[BCNnet] Update re:Cook County dog parks
Birdchris@aol.com
Birdchris@aol.com
Wed, 7 Jan 2004 22:04:48 EST
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I wonder about the efficiency of birders spending a lot of time arguing about
dog park issues others than those related to protecting habitat and species.
And that boils down to siting, monitoring and enforcement.
Since birds can fly around and over fences, they probably are a neutral
factor to positive factor for birds (a lot of species use fences as perches for
hunting and singing, many glean insects from webs within the fences and some
raptors like to flush prey right into a fence so they can trap it more easily) and
birders. The cost is not our problem.
I'm usually more holistic in approaching land use problems, but on this
issue, the simpler, the better. Also, I figure it's up to the dog owners to
convince the CCFPD about all the thorny questions of liability, cost, construction,
etc. Why should birders help them get to answers about something we'd rather
they not suceed in establishing? The harder it is for them, the fewer dog parks
that will be successful.
And I can still say all this after a nasty, too close encounter with a pit
bull mix outside on farm house on the edge of the Kankakee Airport while on the
Christimas Bird Count. I backed the dog off, but afterward, I understood a lot
better that this breed could and would readily maul and kill someone.
Christine Williamson
Chicago/Cook
birdchris@aol.com
In a message dated 1/7/2004 4:23:07 PM Central Standard Time, csnp@uic.edu
writes:
To consider the liability that will be incurred because of the dog facilities
'inconsequential' is a huge mistake.
The liability needs to be carefully investigated. Does the dog owners group
have enough insurance to pay for the settlement that the County will end up
paying for the Dan Ryan Woods attacks. I suspect that a settlement of a million
dollars or more would end up on the forest preserve district.
What about breaks in the fence? Who is responsible for maintenance of the
fence. If a dog escapes through a breach in the fence and attacks someone outside
the fence is the FPDCC liable? Why not?
This is a case where the propose facility is not paying its full cost but
rather transferring the real cost to the FPDCC without the FPDCC knowing it.
Dennis Nyberg, TWSRP
At 03:15 PM 1/7/2004 -0500, you wrote:
FYI: Commissioner Suffredin withdrew his resolution (described below) based
on Supt.Bylina's info that no new dog parks will be considered until the Beck
Lake DFA pilot is evaluated in June.
Additional info that you may have missed in yesterday's emails: it has been
determined that the dog groups/owners pay the cost to build the DFA. Any
extra cost the FP may have to incur is considered inconsequential (and thus not a
reason to reject DFAs -- so don't bother mentioning it in any letters you
might send).
Randi Doeker
Chicago
In a message dated 1/6/2004 2:02:38 PM Central Standard Time,
bobolnk@ix.netcom.com writes:
Tomorrow at the Cook County Board meeting, Commissioner Suffredin will
introduce a motion to put a moratorium on any new dog parks in the Cook County
Forest Preserves, to allow for further public discussion and evaluation of the Beck
Lake pilot project.. This will allow time for all the issues to be sorted
out and a good approach to be developed. Can you send an e-mail to your County
Commissioner requesting that they support this resolution?
To find out who your commissioner is and how to contact him or her, check
this website: http://www.cookctyclerk.com/
Judy Pollock
jpollock@audubon.org
Dennis Nyberg, Steward
Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve
owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook Co.
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<DIV>
<DIV>I wonder about the efficiency of birders spending a lot of time arguing=
about dog park issues others than those related to protecting habitat and s=
pecies. And that boils down to siting, monitoring and enforcement.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Since birds can fly around and over fences, they probably are a neutral=
factor to positive factor for birds (a lot of species use fences as perches=
for hunting and singing, many glean insects from webs within the fences and=
some raptors like to flush prey right into a fence so they can trap it more=
easily) and birders. The cost is not our problem. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I'm usually more holistic in approaching land use problems, but on=
this issue, the simpler, the better. Also, I figure it's up to the dog owne=
rs to convince the CCFPD about all the thorny questions of liability, c=
ost, construction, etc. Why should birders help them get to answers about so=
mething we'd rather they not suceed in establishing? The harder it is for th=
em, the fewer dog parks that will be successful. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And I can still say all this after a nasty, too close encounter with a=20=
pit bull mix outside on farm house on the edge of the Kankakee Airport while=
on the Christimas Bird Count. I backed the dog off, but afterward, I unders=
tood a lot better that this breed could and would readily maul and kill some=
one.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Christine Williamson</DIV>
<DIV>Chicago/Cook</DIV>
<DIV><A href=3D"mailto:birdchris@aol.com">birdchris@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 1/7/2004 4:23:07 PM Central Standard Time, csnp@uic.=
edu writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue=20=
2px solid"><FONT face=3DArial>To consider the liability that will be incurre=
d because of the dog facilities 'inconsequential' is a huge mistake. <BR>The=
liability needs to be carefully investigated. Does the dog owners group hav=
e enough insurance to pay for the settlement that the County will end up pay=
ing for the Dan Ryan Woods attacks. I suspect that a settlement of a million=
dollars or more would end up on the forest preserve district.<BR>What about=
breaks in the fence? Who is responsible for maintenance of the fence. If a=20=
dog escapes through a breach in the fence and attacks someone outside the fe=
nce is the FPDCC liable? Why not?<BR>This is a case where the propose=20=
facility is not paying its full cost but rather transferring the real cost t=
o the FPDCC without the FPDCC knowing it.<BR>Dennis Nyberg, TWSRP<BR>At 03:1=
5 PM 1/7/2004 -0500, you wrote:<BR></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=3Dcite cite=3D"" type=3D"cite"><FONT face=3DArial>FYI:&nbs=
p; Commissioner Suffredin withdrew his resolution (described below) based on=
Supt.Bylina's info that no new dog parks will be considered until the Beck=20=
Lake DFA pilot is evaluated in June.<BR> <BR>Additional info that you m=
ay have missed in yesterday's emails: it has been determined that the=20=
dog groups/owners pay the cost to build the DFA. Any extra cost the FP=
may have to incur is considered inconsequential (and thus not a reason to r=
eject DFAs -- so don't bother mentioning it in any letters you might send).<=
BR> <BR>Randi Doeker<BR>Chicago<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>In a m=
essage dated 1/6/2004 2:02:38 PM Central Standard Time, bobolnk@ix.netcom.co=
m writes:<BR></FONT>
<DL>
<DD><FONT face=3DArial>Tomorrow at the Cook County Board meeting, Commission=
er Suffredin will introduce a motion to put a moratorium on any new dog park=
s in the Cook County Forest Preserves, <FONT size=3D2>to allow for further p=
ublic discussion and evaluation of the Beck Lake pilot project</FONT>.. =
; This will allow time for all the issues to be sorted out and a good approa=
ch to be developed. Can you send an e-mail to your County Commis=
sioner requesting that they support this resolution? <BR><BR></FONT>
<DD><FONT face=3DArial>To find out who your commissioner is and how to conta=
ct him or her, check this website: </FONT><A title=3Dhttp://www.cookctyclerk=
.com/ href=3D"http://www.cookctyclerk.com/"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>http=
://www.cookctyclerk.com/</FONT></A><FONT size=3D2></FONT><BR><BR>
<DD><FONT face=3DArial>Judy Pollock<BR></FONT>
<DD><FONT face=3DArial>jpollock@audubon.org <BR></FONT></DD></DL></BLOCKQUOT=
E><X-SIGSEP>
<P><FONT face=3DArial></X-SIGSEP></FONT>
<DL><FONT face=3DArial></FONT></DL><FONT face=3DArial>Dennis Nyberg, Steward=
<BR>Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve<BR>owned by the Forest Preserve Distric=
t of Cook Co. </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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