Ask Nina: It’s A Dog’s Life
Our new advice column is here to help answer many of the questions we get regarding living in the Klahanie Community. If you have a question for Nina email her at asknina@gmail.com
Dear Nina,
Before I moved into Klahanie I noticed there were a lot of dogs which was great because I love dogs. I took my toddler to the playground the other day and someone had left 2 lovely doggie surprises in the middle of the lawn.
I then saw another lady watch her dog poop, and then she walked away without cleaning it. I called out to her but she just kept walking. I took my child to another park.
Why can’t people with pets clean up after them? I know the majority of owners are responsible and it is always the few that spoil it for everyone but I am geting beyond frustrated.
- At the End of My Leash
Dear At the End of My Leash,
You’re right – it is always the few that spoil it for the bunch. I don’t have a dog but I do have a toddler and know the day you were speaking of. I was at the park too that day and saw the mess on the lawn.
Owning a pet is a responsibility not everyone is up for. I try not to lose my cool and have taught my child to look out for ‘doggie bombs’. When he sees one now he says “yucky over here mama!’ I carry disinfectant wipes and move on.
I don’t want to create a community where we are policing pet ownership. However, I do think you have the right to calmly, and collectively, approach an offender and tell them to return to the scene of the crime!
The other problem is plastic bags. Most pet owners will use a plastic bag to pick up poop – but that just adds more plastic to the landfills. You can now get biodegradable poop bags at some pet stores.
I think it is the way to go.
- Nina
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Doesn’t anyone notice that the grass strip between the sidewalk and the road is almost dead.
That is caused my dog urine.
It’s understandable the grass is affected by the dog’s. But just out of curiousity, where else is better for dog’s to go? The sidewalk itself? There is no other option.
The grass btwn the sidewalk and road is not dead. It just went dormant with the heat and lak of rain. Another thing that seems surprising is the fact that if these people who complain about this should do their homework because they would then know that area is called CITY PROPERTY, owned by the City of Port Moody not strata property with an easement allowing us to walk on it and there is nothing no one can do about that strip of land so stop yapping about it.
I have a dog and I pick up after him. If I see that some loser has not done the same and the pile is near my dog’s biz, then I just pick it up at the same time, with the same bag. It’s not my first choice but I don’t think the lawn cutting crew deals with it so I think it’s the only way to keep our community from looking “shitty.” I figure if a few people do this, we can keep it looking better. I’m also in favour of harassing offenders and have no issue doing it. I think the more people make it uncomfortable for them, the more chance we have of jump-starting their brain.
Julien and Ian, thank you. As a responsible dog owner, it really bothers me that the strata of some buildings feel the need to restrict the access of our animals on strata property. Are residents not allowed to have pets? Of course we are. So why are we being punished? It seems really silly to fine someone $50 because their dog needed to go to the bathroom, where the dog has been trained to relieve itself. It’s like fining a person for using a restroom. I always clean up after my dog, and also am upset that some owners in the neighborhood do not do so. But I also think that restricting access to public areas is a bit ridiculous. Especially the boulevard between the sidewalk and road, which, as Julien pointed out, is in fact public property.
I’m relieved to see that others feel the same about this small bit of grass between the sidewalk and the road. I understand that female dogs cause those unsightly yellow stains but in the grand scheme of things…why is it such a big deal? Although I’m also of the thought that grass does not necessarily have to be green all year round either…It’s definitely city property and those threatening signs regarding being fined $50 is just laughable.