Say goodbye to leash law protection

How long do you think it will take before the city coffers are drained by personal injury lawsuits brought on by dog related injuries? The article below is from the New York Post:

"LEASH NAGS TO GET MUZZLED
By DAN KADISON

August 30, 2006 -- Dog owners worried about a lawsuit targeting off-leash privileges for pooches in public parks, may be able to loosen their own collars.

For nearly 20 years, dogs have been allowed to frolic unleashed in certain public areas, according to the New York Council of Dog Owner Groups.

But the Juniper Park Civic Association, of Middle Village, Queens, sued last May, saying Parks officials have been barking up the wrong tree.

They maintain that the no-leash policy violates the city's health code.

"We certainly don't want to have the confusion that led to this lawsuit to continue," city lawyer Paula Van Meter said yesterday at a Queens Supreme Court hearing.

Van Meter said in court that the city intends to change the wording of the regulation to clearly give the Parks Commissioner the right to open parks to unleashed dogs."