[Last modified: November, 4 2024 10:46 AM]
This project could have important political implications in how the data I would collect is applied. For example, there could be policy applications in promoting more dog-friendly areas, perhaps such as dog parks. Running with the example of dog parks, the creation of these types of areas is highly political in that, in central London, you’re almost certainly changing a space that has been previously in use. As well, keeping in mind that owning a dog in central London typically requires capital assets, it is critical to keep in mind who the implementation of a dog park may affect most negatively. For example, if a section of a park previously used for leisure is converted into a dog park and restricted from members of the public who do not have/cannot afford a dog, this can restrict peoples ability to access a third space and therefore may negatively impact people’s mental health and wellbeing.
As a reactive dog owner, my positionality may influence how I approach this project. Because my dog Zeus is reactive, I have adapted my routine and the ways in which I navigate busy areas to accommodate his wellbeing. This affects how I see other dog owners in their management of their dogs (such as the presence/lack of recall), and as well, I may approach areas with many dogs with caution. Therefore, having a reactive dog not only influences how I see dog-human relationships, but also how I interact with the urban environment with my dog is very different. I would need to keep in mind that every dog, human and dog-human relationship is different, and do my best not to have my own experiences shape how I interact with dog owners who may make choices different than my own.
In terms of methods, I think it would be important to interview not only dog-owners to see how dog ownership influences their experiences of green spaces and the larger urban environment, but also people who do not own dogs, to see how dog-human relationships affect their use of urban spaces. For example, if someone is afraid of dogs (or simply does not like them), and therefore purposefully spends time in dog-free sections of Regents Park, yet people bring their dogs into that space regardless of the restrictions, how does that impact their use of the space, their wellbeing, and their relationship to the urban green space?
