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Citizen complaint of the day: The nerve of some parents letting their kids play on the grass at Medal of Honor Park when dogs need their exercise

A dog-owning citizen barks out a 311 complaint about supposedly irresponsible parents at Medal of Honor Park in South Boston:

With the warm weather coming soon, could the city put some signs up to remind people bringing their children to play at the park that they can't just run around every grassy area there is? These patches of grass are where we bring our dogs to let them off the leash for a while. Yesterday, I couldn't even let my Buddy off his leash because of all the SBCA kids running around. It's not the kids' fault, it's their parent who need to be more considerate. Maybe the city could help in this effort.

About an hour later, a citizen fed up with dogs in Medal of Honor Park suggested what the dog owner could do with Buddy:

To the person who thinks Medal of Honor park is for just him and his dog . There is a dog park one block down the street on first street for you and your little buddy !! Why don't you try it and let the kids play in the park !! You idiot!!!!

A frazzled 311 jumps in to declare not that the second citizen is correct, that, in fact, there is a dog park on East 1st Street, but that he or she better stop using 311 to complain about other complainers:

Refrain from responding to other cases submitted via the 3-1-1 app. Please use this app in its appropriate manner or your ability to submit requests may be suspended.

311 might be forgiven its touchiness, because dog owners, parents and assorted Southie kibbitzers have been using the service for months now to battle over whether the dogs are adorable pets that need some space to roam away from pesky tots who have their own fenced-in playground for Christ's sake or whether they are all drooling, defecating Cujos lunging at pregnant ladies and other innocent people just trying to get some fresh air. One 311 poster volunteered to knock the teeth out of smug Yuppie dog-owning faces; one person offered to sell tickets to the bout.

Some examples from the past few months:

When I bought my condo the realtor told me that M Street Park was a dog park and I didn't pay this kind of money to not be allowed to have my dog have free access to the park. This is getting ridiculous. It seems like every day there are more out of control children running through M Street Dog Park. They have a fenced-in area in which they can play. We need an officer or authority figure to tell parents that the kids should stay in the fenced area.

Keep your GODDAMN dogs on a leash!!!! What the hell do you think this is!!!!! Go back to Pittsburgh!!!!

There's a couple people hiding in the bushes up M st park, telling on people who let their beautiful dogs off the leash for a few minutes. What's wrong with you people. Come out of the weeds and show your face! Cowards!

Hello, we have noticed many people are not leashing their dogs in the Medal of Honor park in South Boston. Some of the dogs are unruly and we have seen them jumping on strangers, my wife and I included. We would appreciate if the City could do more to enforce the dog leashing rule/law (maybe more visits by animal control)? Many thanks for your attention to this!

These ancient Southie boomers and their kids who've never left the house they grew up in, who won't go out and blaze their own trail aren't going to tell me that their kids are more important to them than my dogs are to me. Yes, I will let my dogs of their leashes and yes, you and your kids are going to have to deal with it. That's why my property taxes pay for the children's area that's fenced in to keep your kids safe. We won't be made to feel unwanted. It's our neighborhood too.

Dogs off leash! - when is someone going to do something about the dogs off leash at M Street Park, so so so sick of this. I'm pregnant and walking my dog while another dog comes over to mess with him in the snow storm! Enough!! The people over there think everyone is ok with dogs coming up to them and that's far from the truth and not safe. Do something please!

Hey Boomer, take your grandkids to Marine or Moakley Park. This is a dog park and has been for a couple of years now. The time machine is broken and 1991 isn't coming back. Deal with it.

The city doesn't respond to unleashed dogs because the realtors target unmarried dog owners with their flooded market of one bedroom condos and it's the real estate/development industry that pays off the city and state politicians. It would be easier for you to go to the park and scoop the poop yourself than it would be to get the city to enforce the leash laws. Dogs aren't even supposed to be in the park and definitely not supposed to be on the ball fields. Call your mayor and city councilors.

All the complaints (with bonus complaints about boozed up, screaming, bottle-smashing teens).

Neighborhoods: 


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Comments

Is it me, or do some of the pro-dog complaints read more like trolls than complaints from real people?

Yes, I admit I'm not really familiar with the sort of people who own dogs in South Boston.

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Are you suggesting it's some sort of false wag situation?

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Using every little piece of public parks to let their dogs defecate and becoming upset when someone objects?
No that sounds exactly like Boston dog owners.

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Yes, it's trolling/parodying of the anti-yuppie OFS types who use 311 to air their grievances.

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Man I used to live next door to a nice little park in Jefferies point that had nice lush grass and benches and trees and slowly over time all the yuppies with their dogs turned it into an unofficial dog park with trampled lawn and shit everywhere and the impossibility of walking thru without being jumped on by an off leash dog. Don’t get me wrong I love dogs but some dog owners are total D bags

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I had a dog once long ago, and I have to admit, I was not the most responsible of dog owners. I would do it differently today. Being a responsible dog owner is not easy, but that's not excusing those letting their pets run loose wherever they feel like. On any reasonable scale, children have priority over pets. Keeping grassy areas free of dogs and their byproducts so that humans of all ages can use those areas is worthwhile.

I was struck by this:

When I bought my condo the realtor told me that M Street Park was a dog park...

Heads up: realtors will tell you anything they think will make the sale. I could tell you stories. If it's not in writing, don't believe it.

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Medal of Honor Park is just that . To honor our falling heroes .
Its not a dog park . We do have plenty of dog park in South Boston. There is one right down the street on East First Street . You can let your dog of the leash all you want to .
But , Medal of Honor Park is for people weather it be children or adults . But , not for poop and pee for dogs .
So your realtor lied to you , just to sell you and over priced condo .
Enjoy your day .

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Seriously. Dog owners in my neighborhood seem generally responsible. These guys sound like they want a pat on the back for gentrifying.

Maybe it says more about the type of people who are buying up condos in Southie.

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seem generally responsible

What does that gem of a pharse mean?

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I avoid even cutting through it to go to my polling place. Snout to the crotch every dang time. "Oh, he's friendly!" Yeah, but I'm not. Leash your fleabag.

It's not fully fenced either. I have had to brake hard for offleash dogs darting out from the park. Surprised there are not more deaths, honestly.

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A lot of people in our society have developed an increasingly unhealthy relationship with their pets. Just imagine if they had the same regard for... well, other humans.

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Feeling ignored because you’re not a cute and lovable puppy?

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Et tu, Lee: are you feeling empowered to post a fairly anonymous post because you think you're a cute and lovable Internet puppy?

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Than you think it does about them.

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"A lot of people in our society have developed an increasingly unhealthy relationship with their pets."

I have noticed this also. People's entire world revolving around the dog in an intense way and feeling the dog is their "child". This is a relatively recent development in the sociology of things and I am not sure of the cause. Possibly books have been written about it.

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Might have something to do with the relatively recent development of mandatory two income households, lifelong student loans depressing take-home pay, daycare costs that rival college tuition costs, lack of flexibility for parents at work, potential grandparents/family supports living far away because young people have moved for work opportunities, landlords illegally discriminating against young families because of lead laws, the impossible cost of buying your own home to delead yourself, looming college costs in the millions of dollars....

Can't IMAGINE why people would choose a dog/cat instead.

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When you look at the behavior of some cat owners.

But I suspect that it's tied to people who are and/or are likely to remain childless -- so the instinctive desire to nurture a child is transferred to their pet(s). Look at Lady Gaga's half million dollar reward for the finder of her stolen dogs. To some degree, her relationship with the dogs mirrors that of certain wealthy people with their children -- she hired a dog walker to play a role that is somewhat analogous to a nanny.

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The entitlement coming from these yuppies is astounding. The fact that they’re acting like this in a neighborhood they’re not even from. And don’t even call me a boomer, I’m late 20s millennial (also a yuppie) and the behavior of these kids makes me embarrassed, no common decency

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I'm not excusing their behavior, but what difference does it make if they're from there or not? Living there should be good enough. Nobody gets more votes simply because they've lived there longer.

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You are Hereby Awarded this Trophy for Being From Here!

Congratulations.

Now we can get back to the "rights of all residents do not differ" portion of our programming.

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Can’t see the real Massport multimillion dollar dog park across First Street? You’re the fools who got suckered into buying an overpriced condo when your realtor told you Medal of Honor park is where your dog can shit and piss.

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Knowing thats gays marched in "his" parade in 2019 AND trying to recover from Trump's November loss...

He might get a bit heated over "The Grass is Greener" controversy of '21.

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Yes, I will let my dogs of their leashes and yes, you and your kids are going to have to deal with it. That's why my property taxes pay for the children's area that's fenced in to keep your kids safe.

and their property taxes pay for the park where you take your stupid little dog. are these seriously real?

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This never would have happened in old Southie . .

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True. Whitey would never have let this happen. ;-)

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makes me want to get a cat.

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My fav comment

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As a city dog owner I agree with the complaints against dog owners. Most dog owners in Boston give the rest of us a bad name. Before I had a dog it always used to piss me off every time I'd see shit on the sidewalk, but now that I myself pick up my dogs poo twice a day it down right infuriates me when I see lazy assholes leaving shit everwhere. Even the well meaning ones who pick it up but leave the poo bag on someone's trash. The garbage men don't take it so the poo bag ends up on the ground after pickup and usually stays there mushed open covered in crap for months.

The leash thing is an aggravating to other dog owners who follow the law as well. My dog had to get knee surgery a few months ago and nearly everytime I had to walk him some idiots unleashed dog would run over and start jumping on him while I struggled to keep him off his bad leg. Your dog is not well trained enough to be off a leash, you think it is because you're full of yourself, but if it's running over to other dogs and people it's not trained, fact.

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Lived in the South End for 15+ years. Basement apartment, sunken patio and parking space in back on a shared alleyway. Patio area was fenced.

One weekday afternoon I’m sitting outside, apparently obscured by the fence. Neighbors dog defecates in the parking area, I can quasi-see them. He bends down to bag shit, knots the bag sorta scans the alley and proceeds to lob it over the fence into my patio. WTF?!

Needless to say, he was kinda surprised when I stood up and immediately threw it back at him while expressing my utter amazement at his actions. He offered a sheepish excuse and sorta slinked away.

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Very typical behavior.

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I just want to clear this one fact up: the park in question here, at this point in time, is in fact, not a sanctioned dog park, correct?

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Dogs must be on leash other than at at three "dog recreation areas," none of which are in Southie: https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/dogs-and-boston-...
(There's also a MASSPORT one, a DCR one in the South End, and probably others that aren't City of Boston that I don't know of).

So yes, you've pointed out the real issue, which is that the 311 people are complaining about the complainers, rather than responding and telling people dogs are not permitted off leash in this park and/or stating they'll put up some signs and start enforcing it so the park can be used as designated.

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Well then, if in fact MoH Park is NOT a designated dog park, one solution is for the city to post a sign stating "Dogs not allowed" and direct people to the proper location per the city web site.

This whole story also points out the growing ineffective nature and misuse of the Boston 311 system. Anyone that scrolls through it to see what is going on will see a broad range of complaints. And a growing number of them are complaining about the city not taking action on their complaint, even when the city has no jurisdiction. For example, graffiti on private buildings. Private property owners can ask the city to clean it if they sign a waiver form. Passers-by don't get to tell the city to do that. They should be speaking to the property owner and offering them the form which is a PDF and can be easily downloaded and printed.

Of course, maybe the gang tag on their building as a territory marker is keeping their building safe? Who knows.

I think the complaints about existing laws, regulations, or policy are quite the joke, and when the case is closed the subsequent "butt hurt" post is next.

The city 311 system is seriously flawed now. It was a good idea when it started. And to be clear, not all of the problems are with the citizenry. Some of the staff are finding plenty of loopholes to do nothing or avoid the issue that day.

What needs to happen is make the 311 a system that REQUIRES you to be identified. It is illegal to file a false 911 report to the police so this also now needs to eliminate its anonymous feature and make people responsible for what they complain about. And if they abuse it, have consequences for wasting the city's time.

This dog issue is also a prime example of neighbors using the 311 system as a weapon against each other as well. The system is loaded with those kinds of posts.

Examples include "too much trash in the yard." Well, they are renovating and trash day is 5 days away and they cannot put stuff out for collection yet. Why didn't you ask them?. Graffiti on the building looks terrible and an eyesore. Well it's private property and the city can't just muscle in there without permission. Commercial vehicles illegally parked. Well, the guy just came home for lunch. We want crosswalks !!! Well, maybe the city will agree if you actually learn the process and do it the right way. Contact your local neighborhood rep from the Mayor's office, city councilor, and assemble your neighbors and have a neighborhood meeting with them and a rep from the transportation department. Maybe if you did it the right way things might happen.

Most people using the 311 system these days are turning it into their personal whipping boy. The city is not your personal Cinderella.

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As a lifelong resident and a dog owner in South Boston, I think much of this is someone bomb tossing from both sides. I will say that MoH Park (and Dorchester Heights) have a real problem with unleashed dogs. Especially with MoH Park, there is a dog park about 200 yards away that was put up by MASSPORT. It's well maintained. My guess is it's too much of an inconvenience for many dog owners to walk over to it. Instead we have a situation where selfish people do what they want. I find 311 can be a source of amusement at times. I followed these reports, it was pretty comical. It did get to a point where the people at 311 had to tell everyone that it's not a social media forum.
Have a great day everyone!

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A sad example of what unleashed dogs and irresponsible owners can cause. A couple of years back the South Boston Vietnam Memorial Committee (the memorial is centrally located in Medal of Honor Park) installed granite markers honoring South Boston recipients of the Medal of Honor. Shortly after their installation they were stained with dog urine. What is going on with someone who allows that to happen?
Eventually the committee had membranes installed on the markers to prevent further damage to them.
The memorial and the park commemorate twenty-five men from South Boston who went off to war and never returned.
Twenty-five men gone forever. Twenty-five families devastated.
I'll just leave it at that.

*Check out the memorials Facebook page for more information.

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Welcome to Southie, the kingdom of space savers and dog shit.

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But you never know these days.

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Let's do this the American Way. Let the dogs run free, and give the tots guns. Tots have Second Amendment rights too! Well, as long as they're American Tots.

That way the tots can protect themselves against the dogs, and their owners (who may object to their dogs being shot). If the dog owners arm themselves against the tots, the tots' parents can also arm themselves. Everybody can protect the hell out of themselves against everybody else! Everybody has Second Amendment rights!

Except maybe the dogs. I'm not too sure about that. Especially the foreign dogs like Shih Tzus and German Shepherds. And poodles. There's no way that poodles have Second Amendment rights.

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...but you can arm bears.

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