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Citizen complaint of the day: Kids forced to play in dog feces and urine in South Boston
By adamg on Thu, 10/24/2019 - 11:18am
An irked citizen files a 311 complaint about conditions in Sweeney Park in South Boston:
Every morning around 7AM, Sweeney Park, turns into a dog park. Our children are forced to play in dog urine and feces. Signage clearly states no dogs allowed!
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Comments
Dog owners going to dog owner
See also the Fallon Field dog park in Roslindale, where you are not able to use the field for non-dog related uses without an unleashed dog running up and the owner telling you 'he's friendly!' Especially great when your kid ends their sled run by hitting a turd after a fresh snowfall.
when they say, "but he's
when they say, "but he's friendly!" look them square in the eye and say, "yes, that might be. but i'm not." usually does the trick.
Dog Park
Are you complaining about people letting their dogs off leash at a dog park?
Its NOT a dog park
Thats the point...
It's not a dog park
It's not a dog park
No, I was being sarcastic
Fallon Field is a baseball field / general outdoor field in Roslindale which has been overrun by local folks who have decided it is actually an off leash dog park.
Thanks for clarifying.
Thanks for clarifying.
Next time, you might want to think about the people reading your post, who might not know that there's no dog park there.
Stupid car analogy
A majority of drivers ignore the speed limit signs. When this is noted, they respond that it's OK because they are a safe driver.
I'm guessing the people who complain about dog owners ignoring signs don't have a problem with ignoring other signs themselves.
I say this as someone who doesn't currently own a dog or a car. Just find it humorous how people ignore most public signs except for the few that pertain to issues they care about. It also seems like for every playground there oughta be an adjacent dog park.
If more than 15% of drivers
If more than 15% of drivers ignore a speed limit sign, the sign is wrong.
Not true
But thanks for perpetuating a concept that is no longer in play.
South street
Entrance by the green shed clearly states no off leash mutts. Maybe they can’t read.
Forced?
The kids are forced to play in the feces and urine?
Sounds like bad parenting to force your child to play in dog poo and pee
I took that picture
I said forced because why should I have to bring our son to another park on our way home from his school. Also, it's not one dog. At that time, it was maybe four or five, and that was around 730AM. I'm positive they aren't the only ones. One a-hole even dared to walk over to me to take a picture of our license plate! As if I was doing something wrong. The sign clearly states - no dogs allowed! I called out to them on Monday, and clearly, nothing changed. It's funny because if it were a group of people from the other side of D Street with their dogs, these dog owners would be the ones calling the police on a gang, not a group.
You could go to another park if this really upsets you so much?
I actually live next to this park. The dogs and their owners are pretty respectful in my experience (with the exception of one barky beagle but I've only heard him a few times). As are the folks there to play basketball and the kids hanging out after school. Honestly I could do without the screaming toddlers mid day when I'm working from home BUT hey that's what you get when you live next to a park! The other residents who live adjacent to Sweeney seem to have a similar view so you are most likely barking up the wrong tree on this one...
Haha.....
"The dogs and their owners are pretty respectful in my experience"
Clearly they respect the rules of no dogs allowed.
Your response would make some sense...
...if dogs were allowed, but the person who complains just wants to use the park as it was intended dog-free. Why can't the dog owners go somewhere else?
Hi. I happen to live next to
Hi. I happen to live next to this park too. Dog owners should respect the signs and the children in the community who utilize this park. As a member of the community, you do know there are three dog parks in South Boston, right? A Street, First Street and Day Blvd @ G Street. Perhaps these dog owners could walk a few more blocks and leave the playground and basketball courts to the children.
Is this a serious question?
And if the next park also has unleashed dogs running free? Should a local resident have to travel all over the city to find a park that hasn't been taken over by selfish and illiterate dog owners?
they should call animal control
They will do something. I don't thinks its a crime to have your dog off the leash, but you should put the leash back on when some one is bothered by it.
Dog has to be on a leash
It's not a criminal offense, but it is illegal. (As an aside, the poorly drafted law makes no exception for officially sanctioned off leash dog parks)
working dog exception?
This is interesting because some working dogs must be off lead in order to do the job. Ex.: dogs who work geese at the Esplanade. They are highly trained to respond to verbal, whistle and hand signals by the handler.
I wonder if there's an exception for working dogs - same might apply to some service dogs.
I wish there was a licensing cost tier for dogs with obedience titles being lower than those without.
When I was in rescue work, I started taking as many dogs as possible through Canine Good Citizen courses, and they were wonderful for teaching dogs and handlers/owners about good manners on and off leash. I took my 2 into a fun (no points/does't count) match, and my blind collie took a second out of 15 with a handler he'd never met, & my abused rescue collie took 3rd. All of the lost points were because of my mistakes - not the dogs'. The training came in great when dogs were faced with unfamiliar situations.
you're 100% right
it's a basketball court not a dog park! i have kids and a dog in Southie and this would really irritate me if in my part of the neighborhood. it's really not that hard to be respectful with a dog. don't go where signs are posted, don't let your dog piss on peoples houses, and keep your dog leashed around kids.
i have dogs come up to my kids at the I & 1st park. generally, i get an apology first. but even as a dog owner, I wouldn't hesitate beat a dog, regardless of size, the second it makes one move towards my kids due to an irresponsible owner. it sounds like these owners are clearly showing poor tact with choice of neighborhood location.
what you need is a hose. for the people/dogs, not to clean.
Why would you beat the dog?
Why wouldn't you just step in front of it and say "Stay!". I've literally done that to strange dogs a couple times (meaning 2 different dogs at different times and places) and it's worked. They sat until the owners got them.
Instead of escalating, why wouldn't you deescalate? Then your kids won't have to witness you beating an animal or you being bitten and clawed until you're all bloody.
To answer your rhetorical
To answer your rhetorical question: because the interchange between parents and dog owners on this site is as insane as the interchange between those who drive and those who bicycle.
Why would you beat a dog (when you also claim to be a dog owner)? Let's let that one sit.
You are assuming that these dogs are trained?
That's a fairly weak assumption.
Some breeds, like Jack Russell Terrierists, don't learn.
Somehow, I think you've
Somehow, I think you've answered your own question. I guess the point was the polemic between dog owners and parents isn't really one.
you're 100% right
it's a basketball court not a dog park! i have kids and a dog in Southie and this would really irritate me if in my part of the neighborhood. it's really not that hard to be respectful with a dog. don't go where signs are posted, don't let your dog piss on peoples houses, and keep your dog leashed around kids.
i have dogs come up to my kids at the I & 1st park. generally, i get an apology first. but even as a dog owner, I wouldn't hesitate beat a dog, regardless of size, the second it makes one move towards my kids due to an irresponsible owner. it sounds like these owners are clearly showing poor tact with choice of neighborhood location.
what you need is a hose. for the people/dogs, not to clean.
I and 1st Allows Dogs
The park at I and 1st allows dogs. I take my dog there to do her business and I always clean up after her and keep her leashed (would never want to risk her darting to 1st Street and get hit). I find most other dog owners there very respectful of others.
Now let's talk about the kids going there drinking beer and leaving a mess....
yep, all good with dogs there
i walk my dog there with my kids all the time. i agree, most dog owners are very respectful. this is the type of place where i just tell my kids not to play in the grass even if people pick up after themselves. no complaints here - it's a great spot.
believe it or not, the mess has gotten better this year. not to say it's perfect (it isn't), but it's been MUCH worse in past years with large groups of 20+ kids crushing Twisted Tea.
clean up after?
So you carry around a bottle of cleanser to pour over the dog urine to dilute it and wash it away?
I'll take empty beer bottles
I'll take empty beer bottles over bacteria ridden dog poop any day of the week.
forced in southie
they should force those dogs to use parks in other parts of the city
perhaps you'd prefer
"Dog owners forced to think about someone other than themselves for a change"
Center of the Universe Syndrome
It is my observation that dog owners are oblivious to all things except themselves and their precious doggies. It's center of the universe syndrome. They think everybody loves their dog as enormously much as they do. And no, I'm not a dog hater. I'm a dog owner hater.
Is this specific to dog owners?
Is it your experience that dog owners are more self-centeredly oblivious than others?
Dogs have overtaken
Dogs have overtaken everyplace because the owners have no respect for others.
Ahh new south boston
How i pine fer the rare olde times
Ah
the irony cause it's really only the old southie folks who complain about literally everything
That is funny! The old
That is funny! The old Southie you would be able to have a conversation with your neighbor and come to an agreement or understanding not run to 311.
How nostalgic
How many of those agreements were arrived at via slashed tires and fistfights?
Because that kind of bs was one of the reasons that my inlaws left the area in the 1950s.
Ah yes....
the good old days when dog shit was limited to the sidewalk.
that dog
knows he's going to be snitched on
this happens at my park in
this happens at my park in charlestown too. the fenced in basketball court clearly states NO DOGS. Twice! and yet...
Dogs don't belong there
Dog owner here.
Also parent.
Keep yer' damn dog shit off the playground. And off the beach where little kids are digging in the sand.
Christ, this shouldn't have to be said.
What's wrong with people?
The City needs to provide more dog parks
in every neighborhood or this will continue. Alternatively, Boston can do what Brookline does and designate certain times that dogs can use parks.
Dog parks are privately funded
I think dog parks are privately funded. Although the city provides the land. At least that is the case with the Joe Wex dog park at Peters Park on Washington St. in the South End.
alternatively
it's not the responsibility of the city to provide a place for you to run and shit your dog. nobody forced you to get the animal. if you cant figure out how to care for it properly dont have it. but the solution isnt - i found the place closest to my house so forget what the signage says.
What about my fish?
I demand the BWS provide water which will not need any treatment right out of the faucet for my fish tank. I pay taxes too!
Says You
I would not pretend to be the sole arbiter of what are and what aren't "city responsibilities." I would say that the city should be providing whatever services and amenities its citizens demand. If there are a lot of citizens with dogs who want some place to run them, well then, you can see where I'm going.
And yes, once we decide what services and amenities we are going to have, people should abide by the community-established rules. I think what you are seeing here is the result of inertia in government resulting in widespread citizen demands not being met, which, in turn, leads to lawlessness. Maybe all the noise will get the city to get off its butt and do something.
says you
isnt that what happened? there are dog parks in the city no? so it seems like the services and amenities were decided and now its time abide by the rules.
and, regardless of the -if there is a need for more -the fact is there *are* rules for the parks that do exist, like the one mentioned in the OP, and well, you can see where I'm going with this....
Good
Delete your original post since you have come off of that ridiculous position.
And no, I don't see where you are going with this. I've already said that people should follow the rules. And the government can encourage that by addressing pent-up demand. Do you disagree with either?
Ummm
are your you trying to pick a fight or just stupid?
the point of my original post was - the solution isn’t find the nearest non dog park and use it as a dog park. - because that’s what I wrote.
sorry that was hard for you.
you follow with there needs to be more dog parks and I counter with that doesn’t mean you can use the parks that exist now as dog parks when that’s not their use.
and here we are.
what is your point with this?
Congrats!
You have mischaracterized both your and my earlier posts. Have a great evening.
right back at ya
in the meantime learn to read.
O Rly
I'd bet you $1 million U-Hubucks* that if there was a dog park near by, people would still go to Fallon Field. Because 'their dog needs more space to run' or 'it's much nearer my house', etc...
Most people are fine just walking their dogs around on leashes, in the Arbs or elsewhere. Fallon seems to be used by people who'd rather stand in one spot and have their dogs run without them.
* U-Hubucks is the crypocurrency I assume Adam will be introducing in 2020 to fund the site.
No bet
I do not dispute that there are selfish people who will do what they want no matter the cost to others. Adam has put together a long list of examples at universalhub.com
Define "responsibility"
By the same token it's not the responsibility of the city to provide a place to play basketball or tennis, nor a place to launch your canoe or kayak, nor a place to swim.
And yet cities do provide dog parks, basketball courts, tennis courts, piers, and swimming pools.
What do you figure is up with that?
It’s not the City’s responsibility
To provide a place for kids to play either.
And for the record, I don’t run and shit my dog.
ok
to each his own.
your dog must love that.
When I was a child, I had to
When I was a child, I had to walk 10 miles to play in poop and urine.
You had poop and urine?
We dreamed of having poop and urine when I was a kid.
Who's minding the puppies?
Who’s shaking down the bookies
And who’s gonna deal the drugs?
Who’s gonna sell the stuff
From TV’s to Persian rugs?
Who’s gonna travel the whole world
Disguised as a couple of yuppies?
And while Whitey’s with the Greig girl
Who’s taking care of the puppies?
--
Bobby DeLuca's Ode to Nikki and Gigi
Protect your territory. Break
Protect your territory. Break out the space savers, that'll do the trick.
Except in this case, they're called
Feces Savers
Yesterday
Was trash day. I come home from work almost every trash day to find a couple dog shit bags in my empty recycling bin after it has been picked up. So now I have to deal with your dogs shit. I'm sure he's the cutest most lovable thing on earth.
Hate that
and hate anything else that others incorrectly but in the recycling bin. I've found things like food (an apple core, bag of half eaten fast food), a Popsicle stick that was stuck (had to scrape it off and wash it (sugar residue attacks bugs), and, oddest of all, a pair of old sneakers.
The clock is ticking on finding old underwear in there.
If you dont have a yard
You shouldn't have a dog.
Oh f right off. It's actually
Oh f right off. It's actually about 1,000% easier to deal with dog poop without a yard in my experience. Said as a person who picks up extra poos after the thaw every year and goes back to pick up poop if I run out of bags.