Local Park May Soon Close to Our Four Legged Friends

I was just at Alumni Park ( the one off of Willow Grove by the Legion Hall ) and saw a sign posted by the Recreation Department, which didn't surprise me at all.

My senior dog, Bailey, and I were at the park last night for a stroll (she is 14 + years) and I saw all of these blue flags sticking in the ground and wondered what they were for - well mystery solved. The "blue flags" identify where there is a pile of poop left by a careless dog owner for all to "enjoy". The sign states that if owners do not pick up after their dogs, then the "PRIVILEGE" of walking our dogs in the park will be taken away.

I think there was a blog about this very same topic a few months ago and I have mentioned this to my husband many times and now it seems it is probably a certainty that our furry friends may not have this beautiful park to enjoy with their owners for very much longer.

My dog is a senior and it is an adventure for us to get in the car and go to the park where it is easier for her to walk on flat ground as opposed to a more hilly area where we live (neighbors leave poop here too). We do have a large yard, but I am sure there are many dogs who do not and may be confined to apartment living also, so going to the park is a treat for them.

Also, I love to see dogs running free and playing with balls, etc., but please when you are jogging on the trails, please keep your dog leashed, some people are very nervous of unleashed dogs, no matter how well trained they are.

So to all of you animal lovers out there who are leaving poop in this particular park or anywhere - shame on you for spoiling it for the rest of us and our pets.

I don't know if the signs and "blue flags" are over on the other side where the Hatchery is as I wasn't over there, but it is the same park, so I imagine they are. Thanks for letting me know the correct name of the park.

It is a law in NJ to pick up poop in case people don't know it ( I guess that applies to litter of all types).

This makes me so mad! I haven't taken my dog over there ever, but I hope that it can be cleaned up so it can remain open. Unfortunately, unless some of the responsible pet owners pick up the poop left by the inconsiderate, selfish, disgusting pet owner(s), then it's not likely to get better.

A neighbor of mine used to pick up the piles left in front of our homes by another rude neighbor, and finally caught the guy and threatened to bring all the poop he could find and put it on his lawn. There haven't been any more piles in front of our homes since.

For those of you who frequent that park, do you ever SEE a person not pick up after their animal? Would you be willing to say something to them if you did? When I go to the dog park, I notice a lot of times that owners aren't watching their dogs when they go off to the side for privacy and the owner doesn't even realize their dog went. It's different there since the dogs are off leash, but I always go over and alert the owner to the pick up they need to do.

I guess it's the same old story...common courtesy, people.

Tracy
Jun 17, 09 9:12 pm

I just want to agree with everyone. I take my dog there almost every day since we don't have a fenced in backyard. I suppose the people who do not pick up after their dogs are not reading this posting anyway, but it would really be a huge shame if pets were banned. I agree and think we should say something if we see someone not pick up after their pup. The other day, my dog went to the side of the woods along the trail. I took my eyes off of it for 2 seconds while I got my bag out and couldn't find it in all of the leaves. I actually stood there looking for 10 minutes until I found it so I could remove it! I wish that other's would do the same... it's really not that big of a chore (although a little boy came by to pet my pup and asked what the smell was coming from my backpack with the bag in it!! ;) ).

JD
Jun 17, 09 10:48 pm

JD (I know you!),

The same thing happens to me when I take mine to the dog park. I see her go, I go to get a bag and I've lost it. But I stand there searching until I find it. It's the right thing to do. Let's get the girls together soon!

Tracy
Jun 18, 09 8:19 am

Yep, probably the folks creating this problem are not reading these blogs and they are probably the ones who throw trash out of their car windows too! I saw my neighbor yesterday picking up lots of McDonald's bags and cups off of his front lawn. People just have no respect for anything or anyone anymore.

I "poop patrol" my yard every couple of days to pick up poop, so I am definitely not going to leave where someone can step in it in a public place.

I agree, approach someone if you see them leaving poop, but be careful, everyone is so "defensive:" anymore.

HERE HERE! I am SO sick of people ignoring the leash law. I have experienced this in many local parks, Alumni, Stephens State Park, and Shcooley's Mountain Park is the WORST! Not all dogs are dog-friendly, but at least my dog is on a leash. And who knows, maybe my dog is old and arthric or recovering from surgery - or maybe I'm with my elderly mother or young kids who are frightened of dogs. NO ONE should have to tolerate an unleased dog whether its friednly or not. More than once I have admonished "there's a leash law here ya know".

How about calling the police and signing a complaint against the,. If it was me there and saw it I would have.

Christine
Jun 30, 09 6:11 pm

I have to agree that the goose poop is FAR worse than the dog poop at alumni. I take my dogs there frequently to swim in the river and i have never noticed an issue with dog poop. Maybe i am too preoccupied trying to tip-toe around all the goose poo?

Pat - I've actually been wondering about that as well. My only thought, is that maybe, in the heat, the garbage starts to smell if there is lots of dog... umm... poop (for lack of a better word)... in there? But if that's it, then people shouldn't be able to throw food or anything else like that in there. It gets pretty gross smelling in my backpack after a 2 hour walk carrying around a bunch of filled bags!

JD
Jul 2, 09 12:11 pm