As a dog owner, when I moved to Middleton Mountain 10 years ago, I had never seen so much dog feces on and near the sidewalk. Maybe it was because there were still a lot of undeveloped lots but whatever the reason, there was a ton of it.
It disgusted me that people would be that lazy, selfish and short sighted that they would literally soil the place where they live. Dog feces (poop hereafter) that is left where people walk makes its way into our homes and spreads disease to people and pets and it is unsightly. Leaving it on the ground is just plain anti-social.
Recently, the bylaws concerning dogs in parks have come up in relation to Polson Park. I have heard many people, dog owners I assume, expressing their desire to have dogs in Polson Park and their outrage at the fact that this is currently not allowed. When I hear this outrage I think to myself, “Is it any wonder that people don’t want to encounter off-leash dogs and dog poop in their parks?” The attitude I have seen of what I believe is a small number of entitled individuals who don’t seem to care about others and just ignore the bylaws is having a detrimental effect on everyone.
My dog and I have been pretty regular walkers along the new Okanagan Rail Trail since last fall. I have seen the efforts of the organizers and volunteers to encourage responsible dog use of the trail.
Dogs are meant to be leashed and owners are expected to clean up after their pets. This beautiful addition to our community, which will attract users from all over the country and the world, is such a gift to us all.
After a couple of months of not using the trail this summer, we walked there recently. The first kilometre of the trail from Kickwillie Loop was absolutely littered with poop on both sides of the trail and in some cases right on the trail. Is this the impression that we would like to leave visitors with? This, combined with dogs running around not leashed, makes me believe that we will soon lose the privilege of taking our dogs here.
I highly doubt my letter will change anyone’s behaviour or beliefs. The people who have the mind-set that the rules concerning dogs don’t apply to them and who do as they please, probably won’t read this and if they do, they will not recognize themselves or they will justify their behaviours. It is the way of humans, I suppose, but I do feel discouraged that what is probably a small percentage of dog owners are going to spoil it for the rest of us.
I have often thought about enforcement as a way to get everyone on board but this solution is costly. As a taxpayer, is this a good use of tax dollars? Maybe a user pay system, where dog licensing fees are increased to cover the cost of enforcement? Then all dog owners will be tossed into the same basket and the responsible ones will pay for the negligent ones?
In my mind, the solution lies with each dog owner. If you have a dog, it is your responsibility to follow the rules of pet ownership in your community. Anything else is just pure selfishness.
C. James
Vernon