OTTAWA (Sun Media) - You can add dog walker to the list of duties now being performed by Len Cregan, Mayor Larry O'Brien's chauffeur.

When O'Brien was elected last November, one of the first things he did on taking office was to ensure he could bring his dog Remy to the office.

While no real policy seems to exist, O'Brien was given the go-ahead.

One of the other things he ensured was that Cregan could drive him about town in O'Brien's gold Mercedes, and not the energy-efficient hybrid car that former mayor Bob Chiarelli used.

All well and good.

But now it turns out that during his own time, Cregan has taken it upon himself to walk Remy around City Hall, dutifully stooping and scooping poop, when necessary.

We're told by the mayor's office that Cregan isn't the only city employee who enjoys walking Remy, the furry, four-legged friend apparently being a well-liked and welcome addition to the mayor's office.

While it means that Remy gets some fresh air, not everyone thinks the walks are a good idea.

"I don't think it's an appropriate use of a city employee," said Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Gord Hunter. "And I think someone should tell the mayor that."

Here's the thing.

For starters, Cregan is one of the most loved and highly regarded city employees.

He puts in long hours, is incredibly likable and always has a friendly word.

Try looking for dirt on any one of the many Ottawa mayors he's driven over the years, and Cregan won't give anything up.

And no one wants to make life difficult for such a lovable, hard-working guy.

As it turns out, the mayor's office is quite insistent that no one ever asked Cregan to walk the dog, it's just something he enjoys doing and took upon himself to do in his own time.

And it doesn't cost the city a cent.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

But here's the rub.

When O'Brien was asked yesterday how having a city employee walk his dog was a good use of city resources, he acknowledged it couldn't be defended.

"Well, it's not," O'Brien answered without hesitation.

The mayor has set himself up for certain expectations.

He has said he wants to see the city change the way it does business. He wants to see city employees go the extra mile in delivering city services.

If he truly wants to see the city bureaucracy run more efficiently, then walking Remy surely isn't on the list of priorities.

Like Cregan, city clerk Pierre Page has worked for many mayors over the years. He knows the long hours they put in and the hard work that they do.

And he sees nothing wrong with Cregan -- who also works incredibly long hours -- using his spare time to go for a walk.

When it comes to loftier issues like war and peace, dog-walking by a city chauffeur doesn't rank.

And Orleans Coun. Bob Monette can't take it all too seriously.

"Well, you know, the mayor did talk about finding efficiencies in the bureaucracy," he joked.

"I guess that's one way of multi-tasking," Monette continued with his one liners.

It seems Monette isn't the only councillor finding some amusement in the situation.

"He's walking the dog? Can the swans be far behind?" asked Bay Coun. Alex Cullen.

During the interview with O'Brien in his office, Remy appeared uninterested in the debate.

Admittedly, as a columnist, there was some fear the tiny pooch might decide to take a pee.

"That would really be yellow journalism," O'Brien said, calling the story Doggygate!

The mayor is clearly growing weary of the constant media attention surrounding absolutely everything he does.

O'Brien quickly decided he'd had enough, and refused to answer any more questions.

"Well, that's it then. I just won't bring Remy into the office anymore," a clearly frustrated O'Brien said.