Quote: randy allen

If one has ever played baseball, or even watched baseball.....playing ball becomes a whole nother game if no one is picking after their dogs.

All of our ball fields have been shut off to dogs now. Simply because a FEW people that won't pick up their garbage. Golf courses for the winter are already thinking about shutting it down for dogs and I fear the public parks aren't far behind.

That's what is happening here. We also had a great field right by the ocean that we even chipped in to install two big trash barrels and a poop-bag dispenser, and still ended up being 86ed because of the owners who didn't pick up. That was bad enough, but the baseball field with the fence was just so great to have access to ....


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I'm getting mad all over again. Not just mad, but almost depressed, because I honestly don't see these spaces ever re-opening to dogs once they're closed. It's hard enough to maintain greenspace for humans in this economy; dog owners have to be super-vigilant. JMO.


Edited by Connie Sutherland (03/11/2010 05:52 PM)
Edit reason: eta

I'm a habitual scofflaw. I get out there on the ball fields between 6 and 6:30am on the weekends.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I hate to see it when dogs are allowed but could be not allowed.

Some owners make allowing dogs seem like a PITA.

The park we go to everyday was formerly a landfill. Ten years ago the city opened it as a park, and it is probably one of the most beautiful parks in all of Boston. Its 66 acres of green space, next to a river and surrounded by salt marsh.

There is a great figure eight walking loop that is just about 2 miles long and connects to a bike path. In the center of the loops there is a huge, flat athletic field on one side and gently rolling hills on the other.

It's in the neighborhood that I grew up in, and I can tell you that this neighborhood never really had anything good before the park. The only thing there before was Whitey Bulger's mobster graveyard.

Everyday I see untrained off leash dogs running wild, and dog poop everywhere!

It makes me mad that people don't appreciate what we have. Plus, as Connie pointed out, what if people get sick of it and one day dogs are no longer allowed?

Oooh, I know the area you mean, and yes, it's a major gift to have that beautiful spot.

We live near Colonial Williamsburg and often take Falcon there. It is the ONE public place I've ever been which has lots of dogs - but I've NEVER seen any poo! I guess if the owner's aren't picking up - the employees are. I got caught off guard the first time I took Falcon and didn't have a bag. I went to the nearest trash can and got two coffee cups to clean up. THAT taught me a lesson and I never go anywhere now without two little blue bags in my pocket...

None of the public parks in my town allow dogs anymore. It's sad because those parks and playgrounds were GREAT for socializing pups to new surroundings in a safe environment.

Paul and I took Drift to a friend's house once when she was a pup to see his flower garden. They are retired folks and work in the garden all day and it is clearly their pride and joy. Drift was on leash the whole time and was not allowed to go potty anywhere on their property. After about an hour or so, as Paul and I were getting ready to leave, Gene (the owner) actually THANKED us for being so considerate and keeping the dog on leash and out of the flowers. I was suprised (since this wasn't even a conscious effort on my part, just automatic) and when he saw my look, he said that people bring their dogs onto his private property, sit in the gazebo and let the dogs run wild. I could not believe it. How ballsy and inconsiderate do you have to be to do something like that???

I don't bitch at people anymore.. they don't listen. I just try to be a good example and hope that some day, it might rub off on someone.

I take lots of deep, calming breaths too

--Kelly

I guess it's been a "shitty" thread today!

Lauren, you are so right about that park, but you gave me an idea for my father!
He is 85 and still going strong, his hobby is waiting for people to let their dog go on his lawn{ he knows what time certain people walk} As soon as the dog starts to go, he walks outside with a shopping bag and asks "Do you need this"..If they say "yes", he'll ask if they were planning on picking it up with their hands! He retired from Law Enforcement when he was 75, now he is Poo Patrol...I am sending him to the park!

To the original post,
Yes, I do have a tendency to be short (do tell! no one would here say that I'm sure). Today was a good day though.
After a year or more of one, giving people a raft of trash on my own for allowing their dogs loose as if we were in a dog park, and two having a reactive GSD inside of her territory. I feel like we're making 'some' head way.
This morning everyone who couldn't control their dogs kept them on leads! Imagine! What a concept.
This afternoon, someone pulled into the parking lot behind me and on seeing who I was (yeah I could hear the swear words) then they backed out and left because they wouldn't be able control their dog. YaaaaHoooo. We had our workout without any issues.
Nah, I don't care what they think.
If one can't control their dog, they don't belong in the public sphere.

If they want to know how it all happens, I'm more then willing to help (all they have to do is ask), but in my experience everyone to a man/woman wants something in an instant......Not the hard work it takes. Why waste my breath?

 Quote: randy allen

To the original post,
Yes, I do have a tendency to be short (do tell! no one would here say that I'm sure).

I have no idea how tall you are...

Ask Joe Pesci if tall matters.