked on the opposite side of the park and not where yoga was being done. This led to another round of words, and this led to, subsequently, the family of the dog walker and other supporters too turning up. Uncivilised words were said, and even open threats were made to the protestors. This has led to the residents wondering what the coming days will be like.
Residents have shared with Samvada pictures of notice boards of Noida Authority in the parks of B-Block which read that dogs are not allowed in the park. They are requesting understanding on the part of pet owners – that some people may be scared of animals, particularly dogs. They are asking for pet owners to clean up the pet poop too.
The question of restricting dogs hinges on balancing the use of parks between dog owners and others, particularly those who may be negatively impacted by dogs. While most dog owners act responsibly, some, unfortunately, cause issues by leaving waste behind, allowing dogs off-leash, or excusing aggressive behaviour. These actions often discourage families and individuals from using the parks, especially those with young children or those who have had negative experiences with dogs.
Accommodating those with a fear, allergy, or other aversion to dogs by providing designated times or spaces free from dogs supports inclusive use of public areas. And this must be weighed against the restrictions it places on dog owners.
Sector 26 NOIDA has ample outdoor space. Maybe RWCS, along with NOIDA Authority and animal groups, can find a solution that can cater to different kinds of groups: dog walkers, families, people celebrating, runners, cyclists (transport and recreational), people wanting a place to sit and read and more.
