Can we talk about the law against dogs in Lakewood parks?

[Brad Hutchison]

I was wondering too... that's the only thing anyone has mentioned in this thread. As long as dogs are required to be leashed (which they should be), I don't know what other reason there would be.

[Colleen Wing]

The waste of police resources seems to be having to keep telling the same person continually to not bring dogs into the park, especially when the person knows it is not allowed.

I have two dogs and two kids and don't have a problem with the ordinance. The dog lovers/supports of Lakewood have done a great job of building and maintaining a dog park.

I guess I would be happy if this was my biggest problem in Lakewood.

I am worried my road is going to collapse.

My suspension and axel are a lot more unhappy these days than my pooches.

[Justine Cooper]

The dogs are the least of the worry for our parks. I hadn't been to Madison on months and was so shocked and disheartened to see half the swings missing, litter all over the grass, of course no basket ball hoops, and a very unmowed lawn!!!! It looked like an abandoned inner city! Some little girl had to use the restroom and ran to the library but was told they were closing and had nowhere to go! (I sent her to Mahalls who obliged her.) It was really really embarrassing and sad and really just not justified. The city should be very ashamed of that. I think of all the threads of all the positives that brought people to Lakewood and parks were always mentioned. That is criminal they let this happen. And Jim you may not want taxes mentioned, but lord have mercy, outsiders would never ever guess what we pay in taxes based on what I saw.

[ryan costa]

when enough middle class folks amble through the park with their dogs unleashed, it wards off the ghetto kids.

The park is near bird town. that means there should be a lot of central and eastern europeans living nearby. A few of them should be able to herd sheep through the park. that will keep the grass down.

[Valerie Molinski]

The waste of police resources seems to be having to keep telling the same person continually to not bring dogs into the park, especially when the person knows it is not allowed.

Are you referring to me? Who would this person be exactly? Because, as I said in my OP, I did not know. Maybe the sign at the Madison entrance was stolen.

I have two dogs and two kids and don't have a problem with the ordinance. The dog lovers/supports of Lakewood have done a great job of building and maintaining a dog park.

Well, I do have an issue with it. Do you walk your dogs daily? Do you take your kids to the play ground daily? Is your dog(s) young and full of energy? Yeah, I may not be as concerned with this ordinance if my dog was 14 and just sat around and slept the days away, but she's not like that at all.

I guess I would be happy if this was my biggest problem in Lakewood.

I am so tired of this argument. Yes, we have plenty of issues here that need attention... bigger fish to fry. So we just ignore all of the other things we care about until we fix the bigger fish? That will take years. Not only that, I think everyone has different issues and this is one that affects me. It's not a big one, but it's important to me. Thank you for minimizing it.

The dogs are the least of the worry for our parks. I hadn't been to Madison on months and was so shocked and disheartened to see half the swings missing, litter all over the grass, of course no basket ball hoops, and a very unmowed lawn!!!! It looked like an abandoned inner city!

Just having been there the other day, I can tell you it didnt look like that and the bathrooms were open and clean. Also, I am on the 'Friends of Madison Park' and they are getting new playground equipment very soon. People were using the tennis courts and the baseball field. I understand the hoops were taken down because there were people using them and causing problems.

[Valerie Molinski]

when enough middle class folks amble through the park with their dogs unleashed, it wards off the ghetto kids.

Yeah, haha . But you know what? You're kinda right. I need to walk my dog, she needs exercise. If she were allowed in the parks, I would visit them more often instead of having to bypass them. Use of the parks by more people who care, like myself, WOULD ward off the people that are causing problems.

[Justine Cooper]

I am saying from last year to this year BIG difference in the park. I am glad to hear new equipment is coming but the unmowed grass, the litter, and half the swings missing were really there. No hoodlums, just normal young teens hanging out. Bathroom locked on a Saturday late afternoon. It was very different than when we first moved here. And I will never, ever get the argument of taking down the hoops.

And when I say that dogs are the least of the parks worry, I do mean that not allowing them in the park is not resulting in a clean park anyway. I also would love to walk my dog up there with my kids from Clarence and I do believe the majority of dog owners who did that would be responsible in this area.

[Justine Cooper]

If we put back up the hoops, AND let dog owners walk their dogs at the park it could be a natural diversion to any "problems" with youth that seemingly caused the hoops to be taken down. AND if we create a strong juvenile diversion program in Lakewood, since there seems to be little to no repercussions for youth committing crime in this county, we could easily have those youths doing community service picking up dog poo and other litter at the park. A hand for a hand in this day and age should result in teens who vandalize, steal, etc. cleaning up the city. It could be a win-win, led by volunteers with pit bulls on a leash walking them around.

[Brad Hutchison]

A hand for a hand in this day and age should result in teens who vandalize, steal, etc. cleaning up the city. It could be a win-win, led by volunteers with pit bulls on a leash walking them around.

Stop promoting negative pit bull stereotypes! My dog would just try to play with the vandals and run off with their rags.

I've always felt that more crimes - particularly of the "victimless" sort (i.e. graffiti) and those committed by minors - should be "punished" with community service. Give them something to be proud of, and once they've cleaned it, they won't vandalize it again, and will help keep their friends from doing it.

If no one is mowing/maintaining the park, seems like poop bag dispensers would be that much more affordable.

[David Anderson]

How do you pick up pee?

Is it any worse for a kid to fall face first in a pile than a puddle?

[Brad Hutchison]

How do you pick up pee?

Is it any worse for a kid to fall face first in a pile than a puddle?

Maybe we can enclose all the parks, so we don't have to worry about bird poop or mud puddles either.

Or maybe some people are better suited for indoor activities.

[David Anderson]

Good point, Brad.

In the end (no pun intended), you feel that dog owners should not be made to pick-up doggie waste because poop is ubiquitous - so what's the point.

[Colleen Wing]

Our female dogs' urine kills grass faster than gasoline. Check out my back yard in the summer if you ever wondered.

At least then the city wouldn't have to mow.

[Brad Hutchison]

Good point, Brad.

In the end (no pun intended), you feel that dog owners should not be made to pick-up doggie waste because poop is ubiquitous - so what's the point.

Not at all, David. Dog owners absolutely should pick up after their dogs. But if someone avoids going to a park because of the possibility of stepping in some form of animal waste, or otherwise something considered gross, then they're not really a park person to begin with.

Perhaps they're this type instead.

[David Anderson]

That's hilarious, Brad. I was/am being a bit dramatic with your point and am glad we're keeping humor involved.

I could have missed it but I don't remember anyone opining that they won't go to a dog friendly park for fear of stepping in something unsanitary. However, you feel filth is omnipresent but that owners “shouldâ€￾ (why not must) pick-up doggie droppings (without regard to the dog lifting a leg to spray everything that doesn’t move).

Note that most professionals feel the waste of domesticated pets contain parasites and bacteria – resulting in disease – not readily found in wild bird waste or that of other free range animals that may frequent a public park/soccer field such as raccoons or dear.

I take your point as being that we should try to find the balance that makes parks as clean as possible without outlawing dogs. I’m just not sure where Lakewood’s policy is on this matter. There should be a comprehensive set of ordinances that deal with pets, security and cleanliness. It just seems as though we are just taking stabs in the dark.

Come on Lakewood officials, “Doodyâ€￾ calls.