Not everyone is sold on the idea of dogs as "man's best friend," and not everyone is comfortable navigating a public realm where dogs are crowdsourcing their marks. What are planners to do?

Barbarou Carou and Bria Aird write for the Ontario Professional Planners Institute on the subject of a side effect of increasing activation of the public realm and park space in Toronto: In addition to parks full of people and families, "parks are also having to address another energetic, rapidly growing and noisy population: dogs."
The question posed by the headline is more provocative with phrasing: "Has the public realm gone to the dogs?"
Carou and Aird focus on the potential solutions and strategies available to planners as the tackle the issues raised by thousands of dog owners and animal lovers packed into a dense urban neighborhood.
FULL STORY: Has the public realm gone to the dogs? The challenges of incorporating dog ownership into planning

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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