Monday question: Put a leash on it!

This is why we need more "dog zone" parks, such as was Brookline's compromise. It wasn't easy, but compromises were made, and the town got there.

My sister-in-law moved out of her long-time community because it wasn't dog friendly, and she moved to a city with lots of dog parks.

It's a tricky issue for those of us who are dog lovers. On the one hand, we want our cherished pets to have the freedom to run. On the other hand, there are always those freak attacks. The poop issue bothers me more than that. Dogs can carry their own litter bags (available at a pet store near you). But if I were the LW, I would also lobby her community to have poop bags placed in all parks and anywhere else dogs and their humans congregate. Ever see the poop bag boxes at Castle Island?

People will disobey leash laws. You can always go to your animal control officer and report the man, or you Police Department or Board of Health. This is a case where etiquette merges with public safety. Don't confront the man. But I hope you would also report people who spit on the ground; sneeze without covering their mouths, and p*ss on someone's lawn. These people probably don't bite - but they impact public health in their own special ways.

Just bc a dog is on a leash doesn't mean it's well behaved or well trained. I saw a pitbull on a leash attack and nearly kill another dog who was also leashed. I'd take a well behaved off leash dog to a misbehaving on the leash dog almost any day of the week. I'm not bashing pit bulls....just idiotic owners.

If you generally see him, I think it's ok to casually mention that other people feel more comfortable with dogs on leashes when you bump into him next. It's all about tone though. Something like, "hey we bump into each other a lot on this route, and while I know you have good control over your dog, other people might not. have you ever considered walking him on a leash or at least carrying a leash with you?"

It could be he can't afford a leash...or he's living in his car and doesn't have access to plastic bags with which to pick up dog poop. Or like me, the one time I don't bring 2 or 3 bags is the time the dog decides to poop over everything in sight. Or the dog had diarrhea and used up the supply.

And how do you know it's just him who was pooping without scooping?....believe me, I've seen the dog owners in this neighborhood. It's never just ONE bad owner, but a host of them...

I have to say that as a biker, unleashed dogs drive me nuts, especially when they are on bike paths. I am constantly terrified of inadvertently decapitating some poor dog who decides something smells good right where I'm about to bike.

reindeer girl, why should a community have to pay for poop bags, and then the cleaning up of them and restocking of them. I don't have a dog, I don't want a dog, and don't want to support a dog. While a station of poop bags may be nice and may not cost much, I am sorry I don't want my tax dollars going to pay for those things there are other things to spend the money on. A few dollars here and few there and we are talking real money that can impact town budgets.

I would let the owner that doesn't leash his dog know that others are uncomfortable and that there is a leash law. I might even go further and say that you have noticed a lot of dog do-do and are reminding everyone, since you don't know who the guilty party is, you see to pick up after their dog.

I am new to dog ownership, and am constantly flummoxed by what correct dog etiquette is in certain situations. Can I leave the little woofer in my car while I run into the bank, or will someone call the cops and report it as abuse? Why did I leave my dog in the car, when that lady with the poodle just walked right into the bank with it?

Most humans are terrible at taking constructive criticism from strangers, but at the same time, most of us don't go out of our way to be jerks, and could use a gentle nudge back to the correct path.

If it was only an issue of this guy walking the dogs off leash, you could go up to him, pat the dog, ask his name, etc, then casually mention that your friend's brother's cousin just got a HUGE ticket from a beat cop for walking her dog off-leash and maybe he ought to be careful - you know those cops... Make yourself a co-conspirator instead of an accuser.

As for the not picking up poop, that's just plain ignorant and rude, and it gives ignorant and rude people like WES fuel for their fires. It makes those of us who are trying to be responsible dog people look bad. If he's letting the dog walk off leash AND not picking up his poop, tell him if he wants to walk his dog somewhere where poop isn't an issue, he can feel free to wander the city dump.

JustQ your comment to WES was rude and uncalled for. Communities do NOT have an obligation to subside dog owners in this way and that opinion should be respected.

Actually WES was rude and communities should decide by majority if they want to subsidize dog owners. My taxes dollars subsidize all kinds of other groups that I am not a part of. Further, over 30% of US households have a dog which is larger than many other groups we support. I suppose WES doesn't want his property taxes to support schools. Or maybe he has kids so it is ok.

Dog owners should be responsible, scoop the poop, and follow leash laws (or work to change them). I have a dog and I agree with the biker. Dogs off leash can be a hazard for others. Keep them on leash until you get to the park. As dog owners we should kindly let other dog owners know when they are not being responsible so that we keep the privileges for everyone.

Your best bet is to talk to him the way JusQ suggested, as a fellow dog lover. You might even get some information you didn't anticipate. I once was approached by someone concerned that I was walking my dog off leash, and I was able to show her that my dog had a remote collar (approved by the park rangers) and was indeed under control. And I learned that my effort to disguise the collar was a bad idea; when people could see the collar, it reassured them that the dog was under control.

I agree with JusQ, a friendly chat with the big yellow mutt's owner would go a long way towards communicating what seems to be the expected dog-walking etiquette (using leashes, picking up poop). Sometimes people are aware they MIGHT be breaking some written or unwritten rule but they go ahead anyway, without any truly malicious intent, simply because they think "if I was bothering someone, they'd say something".

NancyG, I'm interested, has anyone ever questioned your use of the radio collar? Is it one of those which gives the dog a small electric shock?

WES, communities pay for a lot of things that only directly affect part of the community, but in general make it a more welcome place for all. Tot lots and playgrounds are examples, as are trash cans, those enclosed ash-can things for smokers, etc. If putting up Mutt Mitts dispensers encourages more owners to clean up, doesn't that make a park better for everyone who uses it? Sounds like a worthwhile investment to me.

I am also in favor of the JustQ's conspiratorial advice. I, as a dog owner, would hear that with much more welcoming ears than someone just telling me to leash my dog.

Speaking as a dog owner, this isn't a private etiquette situation. The dog walker's behavior is a public offense that has already negatively affected others besides the LW, even other dog owners. The City of Boston has deemed this behavior illegal, worthy of a ticket and a fine. The LW is within her rights to drop a dime on this jerk, and need not justify doing so to anyone, even though her safety is ample justification. Those who have recommended approaching the owner, or even patting the dog (something never to be done with a strange dog!), must remember that the LW is "more than a little wary of off-leash dogs". If she is nervous, the dog will know, and depending on the dog, and the unconscious signals it receives from its owner, may decide to act. We don't know the size of the risk, but it exists. It's been said before on this blog, safety trumps etiquette. Law enforcement, whether animal control or the police, are trained on how to deal with animals and their obstreperous owners, who are the root of any animal problem anyway.

All dog owners should definitely be responsible and leash and pick up after their best fur friend. I'd tell this person to do the same as JustQ suggested. Befriend him and let him know the situation. Just the other day, while walking my pup, a neighbor asked me if I was carrying a poop baggie for my dog. Right away I pulled out my baggy and agreed with her that whoever was leaving behind poop on her lawn was in the wrong. I also mentioned that it was unfortunate because it made responsible dog owners such as myself get weird looks from people every time my pup went number two. There's a proper pooch protocol folks to walking your pup - this is a good article to tell that dog owner to read http://bit.ly/3uqPcj

Rog is correct. This is not an etiquette question at all. One might as well ask whether it is polite to let a driver know he is going the wrong way down a one-way street. Call Animal Control, and ask for ideas on how you can help them identify the culprit, so he can be fined within an inch of his overdraft protection.

My last comment was half an answer. If the LW chooses to approach the dog walker, either herself or through a third party, she should be calm and collected, but direct and clear. This guy needs to hear statements such as "I don't feel safe", "I don't like picking up other people's dog poop", or "This behavior is illegal". Again, no justifications are necessary. He's in the wrong, the LW is in the right. The pleasantries and hints suggested by others are well meant, but aren't going to acted on by someone who is OK with leaving feces in his wake for others to clean up. Sometimes the most civil and polite course of action is to state needs, expectations, and consequences clearly and plainly with no chance of misunderstanding.

Our dog plays with a group where the humans are extremely protective of the access we have to a beautiful public park and not only clean up after their own dogs, but also clean up stray poop less considerate owners left behind, as well as trash, bottles, broken glass, etc. Once a stranger (to us) and his dog walked by and after the dog did its business, the fellow started to stroll off, leaving the business behind. One of our group called after him in a cheery voice, "Hey, did you forget a bag? I have one!", gently waving a plastic bag in her hand. She jogged over, gave it to him, and he picked up the poop.

It might have worked because her dog was much larger than his dog, or he was outnumbered by our group, or he genuinely did forget a bag and was grateful for the help. But it worked nonetheless, and I thought it was pretty classy.