By adamg on Thu., 10/24/2019 - 11:18 am 
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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Dog owners going to dog owner
By Parkwayne
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 11:30am
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
By anne
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 12:03pm
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
By pmall
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 12:06pm
Are you complaining about people letting their dogs off leash at a dog park?
Its NOT a dog park
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 2:47pm
Thats the point...
It's not a dog park
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 8:51pm
It's not a dog park
No, I was being sarcastic
By Parkwayne
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 9:31pm
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.
By anon
Fri, 10/25/2019 - 6:45pm
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
By BostonDog
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 2:08pm
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
By anon
Fri, 10/25/2019 - 6:46pm
If more than 15% of drivers ignore a speed limit sign, the sign is wrong.
Not true
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 10/26/2019 - 9:41pm
But thanks for perpetuating a concept that is no longer in play.
South street
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 12:19pm
Entrance by the green shed clearly states no off leash mutts. Maybe they can’t read.
Forced?
By Jason W
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 11:37am
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
By Common Sense
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 12:23pm
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?
By Parks N Wreck
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:02pm
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.....
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:27pm
"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...
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:39pm
...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
By Kelly
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:54pm
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?
By Scratchie
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 3:06pm
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
By cinnamngrl
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 5:22pm
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
By Bob Leponge
Fri, 10/25/2019 - 10:08am
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?
By lobster nanny
Sat, 10/26/2019 - 4:16pm
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
By manbearwolf
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:47pm
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?
By Keiko
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 5:43pm
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
By anon
Fri, 10/25/2019 - 8:29pm
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?
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 10/26/2019 - 9:43pm
That's a fairly weak assumption.
Some breeds, like Jack Russell Terrierists, don't learn.
Somehow, I think you've
By anon
Sun, 10/27/2019 - 1:47am
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
By manbearwolf
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:47pm
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
By bigredinmass
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 2:11pm
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
By manbearwolf
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 2:25pm
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?
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 2:56pm
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
By kc
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 9:19pm
I'll take empty beer bottles over bacteria ridden dog poop any day of the week.
forced in southie
By bostnkid
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 12:34pm
they should force those dogs to use parks in other parts of the city
perhaps you'd prefer
By sparkles
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 12:36pm
"Dog owners forced to think about someone other than themselves for a change"
Center of the Universe Syndrome
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 2:19pm
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?
By Bob Leponge
Fri, 10/25/2019 - 10:11am
Is it your experience that dog owners are more self-centeredly oblivious than others?
Dogs have overtaken
By mpm
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 9:21pm
Dogs have overtaken everyplace because the owners have no respect for others.
Ahh new south boston
By Lowrentschlub
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 11:41am
How i pine fer the rare olde times
Ah
By THJ
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 12:25pm
the irony cause it's really only the old southie folks who complain about literally everything
That is funny! The old
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 3:26pm
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
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 10/26/2019 - 9:46pm
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....
By Smart Arse
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 10:22pm
the good old days when dog shit was limited to the sidewalk.
that dog
By Luke Warmer
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 11:59am
knows he's going to be snitched on
this happens at my park in
By anne
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 12:02pm
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
By Bob Leponge
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:00pm
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
By anon
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:16pm
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
By WalkingTheDog
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 1:33pm
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
By Robert
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 2:02pm
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?
By Parkwayne
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 2:06pm
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
By Rob O
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 3:15pm
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
By Robert
Thu, 10/24/2019 - 3:50pm
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....
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