Here's the dirty truth about the dog poop at Ann Arbor's Slauson Middle School
Caption for photo: Dog owners have been quietly using the schoolyard at Slauson Middle School on Saturdays as a dog park, although it violates Ann Arbor city ordinances.
Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com
Enough of the excuses and proclamations by dog owners that they clean up everything; this simple truth is THEY DON’T.
Speaking as a teacher and the athletic director at Slauson Middle School, I weekly see the evidence of what’s left by dogs and their owners on the ground and on our kids.
Rusty Fuller is a teacher, coach and athletic director at Slauson Middle School.
Those citizens who proclaim the activities are “victimless” should spend a day as a PE teacher helping kids clean up or as a classroom teacher trying to teach in a classroom whose floor and smell has been blessed by what got carried in on some student’s shoes or more importantly, a child that has to put up with the physical and social consequences.
Put the same density of dogs across the street at Waterworks Park (which Slauson students aren’t even allowed to use during the day) or at the Band Shell area of West Park and watch the reaction from parents and other citizens who find their children or themselves amongst the poop and pee left behind. We even have “responsible” dog owners who bring their dogs on the fields during the school day who have to be reminded by one of our teams’ favorite in unison cheers - “ HEY, PICK UP YOUR POOP!”
The overly light-hearted Ann Arbor.com article sidestepped serious reporting by not even contacting anybody at Slauson or the Ann Arbor Public schools. It’s just a matter of time before some off the leash dog does go after somebody on school grounds or YOUR KID lands in the poop before the problem gets the attention it deserves from the district and the city.
Responsible dog owners (and I consider myself one) don’t take their pets to party in areas where large numbers of kids play. We’re tired of asking respectfully for owners to go somewhere else, and while I’m sympathetic to the city’s failure to provide what they want in terms of dog parks, Slauson should not be the solution.
It’s time for the school district and the city to step up and for truly responsible dog owners to realize that Slauson and other children’s playgrounds are NOT appropriate places for their dogs to play unleashed, poop and pee.
Rusty Fuller is a teacher, coach and athletic director at Ann Arbor’s Slauson Middle School. He described himself as a long-time Old West Side resident and dog owner, as well as a “multiple-multiple time dog poop stepper-inner and cleaner-upper at Slauson.”
Comments
hmsp
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 5:38 p.m.
The squelching of the Dog Party was such an all-important mission that the City Attorney was there on Saturday. If they do intend to keep on sending squad cars every Saturday, eventually, there will be no regular, Saturday AM pick-up of the week's poop. As noted here before, the area where the Party congregates is the cleanest part of the field. Head over towards the sledding hill/soccer area, and that's where you will currently find the poop. Now it will be everywhere.
mrgrumpy
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
Good new, folks. I was at Slauson on Saturday and witnessed the police warning all those nasty poopers that they would be prosecuted if they continue to use the "Slauson Bowl" as their doggie dumping grounds. I think that the Saturday poop-fest is history and our children can now compete in a clean, antiseptic environment. At least, sort of. All we have to do now, is figure out how to keep the cats, racoons, skunks, possums, squirrels, chipmunks, birds and other vermin from defiling our school grounds. Anybody got any ideas? Something involving B-B guns and night vision goggles? Napalm?
Rici
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 6:42 p.m.
Most of those animals (except perhaps the cats) don't defecate out on the grass. Some of them (the squirrels and chipmunks) have very small poop pellets so you wouldn't notice it, and it's probably not going to cause anyone to slip.
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 1:24 p.m.
I would encourage any parents or students from Slauson that feel dog walkers should stay out of school yards to... Be at Slauson next Saturday with signs and a camera to protest this disgusting activity! Someone with more computer knowledge than I should start a facebook page for the posting of photos of illegal dog walkers! I will be happy to provide plenty of photos.
Richard Roe
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 1:15 a.m.
If you don't pick up after your dog you are a nasty, gross human being. Furthermore, if your dog cannot behave itself in public you are an irresponsible owner.
WLD1
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 12:07 a.m.
People that want to complain, and have the government control everything are socialists. They want the government to control and suppress what they don't like. That is simply socialism. You listen to the dog haters and all they want is socialism. The government to control everything.
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
Wrong! All we want is for dog owners to be responsible citizens. Is that too much to ask?
Cendra Lynn
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 7:53 p.m.
Lots of energy regarding dog poop, but nothing regarding public safety. You could call the police, but no one would be available to come.
Charley Sullivan
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 10:40 a.m.
Maybe if we stopped calling it "poop," something a little child does in potty training, and used other, well, more expletive terms I won't use here so I don't run afoul of the annarbor.com posting police, it would seem like a real problem. But anyone who wants to call it poop sorta gets what they get . . .
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
--it happens!
babs
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 4:03 a.m.
Mr. Fuller states the obvious very well. The poop discussion has merit from a sanitary standpoint and I am so sorry for anyone anywhere that steps in the mess, disgusting. But it can be cleaned, a more serious problem is off-leash or poorly controlled animals. It seems more than a few dog owners could never imagine their animals would attack someone, until they do. My 22 yr old niece is recovering from a dog bite on her thigh/buttock, inflicted by one of 3 dogs that sprang from the backyard of a property as she was running one day. Happened NOT in Ann Arbor, but in a small town out of state. The dogs were not registered by the city and essentially, nothing was done by police, just mild reprimands to the renters of the home. Hate to sayit but it was 2 pitbulls and a boxer, I know they can get a bad rap. She was able to disengage and get away, what about a child.....?
a2chrisp
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 2:11 a.m.
I'll say this...I am not supportive of the Slauson dog group. It really isn't a good idea to have that many dogs off leash in the same area at a school. At the very least, its bad PR for dogs...especially considering that apparently every person that reads this newspaper thinks that dogs are the devil. That being said, we live in a community. I pay for your stupid interests I don't care about, you pay for mine. That's just how it works. I personally don't take my dog to dog parks, because he doesn't have a strong immune system and would get sick from being around that many dogs, and he is also scared of other dogs. But he does love to play ball and so I play fetch with him at various parks around the city. I don't plan on stopping. I've only had a couple of people say anything to me, and my dog has never had an incident. Most people are friendly, and my dog leaves people alone. I pick up after my dog, and he would crap in the park whether he is off leash or not, so I find that point a bit moot. I find overall that if I keep to myself and leave people alone, they generally do the same. I don't really have a point to all this...but I do think that everybody needs to calm down a bit. And no one should have a dog party at a school. That's just stupid. And if it is that out of control that there is poop everywhere, then its time for people to stop taking their dogs there.
KMHall
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
There is a difference between viewing "dogs as the devil" and resenting the filth.
hmsp
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:49 a.m.
@ Unusual Suspect, Re: "...you're not leaving it cleaner than you found it." You are assuming a previously-pristine environment. I assure you it is not. Read my post re: Eberwhite Woods — Sure, petri dish tests of the ground my dog defecates on will sometimes, not always, read positive after I clean up. But as positive as those two drywall buckets I filled up? I think not. That's the point: the Sat AM crowd starts cleaning up after others as soon as they arrive. So yes, they leave the grounds cleaner. And re: "Halfway to Ypsi or South Lyon? Really? They are within the Ann Arbor city limits." Sorry, I grossly exaggerated by 100% how much further away Ypsi is than the Swift Run Dog Park: from Slauson, they are BOTH about 6 1/2 miles away. But yes, Olson Park is only about 1/5 of the way to S.Lyon. As for whether I "love close enough to the dog park" or not, stay out of my bedroom! ;)
Rici
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:21 a.m.
Slauson students might not be allowed to use Waterworks during the day, but they are over there regularly. I've even seen you (Mr Fuller) there with students at lunch time...
hmsp
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
It really is too bad that the city blew off dog owners requests/proposals for dog parks that aren't halfway to South Lyon or Ypsi. Faced with a problem in need of a solution, Ostrich Syndrome set in with the powers that be. And I realize that it is an impossible argument to win, but the Saturday crowd DOES leave the place cleaner than they found it. One poster here complained about poop on the soccer field, far from where the Sat. AM group congregates. Hmm, maybe they should rotate around the city, cleaning up multiple parks — Scarlett sounds like a good candidate for a Dog Party visit! There is no question that there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners out there: At the end of winter a year ago, Eberwhite Woods was so disgusting after the thaw that I took a small shovel and a drywall bucket along on a couple of dog walks. I filled that bucket all the way up to the top with poop two days in a row! And what dog poops right along the path? The ones walking right beside their owners! It really is the lone people who don't think anyone is watching who are the problem. I would bet that Slauson is cleaner than the Eberwhite playground, say. But as I said, I realize making an argument in favor of the Sat AM Dog Party is an impossible position to defend. Dog owners lobbied the City unsuccessfully for something at West Park, which has an almost identical, though not quite as good, set of natural and man-made boundaries (the main attraction of the Slauson venue). It's crazy that Southeast and Olson Parks — roughly 5 to 7 miles away — are currently the only legal options. Tom Whitaker's suggested venue on Crest has been proposed before, and it is a good one — there has been almost zero use of that space for as far back as I can remember, back to the 50s. Being right on the street as it is, it would, of course, need fencing, as would any appropriate dog park. If the city would sign off on it, I'm sure that the money could be raised at one Sat. AM Dog Party.
YpsiVeteran
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 1:49 a.m.
In addition to the two parks you mentioned, there is a third "legal option": your own backyard.
Unusual Suspect
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
Unless you're catching your dogs movements and urine before they hit the ground, you're not leaving it cleaner than you found it. Halfway to Ypsi or South Lyon? Really? They are within the Ann Arbor city limits. Those dog parks have been there long enough that when you acquired the dog you currently have that's where they were, and it was no secret. If you decided to have a dog where you live now, and were fully aware you did not love close enough to the dog park for your liking, it's your own fault. I think you would get along just great with the people who bought a house at the end of the runway at Ann Arbor Airport and now complain about the noise.
huh7891
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:15 a.m.
My suggestion: if the dogs can do it ..darn it... so can you ! Anytime you feel the urge to poo ..squat down just like they do and walk away when you're done. Maybe that will call attention to the problem!
alterego
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 11:39 p.m.
And all that poo goes to to the river, increasing the E. Coli count. One of the reasons why it's not a desirable place to swim.
Stan Hyne
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
My dogs Poo goes into the trash and into the land fill.
Red Floyd
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 9:24 p.m.
Maybe Slauson needs a BB Gun Team. Saturday practices would be awesome!
Rici
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:43 a.m.
or archery! more trendy and Ann Arbor like :^)
boo
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 10:36 p.m.
That was gonna be my idea! lol You are probably going to get deleted.
CincoDeMayo
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 9:22 p.m.
I agree with Carolyn - even if you pick up your dog's poop, think about where you are leaving the residue or urine. It is sooo easy to walk your dog along the extensions and NOT in peoples' yards. NOT in peoples' gardens. I just don't understand why so many people do that. Granted, the mess (even if picked up) is still on the extension, but better there I think than in gardens and yards.
CincoDeMayo
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
Does any location rival "Dog Poop Hill" at Scarlett??
Mak
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 7:26 p.m.
The issue with dog poop pollution is grossly overlooked! With over 78 million owned dogs in the US, a significant volume of infectious poop in the community is being generated daily! A fundamental behavior change need to happen among dog owners starting from education about dog waste health threats, disinfectant misconceptions, and a prevention mindset...visit www.dinpoo.com for more useful info.
justcurious
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 7:25 p.m.
Simple solution. Put a lock on the school yard and only let the gate be opened for school activities. Is this a fenced area? It looks like it is.
Rici
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:42 a.m.
It's a very big green area and while there are fences in sections, many stretches are not fenced at all (such as the entire length along Crest).
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 4:49 p.m.
Perhaps it's time for a little of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqewojda3M0
drewk
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
I thought dogs weren't even allowed on AAPS property.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
They're not, unless you're an entitlement-minded Old West Sider.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
Are there any Mayoral wannbe's who live maybe a block or two away involved in this group of scofflaws?
Rici
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:41 a.m.
Not sure about mayoral candidates, but a county commissioner (Conan Smith) and a state representative (Rebekah Warren) live on 8th right near the east entrance to the Slauson fields...
Mike Musil
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 3:39 p.m.
As a dog owner, I ALWAYS pick up after him. I have not used Slauson as a dog park and do not intend to. Ann Arbor has one, and it is a designated dog park, and as someone who played football for Coach Fuller 25 years ago, I can tell you he had us running, tackling, doing bear crawls, etc. I can't imagine doing this is a bunch of doggy doo. Please people, use a little common sense, and consider other people instead of just yourselves. Put your dog in the car and go to swift run. On a side note, Coach Fuller, do you own a time machine? Because you look the same as you did in 1987.
J. A. Pieper
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:10 a.m.
Mike, I used to teach at Slauson, and you are right, he does look like he used to when I taught there 26 years ago!
Alina
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 3:10 p.m.
start writing tickets and issuing fines for dog poops left behind!!
Carolyn
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
I have NEVER understood why it is okay for dog owners to take their pets on walks to urinate and defecate on their neighbors' lawns (regardless of whether the feces is ultimately picked up). I am so tired of finding not only the feces but also the "burn" spots on my lawn.
E Claire
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 7:48 p.m.
have the same problem, two big burns spots on my lawn. i love dogs, owned them in the past, but never felt it was the city's or anyone elses responsibility to provide an area for them to run and play. your dog, your responsibility
dotdash
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.
You should never plant food anywhere near a street that predates the ban on leaded gas. Dog urine is good for you, compared to lead.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
These types of dog owners are also why you can't plant things like raspberries anywhere near the sidewalk. They will let their dogs urinate all over your food.
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:39 p.m.
People who will break one law or rule - taking their dog into a prohibited area - are notorious for breaking further rules, like cleaning up after the dog.
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:38 p.m.
Why aren't they giving out $500 tickets for not cleaning up after your dog? And an additional $500 for taking your dog into a prohibited area. Convictions are easy because video phones are so popular, and DNA testing is inexpensive. Write the ordinance so a convinction requires the perp to pay for the DNA test in addition to the $500 fine.
Jack
Thu, May 3, 2012 : 6:13 p.m.
Unusual Suspect - I think you need to read the comments again. Take your filters down.
WLD1
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 12:09 a.m.
People that want to complain, and have the government control everything are socialists. They want the government to control and suppress what they don't like. That is simply socialism. You listen to the dog haters and all they want is socialism. The government to control everything.
jim
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
No animal hatred in Ann Arbor? What about people who threaten to "end your pet?"
Unusual Suspect
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 3:13 a.m.
Entirely Bogus, Jack. I don't see any hatred of dogs or dog owners here. A lot of us are dog owners. But we're responsible, law-abiding dog owners. That's the difference between us and the Saturday morning scofflaws.
Jack
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.
Oxy - Actually, seeing the hatred of people on this board toward dogs and their owners, I don't think I would ever want to own a dog here. I was considering adopting, as I love dogs, but after seeing the almost visceral hatred of them displayed here, and it goes far beyond the playground issue, I won't be doing so. I would be afraid to. So why on earth would I want funds to go to the HS?
Jack
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
Indeed. It should go on their criminal records. And they should do jail time. How about life without parole?
oyxclean
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
And then donate the fines to the Humane Society!
Tom Whitaker
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
Thanks, Coach Fuller! Attention dog owners in the Slauson area: There is a large vacant parcel of land located at 300 Crest Avenue (Parcel #: 09-09-403-004) that is currently owned by the City of Ann Arbor. This parcel is directly across Crest Ave. from the Slauson athletic field. I suggest that you all get together and raise some money and petition the City to make this into a neighborhood dog park, with you all providing some seed money for site prep and fencing. Offer to form a neighborhood association of dog owners to take responsibility for routine maintenance. Apparently you already have an "in" with the Parks Advisory Commission, and I'm sure your Fifth Ward councilmembers would be happy to help (in fact, Mike Anglin serves on the PAC, too.)
Ricardo Queso
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
Thank you Mr. Fuller!
dks
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
Thanks, Mr. Fuller. When the original article came out, I asked my daughter (an 8th grader at Slauson) about the claim that the dog owners actually pick up the poop. She laughed incredulously and said that before every soccer practice, they have to scout out all the poop piles and put cones over them so they can attempt to avoid them as they're playing soccer. "There's poop ALL OVER the place," she said. Coach Fuller and Coach Strite are generally the ones cleaning up after the irresponsible dog owners. I know they don't get paid enough for that.
ViSHa
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2 p.m.
Maybe aa.com could create a Wall of Shame for those "caught in the act". Although nothing would probably come of it, it might have some entertainment value, lol. And I agree with Mr. Fuller, the original light-hearted article should have had some input from teachers and folks from aaps (unless they were and wouldn't comment?).
DubiousWorth
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.
Expanding @Fairfield's idea: Create a website, OffLeashA2(dot)com, where users can upload photos of irresponsible dog owners. Shame is a strong motivator. Any developers interested?
f4phantomII
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 6:10 p.m.
I love it: eStocks and ePillory.
ViSHa
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
Guess we had the same thought, lol.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
This problem with the entitlement-minded dog owners is exactly why there needs to be licenses for animal owner, not just the the animals themselves, and it would be revoked for this kind of irresponsible nonsense.
Dog Guy
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
The idea of licensing dog owners is as silly as . . . well . . . hmmm, maybe not a bad idea.
breadman
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:11 p.m.
I have called and turned in neighbor for them walking there dogs, and letting them poop in a yard. Guess what the CITY does nothing about the issue. A lady takes her dog to Maryfield park {westwood St.} and lets her husky just poop whereever and walk away. Roll poop bags are so cheap 4.89 meijer for a package of 120 bags. I buy them cheaper then a ticket if you gat one. CITY could make money...
PhillyCheeseSteak
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
Well said Rusty!
ToddAustin
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
AMEN! Thanks for telling truth to dog owners, Mr. Fuller! Ann Arbor, how about some enforcement of the laws on the books - and removing that superfluous sign about picking up poop in a no-dogs area?
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.
not to veer off topic but "middle school athletic director" is a title I struggle with.
eom
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:46 a.m.
Of course you are going to veer off topic...it's another chance to slam our education system! YahooOoO! Forget the fact that Rusty Fuller has been a dedicated Golden Bear for thirty years or so. Forget the fact that he works three different jobs...teacher, coach and AD. I'm sure you're picturing his mansion, new cars and money counting machine...yet, as his neighbor, I must report he lives in a quiet little house with a mini van and another van that's been with him since the first Bush was in office. This article is about how people treat SLAUSON, not how horrible our school system is. Sheesh. Thank you Rusty Fuller. Thank you.
J. A. Pieper
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:06 a.m.
EyeHeartA2, not only does she make $70k more, she only works 4 days a week, having a three day weekend to go home to Pennsylvania!
Nick Lacy
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 7:23 p.m.
As a former Golden Bear, Rusty was and is an icon. I feel lucky to have had such a positive person in my life as a middle school student. His role as a Middle School Athletic Director means he spends an unbelievable amount of time at the school because he sees the importance of the work he's doing and the impact it has on the kids that go through Slauson. Go Bears!!
f4phantomII
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 6:07 p.m.
It appears that in addition to AD, he is a teacher and coach.
ArthGuinness
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
Craig - what's your proposal then?
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:09 p.m.
If you are going to have middle school athletics, you need a director. If you are going to have a team, you need a coach. If you are going to have a company, you need a boss. The crux of the issue isn't that there is a director, it really is how much incremental pay does he get for this? The article clearly states that he is a teacher as well, so I would guess that AD comes as a part time gig, and as such might pay $1500 or so (just a guess). Usually, they don't do these kind of things for the money, but the $0.72/hr they get for it is a nice gesture. Lots of places to cut money, that's for sure. Say....doesn't our new super make $70k more than the old one? That's about 1 full time teacher right there.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.
You dog hating people just don't get it. Everybody in Ann Arbor has the god given right to do whatever they want whenever they want to do it. Rules are for the other 109999 people. They also have the god given right to WALK to whatever they want to do. Clearly, you are you just want to violate these dog's rights and the rights of their companion people.
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 1:17 p.m.
EyeHeartA2 Just trolling? Have you been there? When will you be there next? I will be there with my camera! Please feel free to exercise your right! But let me know when you will be there!
smokeblwr
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:52 p.m.
Every dog in the city should be licensed and a license should only be given to a dog owner who lives in a house and has a fenced backyard. If the dog is found outside the backyard the dog gets taken away. Dogs are dangerous even when they are leashed on a walk. I've been lunged at so many times by aggressive leashed dogs I've lost count.
just a voice
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:48 p.m.
It is possible that the dog owners at the weekend meetup are responsible and pick up the dogs poo and the poo the students see is left by others who aren't there for the dog park event. I have been on Saturday and when someone's dog poo's we yell for them to pick it up or someone else does. There is a dog that regularly come who eats poo, so his owner runs around picking up any errant poo. I walk my dogs nearly 4 miles a day, and when I see poo that wasn't picked up I wonder what kind of bad dog owner would do that.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
You are correct sir. And like I said "dogs have runny poo". I did NOT say, dogs ALWAYS have runny poo. The thing is, when going for a walk, you don't know how "it" will "turn out" until "it" is "out." 9/10 times it is fine. Number 10 is the number 2 you need to worry about.
Jack
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.
Eyeheart - Dogs have runny poo? Really? Only when ill.
oyxclean
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:13 p.m.
How would you feel if your child had to call home for clean clothes because they fell in dog feces? It doesn't matter whose dog it is, NO ONE should be letting their dog pee and defecate on school property.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:54 p.m.
Sorry, no. Dogs have runny poop and we all know you can't pick all that up. Fail.
easy123
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
It seems the defends of the pseudo-dog compound have quietened down! I love dogs, but too many in one area destroys the place.
a2migrl
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
I am the parent of a child that had the misfortune to have to make the call to get clean clothes because a dog owner did not clean up after their pet (not at Slauson). Stop using school grounds and travel to the allotted parks that the city has provided. If you do not like the location of the parks, try and get one closer to you or move closer to them. You made the choice to have the pet, now make the right/legal choice and be responsible to others around you. Schools grounds are for children, not for your dog to use as a toilet.
YpsiVeteran
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 1:40 a.m.
Mr Hyne, how about, people who don't have enough property to sufficiently exercise their dogs off-leash shouldn't own a dog, or maybe should own a dog that doesn't need that much off-leash exercise? How about a little personal responsibility?
Stan Hyne
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:11 p.m.
I walk my dog sometimes. Not in school yards. I always carry 2 plastic bags. I always clean up after my dog. The city has LOTS of dogs. They are required to be licensed and vaccinated for rabies. The city provides lots of basketball and baseball areas. They have one (?) dog park and you are required to purchase an additional license to use it. Maybe the city could provide a couple of additional Free dog parks. Obviously the need is there. This would help solve both problems.
A2James
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
Another reason why the NIMBY dog-owning crowd needs to keep "it" in their own backyard...literally
Olivia
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:34 p.m.
I am a student at Slauson, and I have experienced this. Sometimes in gym class, someone will step in the poo and they have to miss class. Also, I have experienced fear at an after school soccer practice. A very large pit bull, which was unleashed, came running at me and even though it was called several times by it's owner, did not stop until the owner came running over. I plead the dog owners to stop this uncontrolled behavior.
Peregrine
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
So a kid has to miss class due to a thoughtless, entitled dog owner. It's time to start enforcing the law and issuing citations.
TinyArtist
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
Register and lease your dogs DOES have a certain appeal.
oyxclean
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:09 p.m.
doh, I meant "leash", not "lease"!
oyxclean
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 1:07 p.m.
Thank you for your imput, Olivia! I hope the first-hand accounts from students and staff of Slauson will convince the offending dog owners to stop polluting your field. I also agree with the poster who said it is only a matter of time before somebody gets bitten by an off the lease dog. Register and lease your dogs! Its the law!
the dude
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:28 p.m.
this articale is true these dog owners have been totaly ingnoring the fact about how many kids play there and how many kids get sick there its totaly messed up
Brad
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:15 p.m.
I totally agree about the "overly light-hearted" comment about the original "article". I think the author of that bought in a little too much on the self-proclaimed "coolness" of the group there. Yet another editorial FAIL.
pbehjatnia
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
as the owner of a 3 canine pack i can only say that not all of us are selfish twits like these people. i encourage anyone seeing dogs where they shouldnt be to call the police and get the owner ticketed. for some that is the only way to learn.
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
pbehjatnia I applaud your apparent willingness to pick up what you can. HOWEVER what do you do when your dogs stool is not firm but it has diarrhea?
BobbyJohn
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:54 p.m.
Unfortunately, our city does not enforce this ordinance. Animal control and park rangers have been cut and regular police don't have the time.
Diane
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 11:54 a.m.
Fairfield, YOU are right on. Take their picture:)
the dude
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:29 p.m.
i dont hink you can look down well trying to catch a fly ball or running track u try
SonnyDog09
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
Teach your kids to look down when they walk. It is a valuable life lesson. Or, you could whine....
salinemom2712
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 11:26 p.m.
How about a more valuable lesson to pet owners: Follow the law, you're not above it, or you will be ticketed.
TinyArtist
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
Foolish comment. Consider the source.
a2cents
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 2:17 p.m.
The mentality of a scoffer and belligerent... perhaps jail time?
smokeblwr
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:49 p.m.
I refuse to give in to the Canine Agenda.
bob
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
Kids playing sports on their school fields shouldn't have to LOOK DOWN while they are running or trying to catch a ball!
OLDTIMER3
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
Sonnydog09, do you look down that closly when you run ? How about teaching the guilty dog owners how to obey the rules.
fairfield
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 11:32 a.m.
With so many people carrying cell phones, wouldn't it make sense to take pictures of dog owners and their pets, caught in the act, and then publish the pictures, or give them to the township ordinance officers for prosecution? Would yourl newspaper consider publishing such pictures? ("The Poop of the Week").
CynicA2
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 10:20 p.m.
How about "Poop du jour"?!
babs
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 4:09 a.m.
More like poop of the DAY, or poop of the hour.
tim
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 11:18 a.m.
Not cool to have your kids playing in the doggy toilet. Do not allow the dogs on school grounds.
jim
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.
They're already not allowed (see picture above). Signs don't stop anybody.
Tex Treeder
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
"It's time for... truly responsible dog owners to realize that Slauson and other children's playgrounds are NOT appropriate places for their dogs to play unleashed, poop and pee." You can't say it any better than that.
HappySenior
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 11:02 a.m.
Well said, Coach Fuller. I'm sure the same is true for all school playgrounds--and public parks--and nature trails--and neighborhood sidewalks and yards.
Hume
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 10:55 a.m.
If I had a dollar for every time I saw a dog owner faking picking up poop! There are plenty of parks that allow dogs why do they have to use a school yard?
babs
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
Ha Ha, I thought I was the only one to catch someone in THAT ACT, on MY front lawn, the lady stooping, pretending , then very briskly leaving the scene of the crime. She did not know I was spying and I was happy to see her squat, until later when the evidence was there. Argh.