Sir, Many welcome Dublin South County Council's offer to set aside public lands for a 50 metre swimming pool, but the local dog owners must also feel the injustice of that offer being made when the same council has proposed legislation that severely limits their rights to exercise themselves by exercising their dogs in public areas.
Taking Towser for a romp in the park may not produce sporting heroes like Michelle Smith, but it is an activity that gets more people out and about than any other single sport. Unlike most sports, we don't have a governing body to keep score, give gold medals, or lobby politicians. But, also unlike most sports, our activity is common to participants from all economic and age groups and appeals to people of all fitness levels.
We also make up a large section of the populace: one in every three households in Ireland owns a dog, one in every two in Dublin. Like participants in other sports, the dog owners reap the benefits of increased physical fitness, wider social contact and enhanced health.
County councils and urban corporations have no trouble setting aside land, either permanently or at certain times, for sports and leisure activities ranging from football to polo, but they are steadily criminalising the simple act of exercising our dogs in the park. Surely some accommodation can be made for us. Certain areas of large parks could be made available for our use, or we could be limited to the free use of the parks at hours when the parks are almost empty, such as early morning and late afternoon/early evening. Our presence then could actually make the parks safer for everyone. - Yours, etc.,
Lower Kimmage Road,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.