Dog walkers take proposed Needham dog regulations in stride
Commercial dog walkers are hardly barking mad about proposed new dog regulations, which include asking commercial dog walkers to pay a fee, carry a permit and limit the number of dogs they walk at the same time.
“Any pet care professional not comfortable with the regulations is not doing the right thing,” said Rob Nager, the owner of Decadent Dog in Needham.
The proposed regulations, as they pertain to commercial dog walkers, include the institution of a permitting fee; requirements that the dog walker carry the permit while on the job and have a placard on his or her car; a limit to five dogs to be walked at a time; and the requirement that dog walkers be insured and bonded.
Commercial dog walkers are also expected to follow the town’s proposed pooper-scooper law and proposed bans at Memorial and DeFazio parks and on school grounds during school hours.
Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick said the town plans to meet with commercial dog walkers before any more specific proposals are brought forth.
“We’ll reach out to some of them, bring them in and get their feedback,” Fitzpatrick said.
Board of Selectmen Chairman John Bulian said the town would set its fees based on what other comparable towns are doing. He said commercial dog walkers have been an issue for the town’s animal control officer, Danielle Landry.
“It’s a problem to enough of a degree that it has gotten our attention,” Bulian said. “[Landry] is challenged by the number of dog walkers who let dogs off-leash in the Town Forest and Ridge Hill. It’s one thing when have your own dog and have it under voice control. How would a commercial dog walker walking five to 10 dogs maintain any sort of control over them?”
Nager said it’s “great” that the town is looking to regulate commercial dog walkers.
“Part of the problem is that there are companies who are local and outside of Boston who bring nine to 10 dogs and they let them roam off-leash as a pack,” Nager said. “It’s irresponsible and it’s tough to control that many dogs. It’s impossible to clean up.”
He said he already walks no more than four dogs at a time and makes sure to clean up after “every single dog.” He said he never uses Memorial Park for his clients’ dogs and only uses DeFazio Park during the winter.
Nager did admit to heavily using the Town Forest and Ridge Hill and letting the dogs off-leash there. He would welcome the proposed dog park and designated off-leash times, which would allow him to exercise the dogs within town guidelines.
“As a professional dog walker, because of leash laws, pretty much anywhere we go we realize we’re not upholding the law,” Nager said. “It’s a risk we take because we need to. The fine is the cost for doing business. We avoid places where kids go.”
He cited Centennial Park in Wellesley, in which people can let off-leash up to two dogs registered in the town, as a potential model for designating an area where dogs can be off-leash.
“It works out well,” Nager said. “People know it’s a park where you bring your dogs off-leash.”
Stacy Bias, who owns Creature Comforts out of West Roxbury, also has clients in Needham. She said has no problem with the proposed regulations and follows most of them already.
“I agree we should make sure every dog walking company is insured and bonded; we are insured and bonded,” Bias said. “As far as having no more than five dogs, I agree with that as well. We don’t do that. We do single-home walks. It’s a good compromise.”
Both Bias and Nager are curious about the fee structure, with Bias withholding opinion on the fee until the town settles on a structure. They also both have no problem with a proposed stipulation allowing elementary, high school and college students to walk up to two dogs for a fee without being subject to the commercial dog walker regulations.
“They do it in the summer and it’s more word of mouth,” Bias said, noting it wouldn’t handicap her business. “It’s more a hazard to the owner than to me.”
Copyright 2010 Needham Times. Some rights reserved
Picture caption: 6/17 ND - Robert Nager of Decadent Dog walks Molly an Airedale terrier and Louie a Briard (L to R) in Needham's Cutler Park on Tuesday, June 15.
