Rye Town Park Has Gone to the Dogs, Literally

If the coyotes aren't enough, Rye has a new four-legged threat in the form of a rogue pit bull at Rye Town Park, the latest in a series of dog incidents at the park, giving rise to the question: Is it a park or a barking lot?

Last week, a pit bull bit a security guard on his right bicep at the park. Rye Town Park Director Fred Gioffre confirmed the incident after being contacted by Rye Patch.

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"One of our security guards was bitten by a pit bull at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 27 while patrolling the park," Gioffre said. "Unfortunately the owners were able to leave the park without a clear ID of who they were. Ralph Hanson [the security guard] was treated by Rye Police and the wound was bandaged."

Hanson also received a rabies shot after being bit by the pit bull, described as brown in color with a white stomach. When the incident happened, the dog was on a 30-foot leash and using every inch of it, disturbing bystanders in the process when Hanson tried to restore order, only to be bitten by the dog, who was then scooped up by its owner who promptly fled the scene in a black BMW.

"That's the story making the rounds by the early morning dog walkers at Rye Town Park, although nobody knows the pit bull or the owner," said Anne McCarthy-Astin, spokesperson for the Dog Friends of Rye Town Park, as well as a member of the newly formed Rye Town Park Advisory Committee.

McCarthy-Astin said the Dog Friends of Rye Town Park is made up of about 100 residents who love spending time there with their dogs.

 "Many of us are at the park every morning," McCarthy-Astin said. "We see the presence of dogs at the park as a positive. Firstly, Rye Town Park isn't covered in Canadian Geese droppings.  This is entirely because of the dog presence.  Secondly, dog owners consistently clean up the park. We are always picking up garbage, glass and other dog droppings. It's not that we're virtuous; it's that we have a vested interest in keeping the area clean where our dogs run and play." 

McCarthy-Astin added that the pit bull incident is an aberration and that many responsible dog owners use the park without disturbance.

"I'm sure you've heard the expression, "There's no such thing as a bad dog, only a bad dog owner," she said. "It's true!  There will always be someone who breaks the rules and causes a problem. But reacting with extremes isn't the answer. Rather than harping on a bad apple here and there, let's talk about what we have in common—a love of Rye Town Park—and how we can all continue to enjoy the park."

 Rye Mayor Doug French had good things to say about the Dog Friends of Rye Town Park.

 "They are a very enthusiastic group and want to help the park so they have taken up collections to assist in park improvements," he said. 

French also said that most dog owners who use the park do so without disturbing other park patrons.

"The summer time is the peak time for the dog users of the park , so everyone needs to work together," he said. "There is a designated area for dog walkers and for the most part this group has respected that and actually helps police the area."

But what about those complaints about unleashed dogs running loose in the area?

People like Linda Wells, vice president of the Friends of Rye Town Park, spoke about the park's alleged dog problem at a recent Rye Town Park Commission meeting, saying that on a recent Saturday she saw at least 10 dogs running unleashed across the park while security just watched.

Paul Vitti, a park worker who was recently fired, has shown up at the last four Rye Town Park meetings asking for his job back, claiming he was fired as part of a "zero tolerance" policy for questioning a dog owner who allegedly allowed her dog to run unleashed and failed to pick up after her dog. When she denied any wrongdoing, Vitti admits he told her "bull—," resulting in her complaining to his superiors, who fired him, he said.

"Zero tolerance for me, [but] why not for dog owners who routinely allow their dogs to run around unleashed and leave behind messes," Vitti said at last month's Commission meeting.

But French, who owns a 28 lb Pug named Bob that sometimes visits the park, said the number of unleashed dogs at Rye Town Park is minimal.

"The city has a leash law, but it is complaint driven, so if called the Rye Police will come and issue a summons," according to French. "We have explored the possibility of a dog warden or allowing Rye Town Park security to issue tickets, even registering the dogs who use Rye Town Park, but frankly, I think complaints are way down. Like all of the changes with the park this year, we will review after the season to see what improvements can be made."

McCarthy-Astin, who owns a 9-year-old mutt named Scooby and a 3-year-old Affenpinscher named Daphne, said though the city has leash laws, there should be some flexibility for dog owners.

"Not everyone is comfortable with dogs. So, yes, there have to be leash laws," she said. "There should also be areas and times, however, when dogs can go off leash.  Socialization is vital to a happy, healthy dog that interacts positively with children and adults."  

"In the off-season, dogs are a non-issue, particularly December through March, when dogs and their walkers are pretty much the only park visitors," she added. "There is a designated area for dogs. And you can't judge all Rye Town Park dog owners by that owner of that pit bull. We do our best to self-police. "

But self-policing isn't good enough, according to Jim Flick, a Water's Edge resident who is a dog owner and former Rye cop who worked his way up to Rye City Police Commissioner, City Councilman and Acting Mayor before he retired.

"I walk my dog, Molly, in Rye Town Park at all hours of the day, and dogs are allowed to run unleashed all over the park," he said. "Dog owners come from in and out of the area and Rye Town Park has become their park. And not all of them are responsible dog owners."

"The truth is Rye Town Park has become a dog park," he said.