A concerned citizen complains:
Can someone PLEASE do something about all the unleashed dogs in the Arboretum? I should be able to take my kids there without being accosted multiple times by dogs bigger than them running full bore at them. Nobody to enforce?
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on the other hand, you could
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 5:25pm
on the other hand, you could teach your children
how to handle the dogs they will meet in their lifetime
OR
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 5:41pm
you could put your mut on a leash, it is the LAW!
actually, I don't have a dog
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 10:38pm
actually, I don't have a dog
Why?
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 5:45pm
"on the other hand, you could teach your children
how to handle the dogs they will meet in their lifetime"
Why should they have to learn to "handle" dogs that should not be approaching them anyway? Granted, not a bad skill to have, but I am appalled at the attitude of dog owners across the board who think that everything their precious dog does is adorable and that everyone loves their dogs who are the center of the universe. I have been jumped on by unleashed dogs while minding my business walking down the street, while the owners sat and smiled at how charming it all was. Why don't these people snap out of it?
I am appalled at the attitude
By anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 7:53am
I am appalled at the attitude of parents across the board who think that everything their precious child does is adorable and that everyone loves their children who are the center of the universe. I have been jumped on by unleashed children while minding my business walking down the street, while the parents sat and smiled at how charming it all was. Why don't these people snap out of it?
Fuck you
By anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 2:42pm
I am the person who registered this complaint. Fuck you and your dogs, I should NOT have to protect my child from PIT BULLS chasing other dogs and running full steam at the child. Are you insane? Take Cujo to the fucking dog park, my enjoyment and my kids safety IS more important than your fucking dog. Go move to the suburbs and get a yard, you shouldn't buy a fucking 75 pound dog when you live in a 2 bedroom apartment with no yard. Assholes. Oh, and hurt my kid and I'll fucking OWN you..
Or just deal with it. Parks
By anon
Mon, 04/01/2013 - 10:42pm
Or just deal with it. Parks will have dogs running around. Plus, as the complaint has already mentioned, the Arboretum is private property - if Harvard wants to have dogs strutting around, they're allowed to have dogs strutting around. But sure, you know what, let's talk about risk. Your kid is more likely to be hurt crossing the street than to be hurt by a dog in Boston. You are making a lot of noise over a non issue. Your kid is more likely to get tackled by an SUV sized stroller than by a dog. If you're so desperate to sanitize the world to protect your child, how about we make a deal - dogs will stay on leashes if you keep your kid buckled in to a stroller whenever they need to go outside until they're 18. Sound good? Sincerely, all the people who live in the world outside the bubble you've made around your and your offspring.
Educate yourself
By anon
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 5:42am
Dogs are the one of the most serious public health threats to children.
About 368,000 victims go to emergency rooms for injuries from dog bites each year. That's a thousand a day.
Almost 10,000 victims per year are injured so seriously they have to be hospitalized. About 34 per year die.
The rate of hospitalization, as well as the rate of death, has almost doubled in the last decade despite dog ownership only increasing by about 2%. The rate of injury is highest among those ages 5 to 9, and most small children are bitten in the head, face, or neck.
This public health epidemic is happening because of people like you. Do you drive drunk every day too?
grow up
By anon
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 7:30am
People have more rights than dogs. Period.
Even your pwecious little dogggy bayyyybbeee that you can't seem to discipline worth shit.
Deal with it.
Or go to obedience school yourself and learn that (gasp) OTHER PEOPLE EXIST. I know it will take a lot to undo your self esteem cult indoctrination from your parents and schools, but you might get a trophy at the end!
Arboretum is not privately owned
By Anon
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 8:16pm
The Arnold Arboretum maintains and owns the trees and plants, but the city of Boston owns the land and Boston police and park rangers patrol and enforce the rule of law there. Dogs are required to be on leash at all times in the Arboretum and the city is supposed to enforce this.
The city of boston refuses to operate dog parks despite many people asking for them; instead Boston weakly enforces dog leash rules in parks and when there is a dog attack, they blame the owners, saying "dogs are not allowed off leash."
This is short sighted because if dog owners had dog-parks to go to, there would be less off leash dogs running everywhere, harassing people, and people could enjoy city parks and the Arboretum better.
Unfortunately there are several dog attacks every year at the Arboretum, so the person who initially posted this has every right to be concerned, especially if the unleashed dogs were pit-bulls. Some pit-bulls killed a toddler in Georgia last week!
Thanks to careless dog owners, dogs are probably going to be banned altogether in the Arboretum.
i'm good
By anon
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 12:29am
if this post is at all indicative of how you go through life, you're doing way more damage to your kid than any of could
...and the true color show
By Roslindale for Whom?
Sun, 04/07/2013 - 5:30pm
...and the true color show through
Even if you weren't lying,
By anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 9:54pm
Even if you weren't lying, how would parents not controlling their children justify dog owners doing the same?
children should learn how to handle your off leash dog?
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 6:09pm
The world doesn't revolve around you. Proceed accordingly.
I'm oft en shocked by the arrogance and self-entitlement of some people.
Seriously?
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 6:29pm
I'm pretty comfortable "handling" dogs as needed, though their owners might not be thrilled be the outcome.
You seem like quite the
By anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 10:18am
You seem like quite the badass.
And if a child attacks your dog
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 6:31pm
Then I guess you should have just trained your dog to deal with children?
Seriously, were the situation reversed - someone walks up, harasses, and then attacks your dog - would you have this same response? Would that simply be your problem or failure to train your dog to put up with human attacks?
absurd
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 7:38pm
Untethered drooling toddlers, gums bared, rushing unsuspecting defenseless dogs at closing speeds of 30 mph........ all the time, all over the place... really.
How I handle off leash dogs that come at me
By Nancy
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 12:52pm
Having been bitten by a neighbor's dog as a child, I have a rather unfriendly and loud reaction when I see an unleashed dog near me. I call it the "kicking and screaming method of embarrassing dogs and their owners."
Adult or child, some people are afraid of dogs and shouldn't have to put up with a cur running at them in a park.
And if I had a nickel for every dog owner that said "My dog is a sweet little lamb. He wouldn't hurt a thing!" I'd own all of the pretty dresses in the Chanel store near the Taj.
imagine if park rangers
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 5:38pm
imagine if park rangers actually cited people
Arboretum is not a Boston Park
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 6:15pm
The Arnold Arboretum is private property. It belongs to Harvard University and they allow the public to have access to it.
Everyone should read and obey the rules set for its use. I love walking my dog there and also don't want dogs off leash bothering me.
Parents should have their kids under control too. They shouldn't be running wild, hanging on trees or running up to strange dogs. (I've seen all three.) This is a major collection of living plants and that is what the place is about. It is not a playground or a dog park.
Minor correction on ownership
By adamg
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 7:03pm
The Arboretum is actually owned by the city - but leased to Harvard for 1,000 years (seriously). Your main point is correct, though - it's not a city park.
True but
By __--__
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 7:25pm
The city is responsible for patrolling and enforcing the rules there.
City Park Rangers are Indeed responsible for patrolling
By Rozzie Resident
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 11:28pm
If you complain to the arboretum staff they will tell you to take it up with the city. On very rare occasion an animal control officer goes there to ticket people but not nearly enough and it is getting out of control. This was the reply from the arboretum staff in 2010 on this same issue. I would argue it has gotten worse since then.
"Thank you for taking the time to contact us about unleashed dogs at the Arboretum. I agree that this is a real problem, and am sorry that your recent encounters have discouraged you from using the Arboretum. Since the Arboretum is part of the Boston park system, we do allow dogs on leash, as at other Boston parks.
Because of the Arboretum's historic partnership with the City of Boston, security and animal control is the responsibility of the City. (Under our 1000-year lease with the City, Harvard maintains the plant collections, conducts scientific research, and provides education programs, while the City provides security, animal control, and maintains the infrastructure: i.e. roadways, stone walls, water fountains.) That means that the City is responsible for enforcing the dog-leash requirement. Our horticulture staff often do remind dog owners of the law, but without the ability to enforce the law they are often as frustrated when confronting a difficult dog-owner. There are no plans to ban dogs from the Arboretum at this time; to do so would be a decision made by the city. Animal Control patrols the park regularly throughout the day (including Peters Hill) , as do the Boston Park Rangers
As you noted, signs are posted at every gate. We are also considering, as you suggest, ways to encourage responsible dog-owners to self-patrol. If you have friends who walk their dogs (on leash) in the Arboretum, I would be grateful if you would talk to them about this idea or pass their contact information on to me.
If you are in the landscape and you see a violation, you can contact Animal Control and the Park Rangers:
Animal Control
617.635.5348
Park Rangers
617.635.7383
I would encourage you to contact Boston City officials about this matter. We have found that your voice as a resident and voter seems to carry more weight than ours. It also never hurts to write to the Mayor and/or to the Mayor’s neighborhood coordinators. On behalf of the Arboretum, I really appreciate when citizens take the time to contact these City agencies. I wish we had more control in this matter."
Really? Because the city
By anon
Mon, 04/01/2013 - 10:44pm
Really? Because the city responded to the complaint already - not their problem, talk to Harvard.
typical
By Anon
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 8:20pm
Typical city response, not my job!
I can actually see a broad
By cscott
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 6:45pm
I can actually see a broad flank of Peter's Hill from my back windows, and there are always dogs off leash. It's almost always women with big, out of control "rescue" dogs. They're also the type who some how always seem to be out of range when their dog dumps a load, free-range and all. Am I generalizing? You bet I am, but anyone who walks the section that parallels the Needham line knows it's full of poop, especially after the snow melts. Stop being such gross slobs, nobody at the Arboretum ever declared that side a "dog park", they just act like that because they want it to be a dog park.
My neighbor owns a dog!
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 6:50pm
I'v always wanted to pull my shorts down on a nice spring night and poop on their lawn. I wonder what they would think!
Go for it
By M
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 8:06pm
I'd say at least 75% of the Uhub commentariat would support you in this decision. People who don't clean up after their dogs need a reality check.
Needham Line?
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 9:26pm
I was at the Arbs today, along with throngs of other sun-starved humans. An off-leash dog ran up to a family group. The male dog owner crooned, "She's a good girl". Like that was okay. Like we should all want to be approached by his "good" doggie.
Really, it's out of control. Where are the park rangers?
The Needham line is the
By cscott
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 11:07pm
The Needham line is the stretch of commuter rail track that forms the boundary of the Arboretum on the lower South St side - cause it goes to Needham.
I'm actually cynophobic...
By anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 12:47pm
...(although at least my phobia isn't triggered when a dog is fenced in, leashed, or otherwise restrained, nor is it triggered by dogs below a certain size), so having unleashed dogs bounding up to me is pretty much a private glimpse of hell. It doesn't matter how 'friendly' or 'well-behaved' the dogs in question may be, through my eyes it's always terrifying - an experience made worse by the offence taken by the handlers that instead of being delighted by their beloved companion, I'm hyperventilating and trembling (which is already embarrassing enough). For the record, I harbour no ill will whatsoever against dogs, I'm just extremely scared of them, on an almost instinctual level (for no apparent reason). I already avoid places where I expect dogs to be unleashed (like dog parks), but dog handlers, please respect the Arboretum's leash rules - or, at least, that not everyone loves and groks dogs as much as you do!
Gross slobs indeed
By ckollett
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 10:45pm
I live along a route that lots of dog owners use to get to the arboretum. For the most part, my family enjoys seeing all the dogs around. Really, most of the dogs and their owners are great. But there are also dog owners who can't make it all the way home carrying their baggies. It's especially gross on trash day when it's raining. I don't want your dog's poop in my trash can under any circumstances, but I REALLY don't like finding it in a couple of inches of water.
I feel your pain
By anon
Mon, 04/01/2013 - 2:01pm
One finds these little treasures along paths in the Arboretum and in other parks. One isn't sure if the owner intended to pick it up on his way back or has left it for someone else to clean up for them. It reminds me of those half-full big drink cups left standing in parking lots, as if the owner thought that if he puts on the ground carefully, it isn't littering.
It's only a matter of time
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 6:57pm
It's only a matter of time before a child is maimed or killed by a dog there. A woman was attacked and mauled by a dog there just last year.
I am surprised Harvard puts up with it, considering the potential multi-million dollar liability to the institution from laxity of enforcement creating such a public hazard.
Forest Hills Cemetery is
By anon
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 8:14pm
Forest Hills Cemetery is equally bad. I avoid the wooded area entirely because of off leash dogs.
Seriously
By anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 1:32pm
Who lets their dog shit on a grave site?
Simple solution
By carpundit
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 8:40pm
Two words: Louisville Slugger.
The shocker!
By Lanny Budd
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 6:07am
http://www.amazon.com/Magrath-Livestock-Yellow-Cat...
Foolishness....
By Brian Riccio
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 8:51pm
My Mastiff was always on leash around children. Even at off leash parks, I put the leash on him when children were around. Did I think for one minute that the children were in any danger from my big puffalump? No,it was out of respect for the fact that they weren't my kids and when a kid asked if they could pet my dog, I always told them to ask their parent. It's just common sense.
Also, to me the Arboretum is more like a museum than a park, people really shouldn't be letting dogs roam around there off leash. If you can drive to the Arboretum, you can drive to any of the other places that allow off leash. Why spoil such a beautiful place with dog shit everywhere and if you think Jill BMW always picks up after her little designer mix, I have some swampland in Saugus I can sell you. Funny how some of them never forget their iPhone but somehow forget a doggie bag...
Another dog owner
By Nonymouse
Mon, 04/01/2013 - 11:13am
. . .and I'm with you 100%. My rescue mutt is about 50lbs, more than enough to look scary to a child or adult even though she's a teddy bear with an inferiority complex. I keep her leashed and controlled unless we're in a fenced, private yard (with permission, obviously) or a fenced, designated dog park.
Dog owners who don't keep their dogs leashed are a menace to everyone around them, including the responsible dog owners who are just trying to enjoy the day with their leashed dog. We've worked so hard on my mutt's leash manners, but the one thing that will set her off is an unleashed dog bounding up to her while she's on her leash. There's no quicker way to ruin my day - unless it's stepping in dog shit because some idiot didn't clean up after their precous little crap machine.
City says: Not our problem
By adamg
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 10:12am
The city's marked this case "closed:"
that is nuts!
By Rozzie Resident
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 10:50am
See my post above where the Arboretum staff very clearly outlines who is responsible for what. It IS Boston's problem - BOSTON park rangers and BOSTON animal control most definitely patrol the Arboretum and need to take charge of this issue.
Looks like the city of boston
By __--__
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 12:49pm
Looks like the city of boston hotline people need to be re-educated. The city has responsibility for enforcement within the Arboretum.
No rangers?
By anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 7:00pm
I called the city once to complain about the dogs there and was told they didn't have any park rangers to patrol or enforce the rules.
I don't know if that's still true - has anyone seen any rangers there?
Maybe if more people complained on Citizens Connect or started calling the local politicians for help something might be done. The dogs off leash problem is the same problem at Millennium Park & other local fields.
The City is wrong
By anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 11:23pm
The park rangers are supposed to control off leash dogs, the Arb staff have no power there.
Peter's Hill has been taken over by dog people, they destroy the place, not only the poop but also the wildlife trying to nest and rear young.
I have both dogs and kids, I train both to have manners and consideration and I clean up after them because taking them on was my choice and the consequences are my responsibility.
Saying that, Boston does need to provide more dog parks.
Badly behaved adults w/ badly behaved dogs, cats and children
By above and anon
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 2:09pm
How about a Boston Tumblr devoted to pics of the badly behaved and descriptions which include location, time/date and pertinent circumstances?
Betcha UHub Badly Behaved (the seen obscene) would get lotsa traffic.
Leash 'em or stay home -
By BlueBlood
Mon, 04/01/2013 - 5:55pm
I'm a proud owner of two pit bulls who visit the Arboretum and the Jamaica Pond area daily... and there is no one who dislikes the sight of an unleashed dog in the city more than I do. It's not a problem controlling my leashed and harnessed dogs (at three and 12 years-old, they're very social and still obediently leash trained), but when an untethered golden retriever, labrador, or similar sized dog runs up to my two, all I can think is that I'll be the one blamed for any possible incident since I own two dogs classed as a "dangerous breed."
And that's not even to mention having courtesy for people afraid of dogs and the elderly and children who could never possibly defend themselves against a charging dog. I also wonder if some of these dog owners fail to notice the busy streets surrounding both areas - those two spots alone, I've seen four unleashed dogs over the course of my life smashed by cars while the negligent owner is hundreds of feet away.
Dogs in Arboretum
By Roslindale for Whom?
Sun, 04/07/2013 - 5:28pm
As a long time Roslindale resident I have seen the good and bad in my community ("my" as long as the new residents shall allow me to say so). The quarrel over the Arboretum and dogs with their owners walking around without a lease is becoming a problem - to some. Before all of you suburbanites moved in and took over to speak for us lowly minorities and us lowly long time residents, because we are too ignorant to speak for ourselves and don't understand the way of the world, we were able to use the Arboretum and enjoy it like anyone else. I would walk my dog without a lease and play with him as a child. I never had a problem nor did my dog attack anyone (by the way, he was a pit bull). For as attractive as Roslindale is, and has always been for some of us that have worked hard to keep it a "neighborhood" while being shunned by the "new, elite, leaders", you also have to learn that the world doesn't revolve around YOU. There should be some place in this city where all of your protests, bitchin and demands don't impose themselves on your hated neighbors, the longtime residents. Did you ever think that maybe we endured so much to also benefit from the good that arisen out of it? Dogs aren't supposed to constantly be shackled. Your need to control everything and everyone is irritating. Come to the Arbs and enjoy it like everyone else. Shut up about the rest. Why don't you try respecting "other" people for a change, instead of wanting to world to revolve around you?
Carpetbagger
By anon
Sun, 04/07/2013 - 8:02pm
I'm 124 years old this week, and I remember the time before all you new people moved into Roslindale, with your fancy breed dogs because the kind of animals we had back in the 19th century weren't good enough for you. Why, I used to tie my dog's rope right next to the onion on my belt when I went for a walk in the Arboretum. And then you new folk came in with your damn hippie ideas about "unshackling" your dogs. No respect for anybody, leaving crap all over the place. Why don't you try respecting other people for a change, instead of thinking the world revolves around you. And go back where you came from, ya damn carpetbagger.
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