(USA) Dogs in New York

[Guest guest]

Saturday, September 9, 2006

South China Morning Post

 

NEW YORK

Dogs rule

 

RONG XIAOQING

 

Sometimes I think New Yorkers are barking mad. In much of the

world a dog may be seen as man's best friend, but in New York it is

the man (and woman) who is the dog's best friend. This is a city with

1.6 million children and 1.7 million dogs, and often it seems that

the four-legged residents get treated better than the two-legged

variety. And it doesn't cost them a thing.

Here is what dogs can do in New York in 2006: for health, they can

take nutrition counselling, nerve therapies or even acupuncture. For

appearance, they have hair salons, pedicures and fashion designers.

 

When they're hungry, the traditional idea of bones and meat scraps is

so yesterday. Organic doggie food is increasingly popular. For sports

and entertainment, there are dog costumed swimming and yoga lessons,

massage, parties and festivals. And the world's first Pet Fashion

Week took place in New York last month.

 

But New York's pooches aren't just pampered: they seem to be getting

so many rights that they might as well run the place. Dogs are

forcing their way into the city's posh cafes and restaurants - even

in places where they're banned. All it takes is for their owner to

carry a doctor's letter stating that the creature is an " emotional-

service dog " , and, therefore a vital, mental-health lifeline.

 

Last week, a New York court issued the first protection order for a

dog. The five-year-old Bichon Frise named Bebe belongs to a gay man

who left the animal in the care of his partner for a few days. When

the couple had a massive falling out over the phone, Bebe became a

target. He was beaten badly by his doggie-sitter, and Bebe's owner

sought the court's protection for himself and the animal. The man

accused of the assault now has to stay 100 metres away from his ex-

partner and the dog.

 

Indeed, dogs are the latest focus for the legal profession, creating

a new speciality within some law firms. The so-called dog lawyers

help prospective tenants get their dogs into no-pet apartments, or

pass a deceased owner's property to his inheriting dog. The fees for

these legal services are comparable to those for humans.

 

And now the dogs seem to be poised for another victory - this time

against a community organisation that has sued the city for not

enforcing a rule that dogs should be leashed in public parks.

According to the New York City health code, dogs in public should be

leashed on a lead no longer than six feet. But in the past two

decades, police have been encouraged to look the other way from 9pm

to 9am in parks where there are no dog runs. The community group,

though, argued that unleashed dogs are dangerous, accusing the city

of violating its own rules.

 

Instead of bending, city officials have vowed to change the rule for

the dogs' convenience - they will codify the free-roaming hours. If

it's a dog's life, I've decided I want to be one.