media contact:
Mark Turner
Abrams Artists, NYC
(646) 486-4600
mark.turner@abramsart.com
Source: NYCOffleash.com
Background A brief review of what got us to this point:
- In May 2006, a small Queens civic association filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court seeking to end the successful 20-year policy of allowing dogs off-leash during the limited hours of 9pm-closing, and opening to 9am in designated locations in NYC parks that donít have a dog run.
- On August 29, 2006 the case was heard in State Supreme Court and the judge has said he would rule in the case. Typically, rulings are issued within 12 weeks of hearing oral argument.
- In September 2006, the NYC Parks Department asked the NYC Health Department to amend Article 161.05 of the Health Code (commonly called the “Leash Law”) to clarify the power of the NYC Parks Commissioner to allow dogs off the leash as per Section 1-04 of the Parks regulations (Click here to view the Health and Parks regulations). The Health Department began the amendment process by publishing their proposed amendments (Click here to view the proposed amendments.)
- If the Health Board passes the proposed amendments to the “Leash Law”, clarifying the power of the NYC Parks Commissioner, it will likely render any legal judgment from the State Supreme Court moot. Most likely, the judge wouldn’t even issue a ruling.
Health Board Hearing On November 1st, 2006 the NYC Health Board held a public hearing from 2pm-5pm at the Health Department at 125 Worth Street in Manhattan. The NYC Health Board is a group of public health professionals that work for the NYC Health Department who have the power to amend the City Health Code.
Prior to the 2pm hearing, the New York Council of Dog Owner Groups (NYCdog.org) held a news conference in Foley Square Park, across the street from the Health Department. TV crews and reporters from NY1, CBS, NBC, FOX, UPN, Daily News, 1010WINS, and 880 WCBS Radio attended, in addition to several other smaller news outlets. NY City Council Member Gale A. Brewer, among others, spoke at the NYCdog press conference strongly in favor of the proposed amendments. News coverage has been extensive and generally supportive of the amendments.
Inside the Health Department 2nd floor auditorium, the Health Board brought the hearing to order at exactly 2pm. Health Department Commissioner Thomas Frieden, a supporter of the amendments, attended part of the hearing… [ read full article on NYC Offleash ]
Parvene Farhoody
, a noted animal behaviorist from Manhattan, is interviewed by the news media at the NYCdog press conference. Inside the Health Board hearing Ms. Farhoody spoke strongly in favor of preserving and strengthening the park Offleash Hours policy.
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Parvene Farhoody provides private consultation with pet owners every day, instructing them in how to be attentive, engaged, and effective with their pets, for a whole new relationship with the animals they love most. She owns and operates Behavior Matters, Inc., an Animal Behavior Consulting and Training service in New York City. She is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT), Vice President of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), as well as a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC) and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Ms. Farhoody holds a Diploma of Canine Behavior from Cynology College. She is Assess-A-Pet and Train-to-Adopt Certified by the Community Animal Shelter Association for both evaluating rescue dogs for placement and teaching staff and volunteers at rescue facilities about quality-of-life issues for rescue dogs. In addition to consulting with shelters, volunteer groups, professional trainers, and the public, Parvene has been featured on local and national television-The Learning Channel and NickelodeonJr. For more information on The Protected Pet Initiative, Parvene Farhoody or Behavior Matters, Inc. please visit www.behaviormatters.com or call 718.424.7556.