Ithaca Dog-Friendliness Survey

1. What is your favorite place (in or around Ithaca) to walk your dog?

• Allan Treman State Park because it's a great social area for dogs to meet other dogs and people to meet other dog owners. I've NEVER seen anyone NOT clean up after there dog. I've never seen my dog so happy on the ride to the park because he knows where we are going and he has a blast. I will be extremely happy this summer of 05 because we just found out we got a boat slip at Treman. Gee, won't Arthur "what's his name" be mad at us... Oh, too bad.
• Allan Treman Marine park is our favorite spot to take our dog Buddy. Being off the leash allows him to socialize with many other dogs and people which makes him happy and more fun to be with. We also like the South Hill Recreation Trail, but it isn't as dog friendly.
• Ithaca Land Trust Nature Preserve on Ellis Hollow Creek Road
• on leash every day Fall Creek neighborhood, sometimes off leash at park by marina
• Fall Creek, my neighborhood; Buttermilk Falls (by IC); Cass Park
• Treman Marina [Allan H. Treman State Marine Park]
• Treman Marina. By far the best spot.
• The Treman Marina Dog park is a fantastic opportunity for my dog to play with other well behaved dogs and to meet wonderful people.
• The dog park...when it's not being patrolled! Monkey Run. Fingerlakes trail...Connecticut Hill.
• Alan Treman Park. Six Mile Creek trail. Taughannock Falls trail.
• I like to walk my dog at the park informally known as the Dog Park, and at Buttermilk or Lower Treman.
• Used to be dog park. Now it is the six mile creek trail. We have a new puppy and we have been told to keep him away from other adult dogs until he grows. That and ofcourse Arthur has made us less frequenter of the dog park.
• 1. Treman Marina "Dog" Park and nearby paths. 2. Six Mile Creek trails. 3. Upper/Lower Treman Park. 4. Buttermilk Falls. 5. Cornell University Campus and trails
• The Dog Park next to Treman Marina. My dog and I go to many places to run around together -- cemeteries, state parks, the playing gields around the schools. The only place we're assured that people won't object to her being off-leash is at The Dog Park. Hooray for it!
• Treman Marina (favorite). Trail off Game Farm Road. Myers Point, Lansing.
• We had for 20 years loved to walk our dogs off lead at Allan Treman Park in the grassy area adjacent to the marina and in Cass Park on lead on the walking trail.
• Dog Park, Six Mile Path, Commons

2. In what ways would you consider Ithaca to be a dog-friendly town?

• I considered Ithaca a dog-friendly town until we allowed an attorney from Binghamton to tell us what to do. It amazes me that one mean spirited individual can ruin a tradition that dates back more than 30 years.
• I believe most area's in Ithaca are pretty dog friendly with the exception of people who do not like dogs.
• People in general tend to love and accept dogs. Good pet store (Ithaca Grain). Good place to board your pet (Lucia's Pet Resort).
• At least there is an off leash park area and a critical mass of people and dogs who use it to make it viable and fun. There appears to be an active aand committed SPCA presence making an attempt to place most of the dogs they receive, though I have heard some negative things and know that at least one staff member left in protest of untrained screeners and unnecessay euthanasias.
• There are more dog owners here than anywhere I've lived. That's what makes Ithaca dog-friendly.
• I honestly don't think Ithaca is all that dog friendly. On the surface it kind of appears that way but if you consider how landlords won't rent to dog owners, businesses complain about having dogs in their shopping area, dogs aren't allowed in lots of places that you would see them in Europe.The problem at the Treman Marina "dog park" is another example where dogs and their owners are not really being allowed to enjoy the unused parts of the park for off leash play.
• There are nice business people - the UPS Store, Ithaca Grain, PAWS, Oasis. Most cafes let people eat outside with their dogs. The dog park is great. People generally like dogs.
• Most people I meet like dogs. Generally, when walking my dog, people smile and want to pet her. We have the number one veterinary school in the country! There are lots of very nice pet stores and many training and fun opportunities.
• Dog park, when it's not being patrolled. Dogs at the Farmers Market. Dogs at the Chapter House. Doggy Daycare.
• Great independent pet store on the commons, nderstanding community, dog-friendly businesses like Wownet Cafe.
• I don't think that it is, particularly, dog-friendly. There are several small business devoted to pets, which I think is great, and we have a nice SPCA, but I don't think I would characterize Ithaca as pet friendly....
• People like dogs. There are lots of dog oriented activities here which makes this place great.
• Presence of an incredible variety of parks and trails. Excellent veterinary care available. Good number of training groups and instructors. Many community-spirited dog owners. Many dog-friendly businesses.
• Well, we have a dog park. That's very important to a dog owner. I don't know how to emphasize this enough. Maybe you could think of it as a playground. You know how parents like to take their young children to playgrounds where they can run and stretch their muscles and engage with other children and the parents can meet and talk with another, too. If you don't have a dog you might not appreciate how important this is. But talk to any dog owner!
• Ithaca has a long way to go to be a dog-friendly town. You would think with a Veterinary School located here would really help to make it dog-friendly!
• Past tolerance of off leash area at the Allen Treman Park. The wonderful community of owners and theur dogs at said park. SPCA no kill policy. Wonderfully skilled veternarians and services for dogs.
• Some stores, bars, and other eating establishments allow you to bring your dog with you, at least sitting outside.

3. What could be done to make Ithaca more dog-friendly?

• I'm not sure right at the moment, but why can the area at Treman be left alone to dogs and people who want to socialize their animals. It's been that way for 20 some years I hear and it's nice to walk around down by the lake. Dogs like to swim, too!
• Officially name Treman Marine park as a dog park.
• Outlaw chained, outdoor dogs (very common in the more rural areas of and around ithaca). Until last year, dogs could be kept chained outdoors 24/7 with no shelter at all, even throughout our winters. Now, there is a state law requiring a basic shelter/doghouse, but dogs can still be chained outside 24/7 which is intensely cruel for a social animal, as well as medically dangerous (common outdoor dog maladies include parasites from living and defecating in the same area, dehydration due to frozen water or heat of summer, and countless grisly injuries from getting hung up by their chains). We should try to do something about this.
• Allow dogs on the Commons. Dog owners are out and about; why not let them window shop? Then of course the dog park.
• legalize the off leash dog park
• What makes Ithaca extremely uninviting to dog owners is a lack of NICE rental property available to them, the lack of a dog park, and laws that make it illegal for one to even have a dog at certain parks. For example, I live very near Stewart Park, but there is a no dog policy there. Getting back to the lack of affordable, nice rental property available to dog owners: I'm well-employed, well-educated, very responsible and pay my bills on time. I should have more available to me in terms of decent, affordable, pet-friendly housing.
• A serious effort by a group of dog owners to appeal to the city for some ordinance or waivers to allow dogs in public areas, within certain guidelines (and I don't mean on leash everywhere). The community as a whole should also be involved in coming up with a reasonable place for an off leash dog area that is large enough and allows access to the lake (Treman is perfect for this). The Treman Marina "dog" area already draws people from surrounding communities who come specifically to let their dogs enjoy some off leash playtime. These same people will go to stores and restaurants and bring business to the area.
• Periodic dog events held here to draw people into the area: ie: dog shows, competitions, conferences, fun events for the community, winter snow dog sculpture park...
• Make the dog park a legal off-leash area and make dogs on the Commons legal. Both could be regulated so that problem dog owners (don't clean up, don't make sure their pet plays nice) were banned or fined. But don't make the possibility of a few problem people lead to everyone being banned! We let the wineries run tasting rooms even though some small percentage of folks go to several & wind up driving drunk afterwards - letting dogs run off leash in the marina is way less dangerous than that!
• Make the Treman Marina a legal off-leash park for dogs. Allow dogs into more stores (other than food stores, obviously).
• Have an official off-leash dog park
• In Washington Park in downtown Albany NY there are poop bag dispensers. Ithaca could have more dog related events, maybe next year Oct 30 doggie costume parade could be on the Commons first. Bainbridge NY is doing something similar on the 30th with a march down their main street.
• The area in Alan Treman park that has long been an unofficial dog space must be made a legal off-leash dog park; it will ensure that dog owners can go there without concern of bothering others or being ticketed, it would give our dogs a chance to socialize and learn to be safe with other dogs, and it would ensure that dogs would not go off leash at any other Ithaca public space.
• Definitely having an official "dog park" would be a big plus. Allowing dogs on the Commons. More dogs on Cornell campus.
• A dog park where dogs could run off leash without the owners getting ticketed. I still can't figure out why you can't take dogs to the Commons.
• Make Treman Marina Park an official off-leash dog park. Allow dogs on the Commons--police the idiots rather than punish the good owners.
• Make the dog park official. Dedicate the land, cut a ribbon, plant a wooden sign saying Ithaca Dog Park, and let it be known that this space is dedicated to dogs. Thanks.
• Legal dog park would be a great idea! Encourage more dog friendly businesses in the area.
• For the state and City of Ithaca to make an off-lead dog park where responsible dog owners can run their dogs off lead without fear of harrassment or the humiliation of ticketing. Since the largest majority of dogs seen in the A. Treman Park seem to be swimming dogs it would make sense to have water access for those who like to take a dip. We would like to see this remain at Treman PArk since it is the most accessible area. Those without cars can walk there and there are facilities existing. We actually have stopped taking our dog to Treman because of the ticketing. I have shoulder problems which make taking my 125lb elderly lame dog on lead difficult.I think the community needs to realize that both young and old people and dogs use our parks and accommodations need to be made so that we all can use and enjoy to the best of our abilities. Isn't the dog after all wo/man's best friend? They work for us as service dogs, therapy dogs, search dogs but also just give pure love and enjoyment. As dog-lovers we want to give them recreation and the sheer joy of socialization with others.
• Lighten up on the Commons restrictions.

Please share your ideas as to how we can make Ithaca a better place for dogs and their people. Take the survey yourself!