Dog Related Diseases

    The council for the Bureau of Municipal Reasearch asked a Chief Public Health Inspector of one of Metropolitan Toronto's Boroughs (prior  the amalgamation)  for his views on the risks of viral or parasitic infection , particularly to young children , from contact with animal excreta on
streets , in parks and playgrounds .
He said that such infection is possible , but in his considerable experience he has never seen a case which could be ascribed to this source .
The Inspector believes that this is true because of the goodhealth care we give our dogs and the good personal hygiene of humans .   So it is very unlikely that people could catch any diseases from dogs .
However , stray dogs could be a source of diseases , as they are apt to be less healthy .
Dr Louis L . Vine D.V.M and author of "The Total Dog Book" and "Your Neurotic Dog" says "I should like to explode two fallacies about dogs and children .
Children do not get pinworms or any other worms from dogs --- Children are not succeptable to distemper or any other Viral disease of dogs ."
Bruce Fogle , Veterinary Surgeon and Author of "Pets and their People " says , "When I was a young teenager , masturbation was supposed to be the greatest cause of blindness .
Now it's dog dung ."

    However , the Masters of dogs should Stoop & Scoop , because dog feces can attract insects , rodents and wild animals , which can be a source of danger and disease .   Also , dog feces can be a great inconvenience and aesthetically very offensive .
Would you allow dog excrement to pile up in your private yard ?
The parks and grounds of apartment buildings are communal areas , where all people may picnic , sit on the grass and play games .
Please , Stoop & Scoop !

                     Dogs and the Law

  The Ontario ( Canada ) Dog Licensing and Live Stock and Poultry Protection Act states ;
4.  (1) "By-laws may be passed by the Council of a local
            municipality for prohibiting or regulating the             running at large of dogs in the municipality or in any defined area thereof , for the seizing and impounding and for killing , whether before or after impounding , dogs running at large , contrary to the by-law , and selling dogs so impounded , at such time and in such manner as is povided by the by-law."

    (2) "For the purpose of this ssection , a dog shall be deemed to
          be running at large when found in any place other than the
          premises of the owner of the dog and not under the control of
          any person ."
    (3) "Every owner of a dog who allows it to run at large contrary
          to a by-law made under this section is guilty of an offence
          and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more
than $50 ."

    The Key wording in 4. (2) is "And not under the control of any person"  Now, that tells me that it is Not against the Law to have your dog off leash .
Control can be by voice commands if the dog is so trained that he/she will obey.
However, I feel that it is necessary to have our Companion Dogs on a leash when near traffic and in congested areas.

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