Hi,

It looks as though I have a work committment on Thursday night and will be
unable to attend the off-leash task force meeting. Would you be able to attend?
The meeting is Thursday, April 19, at 6:30 in room 222 at city hall.

Ann

Hello NewDogChat member,

I am resending this email to members of the NewDogsChat on-line discussion
group.  If you receive this and want to discuss with other members, just hit
"reply"

Ann
*************************************
Off-leash task force - Are you wondering what's happening?

Not much. The draft ordinance and report were completed in November. Alderman
Susan Albright made a brief presentation before the Conservation Commission in
December and will be making a presentation to the Parks and Recreation
Commission on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26. I had been waiting to find out the time and
place, but have not yet been given that information. If you are interested in
attending, email me at newtondogs@... and I'll let you know when I have
details.

The task force has been instructed by the aldermen to set up a meeting with dog
owners to discuss the proposed ordinance, but have not yet done so. I'll let you
know if/when this meeting is set up.

It may not surprise you that I am beginning to loose patience with this process.
It was over three years ago, in December 2003, when we held a very well attended
and informative public hearing on establishing legal off-leash areas in Newton
(and when this email list was created). The Aldermen appointed task force began
meeting in spring 2005 and through a painfully slow process crafted a draft
ordinance http://www.newtondogs.org/draftordinance.pdf . During this time there
has been very little for dog owners to do, except keep walking their dogs.
Puppies have grown into mature dogs, well loved companions have passed on. And
we have made very little progress towards establishing any legal off-leash
areas.

I have to admit, I am not optimistic that the end result will be of much value.
While the proposed ordinance enables the establishment of legal off-leash areas,
it creates a rather cumbersome process by which these areas will be created. It
is quite possible that even if the proposed ordinance is passed that no legal
off-leash areas will ever be established.

In light of this the NewtonDogs organization needs to reexamine its purpose.
Over the past two years the organization has become inactive, aside from
maintaining this email group and website (www.newtondogs.org). Once the task
force was formed we took the position of being non-confrontational, giving the
task force an opportunity to do its job. Since no active member of NewtonDogs
was appointed to the task force, there hasn't been much for us to do.

But at some point the draft ordinance will be presented to the aldermen for
approval. First to the Programs and Services subcommittee, then, if it makes it
through that process, before the full Board of Aldermen. It is unclear to me if
the draft ordinance is in the best interest of Newton dog owners and whether
NewtonDogs should support the draft ordinance, lobby against it, or fight for
changes.

If NewtonDogs is going to respond in any way to the draft ordinance we need a
new, fresh group of dog owning citizens to look at the draft ordinance, speak
with fellow dogs owners, friends, and neighbors, decide how we should respond,
and take action.

I am willing to set up a meeting in a few weeks when interested dog owners can
review and discuss the draft ordinance, but only if there are people interested
in getting involved and taking this on. If you are interested, send me an email
at newtondogs@... and let me know. If there is interest I will arrange a
meeting and notify everyone of the time and place (maybe during  the week of
March 19).

If you would like to discuss this on-line with other Newton dogs owners, please
join NewDogsChat, our on-line discussion group. To join go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewDogsChat/

I hope to hear from you.

Ann Dorfman
NewtonDogs

Yes, I'd be happy to review the proposed ordinance.

Linda

-----Original Message-----
From: NewDogsChat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NewDogsChat@yahoogroups.com]On
Behalf Of Ann Dorfman
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 8:19 AM
To: newdogschat@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NewDogsChat] Draft Ordinance


Hi NewDogsChat members,

I have received a request from Alderman Marcia Johnson asking if I could send
her names and addresses of some dog owners that might like to review the
proposed ordinance. Are any of you interested? I would be curious to have a
discussion about the ordinance and report through this discussion group too, so
I encourage you to respond here as well. Below are links to both the ordinance
and the report.

I know for some this is a busy time of year, so we don't need to address this
immediately, but I just received the request from Alderman Johnson so I thought
I'd send this out before I forget.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts. To respond to the group I believe you
just hit reply.

Ann Dorfman

Draft ordinance: http://www.newtondogs.org/draftordinance.pdf

Draft report: http://www.newtondogs.org/draftreport.pdf.



Yahoo! Groups Links

Hi NewDogsChat members,

I have received a request from Alderman Marcia Johnson asking if I could send
her names and addresses of some dog owners that might like to review the
proposed ordinance. Are any of you interested? I would be curious to have a
discussion about the ordinance and report through this discussion group too, so
I encourage you to respond here as well. Below are links to both the ordinance
and the report.

I know for some this is a busy time of year, so we don't need to address this
immediately, but I just received the request from Alderman Johnson so I thought
I'd send this out before I forget.

I am interested in hearing your thoughts. To respond to the group I believe you
just hit reply.

Ann Dorfman

Draft ordinance: http://www.newtondogs.org/draftordinance.pdf

Draft report: http://www.newtondogs.org/draftreport.pdf.

Hi NewDogsChat folks,

I am curious to know what people are thinking about the direction the task force
is going and what you think of their draft proposal.
http://www.newtondogs.org/taskforcenotes.htm#June06

So far I have tried not to take a public position on their work, so as not to be
percieved as negatively impacting the outcome, but as they come closer to a
final draft I realize I need to receive more feedback from dog owners, so that
NewtonDogs can more honestly formulate a response that reflects the opinions of
members of NewtonDogs.

What are you thinking about the proposal? Do you think it will work?

PS, there are currently only 10 people signed up for the NewDogsChat.

Ann

-----Original Message-----
From: NewDogsChat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NewDogsChat@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rick Charnes
Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 8:29 PM
To: newdogschat@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NewDogsChat] Dogwalker in West Newton?

Hello, my Golden Retriever passed away eight years ago and it's time for me
to get another dog.  I'm away at work during the day and would need a
dogwalker to walk him or her around 1 pm or so.  Can anyone make
recommendations for someone they know who could come to West Newton?

Hello, my Golden Retriever passed away eight years ago and it's time for me
to get another dog.  I'm away at work during the day and would need a
dogwalker to walk him or her around 1 pm or so.  Can anyone make
recommendations for someone they know who could come to West Newton?

Welcome to NewDogsChat.

This is a new, loosly moderated, email discussion group for Newton dog
owners. We hope this will become a lively communications tool and
helpful way for Newton dog owners to help and learn from each other.

Ann Dorfman
NewtonDogs