The civility of dog owners' civil infractions on Ann Arbor's Old West Side
For one hour every Saturday at Slauson Middle School, local dog owners ignore the signs.
Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com
- Related video: Dog days at Ann Arbor's Slauson Middle School
Every Saturday in the schoolyard behind Slauson Middle School, a group of Ann Arbor residents gather for the specific purpose of breaking the law.
No formal documentation ties the individuals together, and the only way to find out about their illegal meetings is word of mouth. Forget about corralling the group. Just as soon as they come together, they’ve dispersed every which way down the city’s streets.
Covering their tracks is their foremost expertise.
Before you get too worried about some rogue criminal organization, meet the dog owners of the Old West Side.
Their "crime" — if you want to call it that — has been victimless, and is barely even illegal. There's even a conflicting message on the signs that surround the park as "No pets allowed" signs are posted right next to signs explaining how pets should be handled when on the grounds.
"It seemed to me that (the city) gave up on the 'No pets allowed,' " said Rowena Gross, who was visiting from New Jersey and walking her dog, Max, on a leash past the park on Saturday. "You can't say 'no pets allowed' and then say, 'if your dog is here, it needs to be on a leash.' That sort of implies your dog's allowed to be (here)."
Confusing signs or not, the fact is the dogs aren't allowed off their leashes. Every Saturday, owners let their dogs off their leashes for an hour in the unauthorized area, a civil infraction punishable by a $25 to $500 fine.
Good luck finding an officer who will write that ticket. Really, there’s no need. The owners know they're technically breaking the law, so they self-police.
What's better than having one dog owner making sure his dog is cleaned up after? Thirty or 40 watching like hawks, with extra plastic bags in tow, just in case.
“The dog owners here appreciate having a big, wide open space for their dogs, and we're all very conscientious about picking up after our pets… it won’t work if we’re not careful,” said Jackie Freeman as her foot-high terrier with a Napoleon complex, Goblin, mixed it up with some dogs five times his size.
“This running around is more exercise than I can give him…He goes home with a smile on his face and I go home with an even bigger smile.”
The city’s stance on the unofficial gathering is exactly what the “No Pets Allowed” signs and city ordinance postings that surround the schoolyard suggest.
The gatherings, no matter how civil, are illegal.
"If it's a violation of the ordinance, it’s a violation of the ordinance,” said Kristen Larcom, senior assistant city attorney.
Enforcement of the violation isn’t exactly a high priority, though, Larcom concedes. Since budget cuts did away with an animal control officer years ago, that responsibility falls on city police, who, quite frankly, have bigger fish to fry.
“That doesn’t mean that the city finds it OK to violate the ordinance, but inevitably, the city has to respond to complaints,” Larcom said.
Not everyone is thrilled about the unleashed hour. Jonathan Flowers, one of several beach volleyball players who play at Slauson’s sand courts on Saturdays, said the dogs have used his volleyballs as chew toys and made a mess of the courts in the past.
“I wouldn’t mind if it was just like one or two dogs, but it ends up being like 30, 40 dogs that are just going crazy with no leashes,” Flowers said. “It’s not something that should be going on.”
On Saturday, a dog came onto a court and took a player’s sandal — much to the amusement of the sandal’s owner and Flowers as well.
“I’m fine with that; it’s a dog,” said Jerry Fulton, after successfully retrieving his sandal. “I think it’s funny.”
Harold Kirchen, who lives nearby and was there with his dog, herded the group further away from the courts shortly thereafter, aware the unofficial gatherings could go away if the dog owners aren’t careful.
“We try to be good neighbors, and we know it’s officially illegal to be here, so the whole thing is no harm no foul (and) we want to keep everybody happy,” Kirchen said. “Everybody’s got eyes in the back of their head.”
Police have been to Slauson to break up the party in the past, and all leash their dogs up and go on their merry way. It’s not exactly a problem, but some owners said they wished they didn’t have to worry about that sort of thing.
“We were trying to get a dog park somewhere in this neighborhood, and we’re down to just asking for an hour a day,” said Beth Biederman who has been bringing her golden retriever/lab mix, Odin, to Slauson for the unleashed hour for 4 1/2 years. “It’s just a really cool group of people…no one really organizes it, it just happens.”
John Lawter — who frequents Slauson on Saturdays with his 100-plus pound Irish Wolfhounds and tiny Highland West Terrier — is vice chair of the Park Advisory Commission and has been championing for a legal alternative to the weekly Slauson speakeasy.
“Seeing how popular this is says to me there’s a need,” said Lawter,. “Police have been out here before, so the days for (gathering at Slauson) are probably numbered, but if the city is going to enforce (the ordinance), there needs to be an alternative.”
Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
loran
Wed, Jun 27, 2012 : 5:18 p.m.
In a similar fashion, a similar group of dog owners (possibly the same ones?) meet every week end morning (roughly 9 to 11) at Haisley Elementary School, and play with their off-leashed dogs. Roughly 10 dogs and their owners. Seriously not cool.
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 12:46 p.m.
I will be at Slauson next Saturday with my CAMERA! I would encourage other to do the same. Maybe the students at Slauson could have a demonstration with signs and slogans.
newsmuse
Sat, Apr 21, 2012 : 8:38 p.m.
After the snow melts each year, there are piles of dog poop on Slauson's athletic fields. A few weeks ago, my child was outside with his class for an activity, and the students had to avoid a pile of dog poop that was out there. It might not be the Saturday group that meets at Slauson who leaves these unwanted piles behind, but some dogs and dog owner(s) knowingly or unknowingly are contributing to a problem that Slauson would prefer not to deal with. Maybe the Saturday people could also bring their own trash cans, and carry the dog poop away, rather than leave the poop trash for a Slauson custodian to empty on Mondays.
hmsp
Tue, Apr 17, 2012 : 12:11 p.m.
Well, the above complaints seem to fall into three categories: * Anti-poop. Dog haters and dog lovers alike are unanimous on this one. But as the author wrote, "What's better than having one dog owner making sure his dog is cleaned up after? Thirty or 40 watching like hawks, with extra plastic bags in tow, just in case." So the dog party folks, who leave the place cleaner than they found it, cleaner than the solo dog-walkers do, are not the problem here. * Not in a school yard. I agree. The dog party gravitated there because of the combination of natural and man-made containment. The Slauson field and West Park are very similar to each other, being old creek beds, and West Park, with a little work, would have been ideal. For whatever reason, the West Park remodel work was botched, and needs to be re-done anyway. So I hope the commenters above will put as much energy into lobbying the city for a needed resource as they have into complaining here. * It's against the law. So is jaywalking. So is driving five over. So are a lot of things that people do on a regular basis. And the police can always issue citations for those violations if they see fit, can't they? They are highly-trained professionals, with more than a bit of perspective on the real world, and if they choose to take a "No Harm, No Foul," position on this, that says something, doesn't it?
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 12:48 p.m.
"if they choose to take a "No Harm, No Foul," position on this, that says something, doesn't it?" It says that probably half of the officers have 3 dogs themselves. It also says that they have been instructed as to the laws they should enforce!
hmsp
Tue, Apr 17, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
"...the dog would have been injured had it come too near me... "I think it's time the police issue some citations." Me, too — I'd dial 911 on you in a heartbeat!
Usual Suspect
Mon, Apr 16, 2012 : 2:54 a.m.
"We try to be good neighbors" You're failing. Good neighbors obey the law.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 4:42 a.m.
It only takes a couple of bad dog owners to make enforcement probable. Sooner or later, some innocent person is going to get hurt, and the city will be liable. I was out at one of the parks the other day, and an owner was letting his dog run off-leash, illegally. The dog wasn't remotely under control and it was pure luck that it decided it wasn't that interested in me. As I am very allergic and I had what would have served as a weapon (a baseball), the dog would have been injured had it come too near me. That wasn't the only off-leash dog I saw. This one wasn't picking up after his dog, the other person was and seemed to have some control, at least. I think it's time the police issue some citations.
aawolve
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 4:31 a.m.
It's for an hour once per week, and they do keep it clean. The comments on this story cause me believe that there are some underlying anti-dog/dog-owner issues in Ann Arbor, a lot of "pet-enders" in this town.
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
aawolve "It's for an hour once per week, and they do keep it clean" Have you been there? When will you be there next? I will be there with my camera!
Unusual Suspect
Mon, Apr 16, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
So, aawolve, it's OK to break the law if you do it for justan hour each week. Do I get to choose the law, or is it only this one? Can I commit assault once per week for an hour? How about spray-painting graffiti on other people's property just for an hour each week? How about driving around your yard in a four-wheeler tearing up the grass for just one hour each week? This is SO AnnArboritish it's silly.
EyeHeartA2
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
Not pets. Companion animals. Jeeze.
Belisa
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 11:30 p.m.
I really miss having a dog. Ours pointer died at age 15 about 5yrs ago. She was a great girl ... my kids grew up with her ... lots of great memories. Youngest will go to college in the fall and I'd like to get another dog but my wife reminds me how much work they really are. Before moving here we lived in Madison WI ... just checked their current situation and there are 6 dog parks in the city, well within the midst of town. But we would always go to a county park about 9miles away ... maybe 15mins. 160 acres ... maybe 1/3 was for the dog exercise area. We would go 1-2x/wk and our dog would go nuts with the freedom. It was a lot more work going there than the neighborhood parks but the whole family really enjoyed the time together. So what I'm trying to say is maybe its worth the effort if dog owners take their dogs to the parks provided 1-2x/wk. If not ... and if there are so many owners that use the Slauson grounds ... why not petition to make it a dog park on Saturdays ... or another nearby park site. I believe in common sense before the law (sorry, I'm a sinner:) but I also don't believe in imposing my lifestyle on others and that's what seems to be happening here. I hate picking up poop to ... but I loved my dog more.
AAbob43
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 10:58 p.m.
Note: this concerted activity may constitute a criminal conspiracy. This would generally impose criminal, and civil, liability on all who take part in planning the cute "flash mob". Good spirited fun until someone is bitten, chased and injured as a result, etc. Party on! Laws don't apply to you!!
mixmaster
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 10:57 p.m.
I live in the OWS. I own a dog and walk it regularly. I have walked her at Slauson. I have no children and pay property taxes, of which about 75% go to the AAPS. Slauson "park" is public property paid for with MY tax dollars AND i my property as much as anyone else's. I will now walk my dog OFF LEASH (and act responsibly picking up her poop) at Slauson as an act of civil disobedience regardless of what any Slauson Kid or anyone else says.
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
mixmaster Are you trolling or do you truly believe this is your right? If you truly believe this is your right then please post when you will be there. I you are not willing to back up your "act of civil disobedience" with that information I suggest you find a different cause célèbre!
TNB
Mon, Apr 16, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
You are violating an Ann Arbor ordinance, on AAPS property. It is NOT your property, mixmaster. Your self-entitled attitude about your dog obviously carries over into your interpretation of your taxes, laws, and ordinances. Whine, whine, whine...I pay taxes and I don't even have kids. Laughable! I'm sure your act of ordinance violation will eventually include *leaving your dog poop behind-I'll show them kids* attitude. You are still NOT welcome on Slauson property.
Basic Bob
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 7:26 a.m.
There are lots of places that are public property that are not yours to walk your dog at. A short list would be the ball field at Veterans Park, city hall, the landfill, the Big House, the prison, or an army base. Your tax dollars at work. This is another one of those places. Don't walk your dog here.
AAbob43
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 10:53 p.m.
This illegality will seem funny and brave and forward thinking until someone is chased or bitten by a dog. Then, the City's "benign neglect" won't look so great. Slauson is not a dog park. There are other permitted uses there that are inconsistent with free-running dogs. I remember long ago, when a large number of dog owners formed the view that Saginaw Woods was fair game for off-leash dogs. I was running through there (a permitted use) and was attacked by a great Dane. Fun!
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 4:44 a.m.
Now there's no question city administration knows about this and understands the problem. Refusal to enforce is inviting a hefty lawsuit.
SlausonKid
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:34 p.m.
Slauson Middle School is Ann Arbor Public Schools property. It is NOT a dog park, and it is not a city park. That is perfectly clear to most people, and this article is not about hating dogs, or dog owners. Walk, and poop your dogs somewhere else. You are NOT welcome on Slauson property.
Usual Suspect
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 11:51 p.m.
"I pay property taxes and have no children. Slauson IS public property and nobody is going to tell me that I am not welcome there. Dog or not." Typical Ann Arborite.
mixmaster
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 11 p.m.
I pay property taxes and have no children. Slauson IS public property and nobody is going to tell me that I am not welcome there. Dog or not.
Wolf's Bane
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:33 p.m.
Dogs are not a requirement to having a good life. Dogs are accessories. We have ordinances because some of us don't like dogs. Thanks.
Wolf's Bane
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:24 p.m.
Harold stated it best: "The key is to be good neighbors!" Now, what can this group do about the rogue dog owners that are bad neighbors and skirt "the law?" What about the dog owners out there that just don't care including, clearly, the city?
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
Seeing as how AA.com would like civil discussion and all that, it never ceases to amaze me when they publish one of these hot button articles, that really has no purpose - other than to push peoples buttons I suppose.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.
If only they could figure out a way to write a story about punk rock kids swimming naked and smoking weed in the park while their dogs run offleash and they panhandle and post occupy Ann Arbor signs while shooting their guns at people. Um that would push a lot of buttons.
TNB
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
I agree, it's all about the clicks...and $$'s, right?
nuseph
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 6:36 p.m.
As the owner of a dog, I don't like this. Letting dogs run loose in an unfenced area is a risk to your own dog and potentially to others. That said, if folks have that big a problem with it, show up and complain to the people directly. Obviously the police aren't going to do anything about it, but if you make it uncomfortable enough for the perpetrators, it will probably discourage them from showing up. Also, dog poop isn't great to have on a school field, but I'd wager there's far more goose poop on a field at any given time. It would be great to have another dog park in the middle of town. Dog parks aren't inherently smelly places. Sometimes Swift Run smells in the summer, but that has more to do with poor water drainage and it being next to a giant trash heap.
nuseph
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 3:24 p.m.
Yes TCM, heaven help us if people voiced their displeasure directly to the cause of it, rather than ranting on the Internet.
TMC216
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
You said: "That said, if folks have that big a problem with it, show up and complain to the people directly." I say: I would suggest if someone has a problem -- "Stay Away"! You're suggesting confrontation and good luck with that tactic. In chatting with the neighbors, I'd suggest today's attendance was a response to a relatively benign article to an a internet posting/newspaper hardly anyone reads?! That the article was written opened a can of trouble and you know the phrase about "opinions & such -- everyone has one"? I'd also indicate to all that this whole "One Hour of Saturday Lawlessness" has been a very cordial and safe neighborhood experience that I've been participating in for the last 3 years. I've yet to see a real problem.
TMC216
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 6:14 p.m.
An update: Seemingly a record number of 2 legged lawbreakers and their 4 legged accomplices were in attendance for the criminal flash mob at Slauson Junior High's 04/14/12 event. Despite the one hour of heinously illegal activity, the field was clean and civilization in The People's Republic of Ann Arbor did not collapse.
TNB
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 11:28 p.m.
Slauson Middle School...calling it junior high, you're dating yourself there, grandpa! ;-)
Themadcatter
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
Not only is dog poop on public areas nasty...it can be dangerous. I personally slipped on a pile of soggy poop while speed walking in the dark to get out of the rain. I fell onto a sidewalk, injuring my knee and knocking my head on a wooden structure This was probably left from a dog being walked on a leash rather than off leash as the location was on a sloped grassy extension just off an alleyway between houses. Another note, I personally have witnessed people on their daily dog walks, keep walking as their dog stops "to smell the roses" - and - leave a pile. The dog walker, with plastic bag in hand, is oblivious to the dump because they're so used to their dog stopping at every tree and bush to tak a sniff and lift a leg that they don't even realize their own doggy has left a prize behind for his neighbor to pick up (and slip on). I did call this to the attention of one neighbor as he strolled past oblivious. He apologized and backtracked to clean up pile. I'm sure he was embarrassed.
Elijah Shalis
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.
After reading this I have come to the conclusion that the Police won't do anything and dog owners arn't getting it. So we should propose a city ordinance allowing the use of Paintball against dog owners on school property(not the dogs/just the owners). I bet kids would love to enforce that law. It wouldn't cost the city a dime.
ViSHa
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 12:56 a.m.
Civil? I've read your other posts....pot meet kettle!
mixmaster
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 11:02 p.m.
So you're advocating violence against dog owners. How civil of you.
A2Student
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
It is NOT a Dog Park! It is a school yard. It is not a City Park at all. Police officers should be enforcing this ordinance. This is not an article filled with comments by dog haters; it is about people fed up with a select group of dog owners, breaking an ordinance on AAPS property.
jcj
Sun, Apr 29, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.
mixmaster Please let us know when you will be there!
mixmaster
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 11:03 p.m.
It is public property supported by my tax dollars even tho I do not have any children.
Chimay
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:43 a.m.
Geez. If dog owners want a dog park near downtown, then organize yourselves and work through the proper channels to get one. Woman in Ypsilanti - thank you for stereotyping all Ann Arbor residents as uptight. I deeply appreciate your insight into the lives and actions of all 114,000 of us which led you to this single conclusion.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.
Ok, I also enjoy it when people take their dogs to public school property. I guess I pretty much consider the school yards to be public property since they are public schools. Honestly, I just don't consider a bunch of well behaved dogs playing with each other under the supervision of their owners to be much of a problem. And everyone here is being so nasty about it, I just want to let those people in the story know that there are people who don't think there is anything wrong with their behavior. Because I don't. And it really is the sort of people who get nasty and mean about something as harmless as someone allowing a dog off leash to have fun in a public park that made me decide not to live in Ann Arbor. I am not being critical, btw, of people who don't want dogs running around in the same places kids run around. I can understand that. I am critical of the people who refuse to allow any park land in the city be used for a nice free dog park. There clearly is a demand for such a park as evidenced by the number of people willing to break the law in order to gather with their dogs. If you don't want dogs in the school yard, create a space nearby that is free and designated for dogs. This attitude that people with a dog hobby are subhuman and therefore don't deserve to have a single penny of tax money spent on them is kind of unpleasant to me.
TNB
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 10:53 p.m.
Hello, Ypsi Woman!! This is NOT a park, you keep talking about!!! It's a school. You keep spouting off with your words, and you apparently are NOT reading the comments, or the article itself. You live in Ypsi, not A2...listen, this is Ann Arbor Public Schools property, not the City of Ann Arbor property. Also, people are not hating on dogs, or dog owners in these comments. People are tired of a few select "self-entitled" people thinking they can violate an Ann Arbor ordinance on school property. You say: "I enjoy it when people bring their dogs to the park and let them run free. I enjoy watching them." Great, but this is not a park, understand yet? Have a great time in Ypsi!
Woman in Ypsilanti
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:43 p.m.
Obviously I don't think that every resident of Ann Arbor is uptight. Since I grew up in Ann Arbor, went to school there, have worked there almost my entire working life, I have several friends who live there. They're all wonderful people and I am sure that there are lots of perfectly wonderful people in Ann Arbor I have not met. But I have encountered a lot more uptight and intolerant people in Ann Arbor than almost any place else I have been and that is a big reason why I chose not to make my home in Ann Arbor. I guess I just don't like the kind of people who get upset about silly things like off leash dogs or panhandlers, or punk rock kids smoking weed in the park, or whatever. I can't speak for the entire city of Ypsilanti either but I know that my immediate neighbors in Ypsilanti are fine with off leash dogs although most of them choose not to let their dogs off leash. Still dogs are dogs and things happen and dogs break out of yards. Stuff happens. I like to be around people who are kind of laid back about such things. You know, the sort of person who will catch your dog for you and call you to come get them as opposed to the kind of person who will call you a moral pariah because your dog is running around the neighborhood. I enjoy it when people bring their dogs to the park and let them run free. I enjoy watching them.
just a voice
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.
FYI, there has been an active community in ann arbor trying to get a legal dog park downtown. I talking about this issue with city council members around 1995, and it had been a live issue for years.
TNB
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.
Double Geez, I agree Chimay! Slauson is a school, for children's activities...it is NOT a dog park. Also, I own two dogs, have had dogs all my life, love dogs, but I do not like these few select people who continue to break the rules. They are the type of people that give MOST dog owners a bad name. Kids do not want to slip, slide, and fall into dog poop while on Slauson property. I also love how people (Ypsi Woman) feels the need to stick several comments that do not contribute to the conversation; just stir the pot. Stereotyping A2? Not all A2 people stereotype you Ypsi people, keep that in mind.
Mick52
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 12:23 a.m.
Does annarbor.com have editors? This article should not have passed an editors desk. There are two signs, one noting the city ordinance, the other saying "No Pets Allowed." Just because there is a sign that says no pets does not mean there is an ordinance against it. Anybody can make a sign that says no this, that or another thing, but that does not make it illegal. I would presume that if no pets is controlled by ordinance, the sign would contain the citations like the one noting the actual ordinances. So unless the city has a No Pets on School Property ordinance, you cannot get a cite for that leashed or not. Why isn't this explained here? I will bet Ms. Larcom's statement is regarding the leash ordinance, not the no pets sign. Also, I think any police officer can write an ordinance violation citation, not just an animal control officer. If not that should be the case. Why isn't that here? Some interview with the police? After this story, my guess is this activity is going to end up generating tickets. This is not journalism.
Elijah Shalis
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.
Huh Slauson is APS private property and they can prohibit what ever they want including bad dog owners.
sam time
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
Cmon Ann Arbor dog people near Slauson. What you are doing is wrong, a poor model for your children, and rude to the children and teachers who attend Slauson. The schools clearly don't want this and yet you decide to do this simply because you won't take the time to go to one of two dog parks. (There is a track area down there for the kids folks.) The majority of the persons commenting recognize this absolute disregard of civic responsibility. I hope the police do bust this up and charge 200 a violation. The police should send two police over for an hour tomorrow and ticket everyone. At 8K per week, in a year the City could have 400k for another dog park. But this article highlights the basic problem with some people. They justify their actions by blaming the City for not giving them a park in their immediate neighborhood. They just don't want to pay for a dog park fee.Even if the City got another park, it wouldn't be at Slauson. Until there is a park to your satisfaction close to home, don't use Slauson anymore. Mr. Lawter, by the way, should apologize for his participation and acknowledge that this won't happen anymore. He should lead by example. By the way, I love dogs. I walk mine and take them to the dog park. All of these participants should just be ashamed. No excuse for this.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.
Man, this is exactly why I love Ypsilanti. My neighbors often let their dogs run free. There is a big park across the street from my house and I see dog owners there every day. Sometimes the dogs are leashed, sometimes they are not. It doesn't matter to me. I have to keep my own dog on a leash because she isn't well behaved enough to be off leash but I would let her off leash if she were more well behaved. I would get upset if the Ypsilanti police department started using resources they don't have to enforce dog ordinances although if they did, I would be more motivated to get the city to create an official dog park. But as far as I am concerned, the city turning a blind eye to the ordinance is acceptable. I would feel the same way if I lived in Ann Arbor. And before anyone calls me selfish, I would have to agree that is true, but I might also point out that my view is no more selfish than that of people who don't like dogs who actively resist creating any kind of public spaces for them. *shrug*. We are all selfish. It is a truly America state of mind. But you'll have a hard time convincing me that your needs should somehow trump mine any more than I can convince anyone of the opposite. I guess we just get to fight in online forums which is ok with me as long as the dogs still get to run free.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:22 p.m.
@obviouscomment There is an ordinance that requires dogs to be a leash. It is not enforced. If it were to start being enforced, I would consider that a need for a formal dog park or designated official off leash hours. The reason I am not currently advocating for such things is that the status quo works for me.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
@Elijah Shalis I feel the same way about school property which I generally consider to be public space paid for by taxpayers. I certainly feel that dog owners should pick up after their dogs. I have news for you about feces though. There are plenty of wild animals who poop in the school yard so it probably is a good idea to just assume that any kids who are playing are going to encounter some poop. There is an ordinance that requires dogs to be a leash. It is not enforced. If it were to start being enforced, I would consider that a need
obviouscomment
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 2:18 p.m.
In Ypsilanti Township there is an ordinance requiring dogs be leashed. I live in Ypsi and I appreciate people following it. In regards to the city I have not found an ordinance yet but from what I have seen, most parks and public areas do not want dogs running off leash. It can be dangerous for all involved. http://ytown.org/government/township-departments/ordinance-department/2009%20Animal%20Control%20Law%20-%20Codified.pdf
Elijah Shalis
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.
So you see dog owners in a city park. This article is about dogs on SCHOOL property where kids play and fall into dog feces.
capersdaddy
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:47 p.m.
Reminder: The slant of the article was "civility". The dog bashing here is disgusting, as are people who do not pick up after their dogs, which irritates dog owners and non-doglovers alike.
Elijah Shalis
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
Dog bashing? No one here is blaming the innocent dogs my friend and they are all innocent. It is all the dumb rude dog OWNERS/People we are bashing.
bobslowson
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:27 p.m.
Note to self...be at Slauson Saturday morning, ready to write down license plate numbers of these scofflaws. Make official complaint to A2PD. That's right...taking names and numbers of all those BREAKING THE LAW
uabchris
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 5:33 a.m.
Come on down Bob, hopefully you can behave as well as the dogs...
Mick52
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 12:26 a.m.
If you call the police and they do not respond, write a letter of complaint to the chief, ask for a response, and send a copy to your city council representative. Most police departments accept complaints. Ask why an ordinance is being ignored while others are enforced.
TNB
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 11:41 p.m.
Bobslowson: Give A2PD a phone call, on the spot, and tell them there are 30+ dog owners using AAPS property for a dog run. If people have the time to sit in their car, and wait for the "dog-run people" each week, pretty soon the A2PD will have to do something. I hope you're serious, and have some time to spare and wait them out. Most probably walk, so no liscense plate numbers to write down. Dog owners: It's a school...not a dog run. The blatant manner in which you brag about it, is disgusting. It's a place for children.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 8:03 p.m.
You'll probably find that the city does little about it. Well, they might make an effort to crack down temporarily but ultimately, they will not run anyone's plates or give anyone a ticket because of something you see. They pretty much have to see the offense themselves and that means they'll have to actively police the park at all times. I know this because about 15 years ago, there was a woman who tried something similar in Ypsilanti. The police ignored her most of the time but would occasionally come down to the park to tell people to put their dogs on leash. What pretty much happened is that when folks saw the police officer pull into the parking lot, they would all put their dogs on a leash and the cops would walk through and then leave. She even video taped everyone once but I guess that didn't matter as no one got a ticket. Think about it. At *best* the cops might come down and write tickets during the time the dog owners gather but all they will do is change the time they gather or change the location. Unless you want the police to watch the park 24/7 at the expense of solving other crimes, you are going to have to live with this situation. That is why it isn't so much the dog people who should be advocating for fenced dog parks. The dog people already have things pretty good. It is the people who don't want dogs in all of the parks who should advocate for dog parks.
pbehjatnia
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.
Mr. Lawter is not only vice-chair of the Parks Advisory Comm., but he also heads Grounds and Building Services for The U/M. I doubt he would react quite so happily to his buddies dogs racing across U property - poop bags or not. As the happy owner of 3 canines I have a duty to respect the rules that apply to everyone. If off leash is verboten - then it's not okay. There are plenty of alternatives for a good run in Ann Arbor. Use them - not the playground.
alarictoo
Wed, May 16, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
@TNB - I was thinking of that big green space in the middle of The Big House. ;^)
TNB
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 11:49 p.m.
@alarictoo: I was going straight to the top, at the office of Ms. Coleman. ;-) I do not appreciate people showing such flagrant disregard for property that does not belong to them.
alarictoo
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.
@TNB - Why not on one of the many fine, "under utilized" sports fields? ;^)
TNB
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:32 p.m.
Maybe he should organize his dog group on Saturday mornings at the Fleming Admin Bldg. Perhaps his employer wouldn't mind the dogs on the property there...after all, they do pick up ALL the dog poop, right?
jcj
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:36 p.m.
Selective enforcement! Let someone try to upgrade their property ( split rail fence) and the city is all over them. But try to get an ordinance concerning dogs enforced at any number of parks and you might as well spit into the wind! Way TOO many dog owners to bother enforcing those ordinances! The most insecure people on earth are dog and cat owners.
jcj
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 9:08 p.m.
You dog or doesn't care if you leave the house a mess, don't do the laundry, don't brush your teeth. They will greet you with that big wet kiss that just licked their own behind regardless! Never get any argument from them do ya?
Renee S.
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 6:33 p.m.
How the hell are dog and cat owners "insecure"? That makes no sense whatsoever.
jcj
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.
Your welcome daddy! Low are the pet owners that let their dogs leave piles in my grass and on my sidewalk. Or the owners whose cats sit on my car! That's Low!
capersdaddy
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.
Thank you for bringing the conversation to an even lower low. Attacking all pet owners? Classy.
John of Saline
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
Leave cat people out of this.
a2grateful
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:30 p.m.
Maybe all we need is a different perspective on the issue: 1) The city has an ordinance. 2) The city does not enforce the ordinance. 3) Citizens disregard the ordinance. 4) The ordinance is rendered useless. 5) The city should repeal the ordinance. 6) The issue is put to rest. 7) Truth and action match repealed code. 8) The city saves money by eliminating dog parks, as they are officially rendered obsolete.
bunnyabbot
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
I live on the west side, driving to the dog parks is not easy for me to do with traffic and the time I have available after work (I also work weekends). Although I have a large fenced yard for my dog to run free in he doesn't get interaction with other dogs in it. We walk regularly in our neighborhood and there are always people out walking dogs, we see at least ten a night and greet many of them. Although along our walk we do spot someone elses poop it more often than not looks like cat poop and not dog poop, and I see everyone carry bags and pick up after thier dogs. .There are schools around here with large properties that are under utilized by either students or rec ed. THey are talking about putting a skate park at Vet's, yet there are more dog owners than skaters. Other areas of Vets are underused, like the Pavillion and the pic-nic tables near the corner of Dexter and Maple. The cities says dog parks cost X-amount, all dog owners would like is a fenced in area people could self-police. A trial dog-park area would be great. I am sure there would be less instances with authorities being called than with panhandlers, burgulars and rapists.
Rici
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:09 a.m.
The skater boys (and girls) are raising a substantial portion of money to fund their park. What are the dog owners doing?
bunnyabbot
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 11:42 a.m.
gee, all of the little skaterboys must have logged in to vote down my comment. Whatever, you are still out numbered by dogs. I don't care if you are getting a skate park, just saying there is enough need to warrent a dog park :)
ArgoC
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Oooh, life is hard. The legitimate dog parks are sooo far away! You'll have to drive, and everything! I wonder what the zoning and building code issues would be if somebody did buy a lot and turn it into a dog park for a year or two? There is a wonderful private dog park NW of town, where "member" dogs are individually screened for temperament by the owner. Yes you have to drive there. Yes dirt roads are involved. Ooooh.
LA
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:08 p.m.
I belong there and it is wonderful. I have also gone off-leash at a local park once in a while. I see the need of both.
John of Saline
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
Too bad Juliana Keeping isn't at AnnArbor.com any more; it would have been interesting to have her report this story.
TNB
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
Ahhhhh, memories. That was a popular article! http://www.annarbor.com/news/hey-ann-arbor---put-your-dog-on-a-leash-a-short-one/
obviouscomment
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:37 p.m.
Taking on the responsibility of owning a pet requires a lot of planning. If these dog owners that do not have sufficient land to let their dogs run on did not plan ahead enough to budget out time and money to go to a dog park, then they are irresponsible pet owners.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
Aye
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.
"John Lawter — who frequents Slauson on Saturdays with his 100-plus pound Irish Wolfhounds and tiny Highland West Terrier — is vice chair of the Park Advisory Commission" Maybe if this guy less time breaking the law and more time actually protecting parkland...oh never mind.
LA
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
Oh good grief people, lighten up. If this is the worst thing that ever happens in our city we're in good shape. I live on the west side (not OWS) in a lovely neighborhood. We have a large corner lot. There are so many dogs in this neighborhood, when I moved here I joked that it must be a requirement!! Almost everyday 'strangers' walk their dog(s) on one of my long sidewalks and when their dogs 'go', I see the owners dutifully pick it up and bag it. And then I let my pets play on the lawn, little children visiting me play and roll on the grass too. Please stop angsting about the bits of bacteria left on the leaves of grass to infect your children. Playing outside sometimes get you dirty. In perfect suburbia have you never seen a dead mouse in the grass? Or bunny poop near your flowers? What about guys spitting on your grass as they walk by? You can't sanitize everything! I tried when my kid was little...then I caught her picking up stepped on fruit on the floor of the grocery store as my back was turned for just a second, to 'chew like gum' - which she was not allowed to have. Relax. Play with your dogs, hug your kids, go roll down the hills of the park yourself. You'll feel better! And make new friends too. Then when you go home, just wash your hands like your mom told you, and you'll probably be just fine. p.s. to A2.com: I do not like the way the + and - work in the voting. Rather than show that a response garnered 5 positive and 2 negative votes, you add and subtract them to one score. That does not really convey the true votes of the public. The tally may show a voter score of 0, when in fact it may have generated heated responses all day and night with 10 thumbs up and negated by 10 thumbs down and thus settled as a 0. Not everyone has the time or inclination to write a response - so we just vote. And it's not right to then just have it negated by another voter.
LA
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:17 p.m.
easy123 - yes I occasionally do have to pick up unknown offenders dog poop. Yes, it is a pain and the people are unkind boors. But that's life. Pick it up and get on with life. There are neighbor cats pooping in my garden too. I really don't care for that either. There is also bunny poop galore all over my yard and garden. If we lived in the country, as a friend does, I'd find the whole animal abandoned and left to shift for itself. And in a bigger city there's the everyday trash. I was amazed at the amt of dog poop all over the beautiful towns of France, even in Paris. I've never seen even half as much in a month here in A2. Save your anger and energy for the real battles in life and in your towns. An hour of free-dogs playing isn't it.
justcurious
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:33 p.m.
Good post LA.
easy123
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
i do not think you would appreciate even one person leaving his dog poop behind. I had to deal with this. - it is not fun - also destroys the grass
hmsp
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:15 p.m.
@ Elijah Shalis Re: "I also seriously doubt that all the dog owners are picking up their dog poop. I am sure they did it knowing the News was there." Dead wrong there, Elijah. Come by there anonymously tomorrow and check it out. Call-outs like, "Poop alert! Poop alert! Who's got the brown Labradoodle?" are followed by immediate clean-up, either by the owner, or the nearest person. As the guy said, they've "got eyes in the back of their heads" with all those people there. And as I said earlier, it's the individuals who think they're not being watched who are the real problem. Chase that group out, and there will be more poop than ever in that field.
Elijah Shalis
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:48 p.m.
I have owned a dog and he lives with my parents now and is an elder dog. We NEVER walked him on school play grounds WHERE KIDS PLAY. Plastic baggies leave a smearing of feces behind most cases. That means when kids play and fall on the ground when they often do such as on games of soccer they get smeared with feces like I did at Tappan Middle School in the early 90s. Keep your dogs off school grounds
easy123
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
This person seems to be a defender of the group. Why don't we just make it make it into a dog park - and SEE how long that last. It will end up into a stinky festid area like the other dog parks. The reason, why the field is relatively clean - is due to the play area. It is being kept clean. You are going there precisely because it is clean. There are too many dogs congregating in one area - it will fester
Tom Whitaker
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
As another commenter pointed out, anyone who owns a dog knows that picking up poop with a plastic bag does not clean up every bit of residue. Feces--even just residual amounts is magnet for all sorts of nasty things, like worms, that can be transferred to children playing on the field.
just a voice
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
I'm so amazed at all the dog hating comments. Rather than understand that all the people who go to the dog park there on saturday would love a legal alternative. The city of ann arbor could simply fence off a section of West Park and that's where people would go. Instead we have two dog parks in town that are a) way out of town, so you can't go unless you own a car and b)crappy areas with bad drainage, making them unusable for much of the year unless you don't mind fields of mud. Rather than work with us to a solution, you want to yell at us and call us entitled.
Rici
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 1:05 a.m.
Hey, you want to show your unhappiness with the location of city dog parks? Why not go to a PARK (like West Park0 instead of a SCHOOL!
alarictoo
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 6:55 p.m.
"Rather than understand that all the people who go to the dog park there on Saturday..." It is NOT a Dog Park! It is a school yard. It is not a City Park at all! Get the facts straight.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:44 p.m.
"I'm so amazed at all the dog hating comments. Rather than understand that all the people who go to the dog park there on saturday would love a legal alternative." There ARE legal alternatives. Most of these people would continue to violate the law even if there was a dog park next door to them. The problem is not dog or dog parks, it's idiots.
ViSHa
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:37 p.m.
I would be curious to hear from those that back up to west park and what they think of this proposal. I have never heard about dog parks smelling like urine, but it has been quite a while since I have owned a dog.
ffej440
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:35 p.m.
No dog hater here, just hate the attitude of the human owners. You have two legal alternatives, you just don't like them. Your lucky to have two choices, most places have none. I am a dog owner and i think the permit required for off leash parks is in place with good reason. Loose dogs should have required shots and proof before being let loose.
jns131
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.
This is the first post that makes any sense at all. Quite right.
foobar417
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:05 p.m.
I would love for the city to build a new dog park in the center of town using parks and rec funding. It would also be great if something like the Skatepark volunteer group emerged to find funding. I just don't want any illegal ones.
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
Dog owners who insist that taxpayers buy them even more dog parks should start raising funds to build a dog park. Just like the skateboarders. Of course dog parks tend to reek of urine. And generate noise complaints. So you'll have to contend with those sorts of issues. Don't like that idea? Maybe I'd like you to pay for a place in the city where I can exercise my horse. That'd be fair, right?
ArgoC
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
I've been to quite a few dog parks with friends and their dogs and have yet to smell any urine. Ron, you must be real trouble when you go to a restaurant! Cement dog runs at rest areas do smell.
Elijah Shalis
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:45 p.m.
just-a-voice- Dogs do not continue the human race and are not children. Just cause they aren't your kids doesn't mean they are not important to you.
Tom Whitaker
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
There's a nice parcel of land located right across Crest from the Slauson field. Might even be City-owned already.
easy123
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
There is a different - people do not urinate on the tennis fields , swimming pools - I do not know about!!!
just a voice
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
Ron, don't be stupid. I don't use the tennis courts, basketball courts, etc, etc. But still pay taxes for them. I don't have kids in A2 public school but still pay for them, etc, etc.
treetowncartel
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
One question, why is it ok for humans to go into Birdhills park nature area, but not dogs? I never understood that viewpoint.If that is your take then it follows that we should all vacate North America and move back to our countries of origin.
jcj
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
"an off leash dogs have practically 0 impact." Tell that to my wife who has been bitten twice! treetown "One question, why is it ok for humans to go into Birdhills park nature area, but not dogs?" Dogs are OK there! On a LEASH! My grandson was attacked there!
Goofus
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
It's perfectly ok for dogs to go in Bird Hills...on a leash
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:16 p.m.
I am 1/2 native american. I will stay thank you.
Renee S.
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 6:29 p.m.
Re: Tom, Yeah, so do coyotes. Outdoor cats actually do pose a significant risk to wildlife, but an off leash dogs have practically 0 impact. If you want to talk about human impact on wildlife in general, it's far greater. Heck, building those parks to begin with and mowing it regularly destroys wildlife.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
Dogs may go into Bird Hills. But it is part of the city and therefore they must be on a leash. There are places where your dog may run without a leash, but they aren't right next door to some lazy people, so they let them run without a leash anywhere they please because they are above the law.
treetowncartel
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:47 p.m.
Many animals chase wildlife, some actually catch them too, including humans. Also, birds probably used to nest where your house stands.You should consider raizing it and giving them back their nesting site.
Tom Whitaker
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.
Dogs chase wildlife.
Elijah Shalis
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.
Iv figured it out, the brown sign saying dogs need to be on their leash is citing city law. The white sign is from Ann Arbor Public Schools which owns the property and is saying NO DOGS ALLOWED on their property. I also seriously doubt that all the dog owners are picking up their dog poop. I am sure they did it knowing the News was there.
Tom Whitaker
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:27 p.m.
I also don't think the "No Dogs" ordinance applies to helper dogs, but if a helper dog is brought on the premises, it must be on a leash.
foobar417
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:42 p.m.
I love dogs as much as the next person. I don't own one because I don't have sufficient time to take care of one responsibly and I don't want to mistreat a dog through neglect. All that said, dogs, no matter how sweet, are not "safe." When I was five, I was over at a friend's house. The owner next door did not follow the law which required he keep the dogs penned up or on a leash. The owner just let them run around his yard to do their business every day. Almost as bad as taking them to a school yard and letting them run around off leash. For whatever reason that day, the two "nice" dogs, ran out of the neighbor's yard into my friend's yard. They viciously attacked my friend's three year old sister who was playing in the yard with us and destroyed her cheek. Permanent huge scar on her cheek for life. It could have been much, much worse. Owning a dog is fine. Owning a dog and not following the law creates a safety hazard, no matter how well you think you know your dog. Use the ***legal*** dog parks, keep them behind a fence, or keep them on a leash.
Matt P
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 8:51 p.m.
Socialization of dogs, be it via interaction with other dogs or other human beings, is a good way to help curb aggressive canine behavior. The kind of socialization one might find, say, at a park with other dogs and people...
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:41 p.m.
Dogs are a lot safer than people are, fwiw. You are way more likely to be killed or hurt by another person than you are by a dog. Nevertheless, I totally agree that dog owners should be 100% liable for any injuries or damage caused by their dogs.
Paul Taylor
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
Agreed that dog ownership comes with the responsibility that one have the capacity to house and exercise their pooch. I, too, do not own a dog (though I DEARLY want a lab!), because I do not have the space for one to run in.
loran
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:40 p.m.
I would say propose a mileage for 1) a new dog park 2) a couple of animal control officers If mileage non accepted, well maybe the problem is not that great a problem for the non dog owners. Problem solved. If accepted, well, problem solved too. Dog owners can't complain anymore, and will have to pay fine if found to violate the city ordinance.
Mick52
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 12:33 a.m.
Police officers should be enforcing this ordinance. I see no reason why they shouldn't.
alarictoo
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.
The word you're looking for is "millage". "Mileage" is something else entirely.
tom swift jr.
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
See, this is what happens when the war on terror starts to wind down, we need something else to get our undies in a bunch over. sheesh.
uabchris
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 5:18 a.m.
Well said!
ArgoC
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
GREAT response. Thanks. "sheesh" about sums it up for me.
Paul Taylor
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
ROFLMAO! Thanks for the perspective, Tom!
hmsp
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
@rusty shackelford: Re: "...snapped at my hand while I tried to shoo it off!" No question that's a frustrating situation for all concerned. I've seen it happen with extremely friendly, non-aggressive dogs, when people who don't understand animals act aggressively like that, and scare the animal. While it may well have been, "snapped at my hand while I tried to shoo it off" — I don't doubt what you say — that is an extremely rare response. More than nine times out of ten, the dog will dance backwards to keep a safe distance, while barking fiercely at the aggressive human. The human's shooing behavior makes the dog MORE likely to stick around, because it doesn't want to abandon it's owner in what it perceives as a dangerous situation. It would be nice if people weren't so clueless, but nevertheless, the dog owner is 100% responsible for avoiding/defusing such situations. There can be no debate on that!
justcurious
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
You're right about people being clueless around dogs. The hatred sometimes oozes out of them and the dog smells it and gets confused.
rusty shackelford
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:38 p.m.
I appreciate your comment, and I actually don't have a problem with these gatherings, because it's clear that there are a bunch of dogs and people want to can steer clear. If I'm walking in a public park and a large dog comes out of nowhere, I'm as surprised if not more so than the dog. I may be startled and not act as rationally as I should--in part because in virtually every urban area in the US, allowing your dog to roam out of your sight off a leash is considered unacceptable. What gets my goat (and what you did not do here) is when the owners then imply that I somehow provoked the dog. I told off one owner in very, shall we say, blunt language, and he got this look on his face like a spoiled child, like by definition everything he did was right with the universe.
easy123
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:26 p.m.
This is a an excuse to defend some of these dogs. There are some very agressive dogs around. I saved a baby bunny from the clutches of a dag - boy did he get mad at me! Moer than a run in - I have had!
hmsp
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2 p.m.
@ Elijah Shalis: That sucks. There is absolutely no excuse for that kind of inconsiderate behavior. If only everyone was as conscientious as those Saturday AM folks, that kind of thing wouldn't happen.
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:13 p.m.
Leigh, I test air and soil samples for bacteria and spores daily. There is nothing you can tell me I don't know, obviously there is ALOT you are not aware of!
Leigh Patterson
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 6:08 p.m.
@ Flewidity: Do you think the ground is sterile until a dog poops on it? Are you KIDDING me? Squirrels, rabbits, birds, and a vast array of other rodents, not to mention insects use the ground as their public toilet, and no one cleans any part of that up, obviously. The tiny bit of dog poo that may be left behind after most of it is picked up with a plastic bag is negligible. I can't even believe anyone would bring that up!!
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
Cleaning poo up with a plastic grocery bag DOES NOT remove the bacteria from the ground and make it safe for our kids to play there. It is inappropriate AND breaking the law!
rusty shackelford
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:57 p.m.
Hate to be another person complaining about something seemingly trivial, but I, too, have been menaced by large off-leash dogs on several occasions on public lands here. The owners seem to think I'm silly for being concerned! Oh, silly me, worried that your German shepherd snapped at my hand while I tried to shoo it off! The thing could eat my face and not even be full. These entitled jerks are lucky their dogs don't get shot or jacked in the face, which is what would happen in many other "less civil" places.
Elijah Shalis
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
I was a student at Tappan Middle School and tons of dog owners would walk their dog on and off leash on the athletic fields while school was in session and leave tons of feces behind. More than a couple times teachers would yell out the window at them. Once while playing sports on the fields I walked into a big piece of poop.
a2zoo
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
The comments attached to this article remind me of why, after growing up in Ann Arbor, spending most of my 50 plus years there, and seeing the changes in the types of people who choose to live in Ann Arbor, I chose to move west of Ann Arbor, on 12 acres, where I can walk my dogs naked if I want to. The NIMBYism in A2 is what is out of control, not dog owners. It is a place where people complain about everything they are not personally involved in. I have seen letters written complaining about the sound of a survival flight helicopter flying over, ruining the serenity of a Sunday afternoon barbeque. Amazing....Now I can enjoy what I like about Ann Arbor, not pay the absurd taxes, much of which are associated with the well being of other peoples children, which I have do not have, and then I can leave the NIMBYs behind.
A2comments
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
"chose to move west of Ann Arbor, on 12 acres, where I can walk my dogs naked if I want to. " Where do you live? :-)
uabchris
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 5:14 a.m.
Well said!
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:37 p.m.
I feel the same way. I decided to move to Ypsilanti when my neighbors in Ann Arbor were passing around a petition to block a group from opening a group home for *elderly women*. That and I had neighbors complain to me about walking my cat on a leash (which is perfectly legal). I don't really understand why people in Ann Arbor are so uptight about everything but I've found Ypsilanti a much more pleasant place to live.
Goofus
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
The sound of the survival flight is pretty darn annoying.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:52 p.m.
Ten thumbs up for a2zo. If I could.
justcurious
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
a2zoo you said it in a nutshell! Speaking of nuts....oh never mind. It's amazing how many people show their hatred for all dogs on here, let alone the ones enjoying this area with their owners. I suppose now it will be brought up at council meetings and that parks guy will lose his job and a bunch of commenters will feel self-righteous about the whole think. Next they will be talking about "ending dogs" again.
hmsp
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
@ buildergirl: re: "And what about my poor dog being sniffed...?" Good question.
hmsp
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.
There's no question that a schoolyard not an ideal location. But when the only alternative is a 10 to 14-mile round trip, depending on which of the two distant parks you choose, guess what people are going to do? I know that many of those folks lobbied the city for a dedicated portion of West Park, when it was due for a major remodel, but the city blew them off. The city made a big mistake there by ignoring a very real need. People can get as indignant as they want, but we have long since discovered that prohibition doesn't work, and accommodation is the answer to a problem like this. The existence of a group like this is first and foremost evidence of a very real need. Start there. And it's not the big group that's a problem, anyway — I've been there, and I've seen people cleaning up last night's poop as they arrive, and they leave it cleaner than they found it — it's individuals who think they are not being watched that are the real problem. Also, the dirtiest section of that field by far is the far west end where little kids play soccer. It is regularly littered with empty water bottles, and those little foil packets of sugar water that the parents hand out.
djm12652
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
omg...the article clearly states this is school property and not a city park? What don't people get about that? I live downtown and walk my dogs at least 4 times a day and always on leash...even when we are in city parks they are on leash...last time an off leash dog charged at us, I physically restrained the boxer mix from grabbing my little city dog and the owner threatened to have me arrested!
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
Forget about logic. These people are just going to stomp their feet and complain no matter what. The fact is, there are exactly two solutions to the problem of off-leash dogs in all of the parks. 1. provide adequate dog parks 2. really enforce the laws or perhaps a combination of the two. The first one is probably the cheapest but isn't nearly mean enough for the anti-dog people but since no one wants to pay money to enforce the laws, it pretty much means that carte blanche for dog owners. I happen to like that status quo so I am ok with that since I think it is ok to break bad laws.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:35 p.m.
"But when the only alternative is a 10 to 14-mile round trip, depending on which of the two distant parks you choose, guess what people are going to do?" Oh, I don't know, maybe either live in the country, live near a dog park, or don't get a dog if you're not near enough to a place legally to exercise it? It's not like you got your dog and then all of a sudden somebody closed dozens of dog parks around you that were then when you got your dog. There were two dog parks in town when you got your dog, it was no secret where they are and it was easy enough to calculate how far away from them you are. I'm thinking these city-dwelling, big-dog owners would get along fine with the bought-a-house-under-the-flight-path-and-now-complain-about-the-noise people.
easy123
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
If you find the park messy, then take the initiative to clean up. I started doing that when I visited the parks, It is amazing how the place transforms if you do that a few times. Now the southeast park, is a mess - I wonder why!
Basic Bob
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:05 p.m.
"The city made a big mistake there by ignoring a very real need." Please don't confuse Ann Arbor CITY with Ann Arbor SCHOOLS. I know it's hard. If you are angry with the city and want to destroy a city park, then go there with your civil disobedience. Don't take it out on the school playground. BTW, I have never left a soccer game and had to scrape Kool-aid off my shoe.
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
"But when the only alternative is a 10 to 14-mile round trip, depending on which of the two distant parks you choose, guess what people are going to do?" Oh, gosh, I don't know. Wait - here's an idea - how about keeping your dog poop in your own yard. I like to walk barefoot on my lawn. But the people who let their dogs crap on it make that impossible.
Ulysses Wong
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
Maybe we can convince the mayor to move the art in from of the Justice Center to a locations that is more appropriate AND coincides with a Downtown accessible Dog Run....
buildergirl
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
As a dog lover these people annoy me to no end. I've been by with my dogs, walking on leash on our daily walks and been approached by these dogs. I'm sorry, but if you call your dog and it doesn't obey you it has no business being off leash. This is a problem in many parks. The more dogs the bigger the problem as they may develop a pack mentality. And what about my poor dog being sniffed and sometimes threaten by these other dogs and here we are stuck together on a leash. I don't take my dogs to dog parks for this reason as well. I trust my dogs, but I sure don't trust yours. If my dogs want to play with others it's only after proper introductions which most people don't understand how to do. They just throw them all together.
Reason
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
Totally agree. People let their dogs off leash and when they race across the park to attack my leashed dog, I hear them saying weakly: "oh fido, no no, come back to mama. Oh I'm sorry, he never does this." I just roll my eyes. If your dog has ANY risk of running at another dog, keep them on leash.
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
Anyone who thinks it is ok for their dog to take a dump on a playground where kids play, please post your address. Over the course of the next week I will stop by each of your homes, in stealth of night under the moonlight, pinch off a big, giant, steamy load in your lawn where you, your kids, or your grandkids play, clean it up as best I can with a plastic grocery bag, and everything is cool right???? Ya, I didn't think so. Kind of puts it into a little better perspective right? Use the dog parks please!
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:09 p.m.
alaricto, once upon a time the average life expectancy was also 35 years old. Not saying they are completely connected, and I agree about germ a phobes (i eat veggies straight out of the ground without washing them) but health and hygeine have extended our life spans significantly!
alarictoo
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 6:42 p.m.
Heck, I wish when folks dogs dump on my front lawn the owner would make the effort to clean it up. It annoys me to step in it and have to clean it off of my shoe. I know it is not from my dogs, as they do their business in the backyard. lol We do not live in a bacteria or germ free world. And we should be happy that we do not. The human immune system needs exposure to these things in order to develop and strengthen immunity. Once upon a time some children went to school on horseback. I am sure they all took the time to clean up every dump their horses took, then properly sanitized the ground. Oddly, despite these challenges, the human population of the planet continues to grow and thrive.
Paul Taylor
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
Said the person hiding behind a nom-de-web...
Goofus
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
As long as they don't run their dogs without leashes in Bird Hills, where the real outlaws are and should be ticketed and forced out. Leashless dogs in Bird Hills...That's been a problem for years, and more or less destroyed the Bird Hills as an actual nesting area for, you know, birds.
tommy_t
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
Way to go - you probably let too many cats out of the bags and ended your Slauson Happy Hour. Why buy $35 tags for the Swift Run Dog park. Who needs it when we are perfectly responsible but cheap?
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:30 p.m.
Breaking the law is "perfectly responsible?"
BHarding
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
The point isn't that dogs aren't people, dogs don't pay taxes, people do, etc. Dog owners are tax-paying citizens. I've been paying property taxes in Ann Arbor for forty years, you can call dog-ownership a sport if that makes it clearer to you. We pay for umpteen ballparks, ice skating rinks, canoe liveries, that only a percentage of the population uses. We pay for those enthusiasts, and we can pay for another fenced dog park.
Matt P
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 8:44 p.m.
Ron, The city dog parks have user fees as well. You're not following BHarding's analogy closely enough; dog parks are used by people the same as ballparks, ice rinks and canoe liveries. None of us dog owners are asking for anyone to pay to be dog-sitters for us.
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:46 p.m.
Those examples you cite - ballparks, ice rinks and canoes - all have user fees. Those resources are used by people, not animals.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:28 p.m.
These people represent one of the things wrong with Ann Arbor today. It's isn't news that liberals will openly and willingly break the law. and then laugh and brag about it. Bird Hills has the same problem - dogs off-leash that attack the dogs of people who are obeying the law. When an off-leash dog approaches an on-leash dog, the on-leash dog knows it cannot run or adequately defend itself if it decides it needs to and will respond aggressively. Also, being on-leash makes it feel more responsibility to defend it's owner. The result is the scoff-laws get the ignorance-based impression that their dog is the passive one and the on-leash dog is the aggressive one.
Jack
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:36 a.m.
So if the dog on the leash responds aggressively, it is really being passive. Right.
Unusual Suspect
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:29 p.m.
Barb, I have never intentionally earned a traffic ticket and then laughed and bragged about it in public.
ArthGuinness
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:36 p.m.
Is it worse to openly break the law, or secretly do so like most "conservatives"?
Barb
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
"It's isn't news that liberals will openly and willingly break the law. and then laugh and brag about it." Wow - only liberals do this? I love it. One more feather in our cap! Make sure you never get a speeding ticket, US...
Goofus
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
Not to mention that Bird Hills is actually a nature area with protected species that have been destroyed by leash-less dogs.
BHarding
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
There are only 2 sanctioned dog parks in Ann Arbor and both are on the outskirt of town. You can't walk to either from downtown. It seems that the City should be able to fence off a half acre somewhere in town as a walking destination for our dogs. 157 parks and only 2 dog parks. To Atticus F: We tolerate each other, or decide not to. I can't tell you how many stores I've left because of whining kids, crying babies, etc. Sometimes I'll leave because some obnoxious person is talking loudly on his cell phone. Dogs pale in comparison.
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 5:56 p.m.
I wanna merry go round within walking distance of my house and there is none. I wanna golf course within within walking distance of my house and there is none. I wanna ice rink within walking distance of my house and there is none. I wanna sledding hill within walking distance of my house and there is none. I wanna pool within walking distance of my house and there is none. I wanna frisbe golf within walking distance of my house and there is none. Hey, if it is that important to you, MOVE.
alarictoo
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 6:33 p.m.
You lose sight of the fact that the real estate in question is not a city park. It is a school yard, and not intended for this type of use. So quit blowing hot air about the 157 parks and only two dog parks! The bottom line is that these people would not do this in a neighbors yard even if the neighbor were not home. But, they feel free to do it on school property on a day when staff are not there to stop them. That pretty much tells you that they know the behavior is wrong, doesn't it?
theodynus
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
Ever been bit by a baby in a store? Because I've been bit TWICE in the last couple years by off-leash dogs.
Hume
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
Parks are meant for people to enjoy. Crying babies whinning kids and llamas like you included!
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
Yeah, well, I want a pony, but I don't expect Ann Arbor taxpayers to pay for boarding it and caring for it. Dog parks tend to have a strong odor of dog urine. That limits where they can be located. If you'd like a dog park, organize to raise money and build it.
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:40 p.m.
I have to DRIVE to the gym and area where I walk, you can too.
Brad
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
You can't walk to either from downtown? So what?? And what percentage of the city population lives downtown anyway? Sounds like you'd fit right in with the Slauson group. 157 parks where your dog is welcome as long as it is on a leash.
Tony Livingston
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
Slauson is just one example. Check any Ann Arbor school yard on a decent weather day and you will see people with dogs, many of them off leash. Also check County Farm Park where people meet and run/walk with their dogs together forming packs. When the dogs jump on other people, the owners act so surprised. It is ridiculous.
eastsider2
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
Sorry, @Hume, many a dog has run at me at County Farm. Can't say the percentage, but even 10% is too many. Sure, they're all "Friendly" and "don't bite" as the owner says when they come around the bend 3 minutes after the dog. Doesn't mean they should be off leash, running at people and jumping.
Rod Johnson
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 1:44 a.m.
Unless the dog is 18 or over, I don't believe it's legally able to sign a lease. On reflection, I'm not sure if that's dog years or human years.
Brad McNett
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4 p.m.
I feel like putting your dog on a lease is just ridiculous. Does it have a job to pay its portion of the rent?
Hume
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
Dogs are allowed @ the County Farm Park. They even provide plastic bags and disposal containers for dog poop. Sometimes they are off the lease, but 90% of dog walkers there keep them on the lease. I don't own a dog, but I run there.
Dog Guy
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:14 p.m.
My side income is selling fake dog poop in blue plastic bags as a fashion accessory for people walking dogs. Business is good.
DNB
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:24 p.m.
Very, funny! Do you also give lessons on how to *look the other way, and pretend I do not see my dog pooping* stare...to a select few dog owners?
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1 p.m.
"John Lawter — who frequents Slauson on Saturdays with his 100-plus pound Irish Wolfhounds and tiny Highland West Terrier — is vice chair of the Park Advisory Commission" I believe John Lawter should lose his position on the park advisory commission! He is blatently breaking the law and flaughnting the 2 parks tax payers have paid for that were built FOR DOGS! I for one do not want my kids playing in the bacteria that is left behind (inevitably) even AFTER the crap is picked up. Are they picking up the crap then sterilizing the area where it landed? I think not! PETS ARE NOT PEOPLE and do not have the same rights!! I was in Lowes when a woman tried to bring her dog in the store and the employees would not allow it. THANK YOU! I do not like dogs, I don't want one shopping with me!
Tony Livingston
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
I agree totally. What is even stranger is that he brags about it in the newspaper. Another "only in Ann Arbor" for the record books.
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1 p.m.
Dogs don't pay taxes, people do. Your uncontrolled dog isn't so cute when he jumps up on someone. When people violate leash laws, then it is time to consider banning dogs in parks.
ViSHa
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 9:54 p.m.
It is not a park, it is a school playground. Why is that so hard to understand??
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.
Indeed. But dog *owners* do pay taxes and they have as much of a right to use the parks in a way that fits their lifestyle as anyone else does.
ArthGuinness
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.
Some bicyclists don't follow traffic laws. Does that mean I should be banned from riding my bike?
Think!
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
Your kid isn't cute either. Nor does he pay taxes. But I'm an adult and I understand I live in a complex world full of varying personalities, needs, and desires. So I remain understanding, empathic, and flexible. More people should give that a go. They'd spend a lot more time enjoying life rather than feeling the burden of policing everyone else.
Ron Granger
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:58 p.m.
The extreme examples are the people who allow their dogs off leash in nature area parks, where they terrorize nesting birds. While your dog is off leash running, you can pretend you didn't see it poop. And, of course, those who don't clean-up after their dog. And the plastic bag does not clean everything up.
uabchris
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 5:01 a.m.
...and squirrels, skunks, etc...while you are at it you can also follow around the college kids while they are spewing all over the city's sidewalks.
Think!
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.
Birds poop too. Can the city council please pass a law not allowing that?
deletedcomment
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:57 p.m.
Ann Arbor; land of the entitled, self absorbed pompous a**. You people need a reality check.
The Picker
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:55 p.m.
Is it any suprise that the laws conflict with one another! There are so many laws on the books and new laws being made that EVERYONE is guilty of lawbreaking,most ofl the time. When ever a new law is created an old law should be taken off the books. With all the do-gooder legislators trying to right the petty injustices of the world, imagine what this world will be like in another ten years. A world for lawyers by lawyers. Get ready folks you're on your way to the slammer!
Brad
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:42 p.m.
" but if the city is going to enforce (the ordinance), there needs to be an alternative" There is an alternative. It's called observing the law (even if you're a "cool group of people") and visiting one of the TWO off-leash dog parks that Ann Arbor taxpayers already provide. You'd think that the "vice chair of the PAC" would already know about those.
Atticus F.
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.
What I really hate, is when dog owners take their dogs into a restraunt or local shop. Excuse you, but what if everybody was that self absorbed and decided it was ok to have everybody take their dog into the post office, or into the cupcake shop... It would be a total mess!
jcj
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 1:12 p.m.
grimmk I don't think anyone minds service dogs! Get Real. But every mutt whose insecure owner can not leave the house without it does not belong in stores!
grimmk
Sun, Apr 15, 2012 : 4:32 a.m.
I guess this is why Borders failed then? None of you went in because people brought their dogs in? And heads up, by law if it is a service dog, you have to let them in. So best just stay at home.
jcj
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
If I see a business that allows dogs, I am way less likely to spend money at that business!
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7:09 p.m.
I love it when shops or restaurants allow people to bring their pets even though I don't usually have mine with me. But if I see a business that allows dogs, I am way more likely to spend money at that business. I don't think you have to worry that everyone will start taking their pets into stores though. I mean, I love my pets and they are pretty well behaved but the hassle of monitoring their behavior in such an environment is more than I want to deal with so I leave them at home usually. I expect that is true for most people.
ViSHa
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
Yes, they are called Vets, lol
Hunterjim
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
There are quite a few businesses that allow dogs inside.
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:38 p.m.
This isnt Europe!
justcurious
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
I guess you've never been to Europe?
Paul Taylor
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.
I'm no microbiologist, but I'll wager these precious little tykes face a greater threat from the door handles on the building than from the flora and fauna of the field.
Paul Taylor
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:03 p.m.
Gee, where did I say that?
a2grateful
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
OK with the idea? Then, why not list your address, and host the next "Slauson slog" gathering at your house. : )
My2bits
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:18 p.m.
Follow up article suggestion: List the legal dog parks.
Jake C
Mon, Apr 16, 2012 : 11:24 p.m.
In the amount of time it took you to write that post, you good have Googled the answer yourself. Let me help you out: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ann+arbor+dog+park
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
I haven't seen anarchy like this since the last tailgate event in the Pioneer High School parking lot. Coincidentally also on Saturdays and also on AAPS property. Maybe its time to round up the School board and the superintendent and charge them with running a criminal enterprise....or some such thing.
HappySenior
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
I am still amazed at the high number of truly entitled people living in the Ann Arbor area. Their arrogance knows no bounds. Picking up a slab of poop with a plastic bag-covered hand does not clean up all the poop, and children walk and play on the same grass. Slauson is not the only school yard littered with dog droppings. Visit Haisley on a Sunday. These dog-people are a match for the cat-people who let their cats run free outdoors which is also against code. Cats drop poop at will and hunt birds at feeders. The entitled people are allowed to do whatever the police cannot stop them from doing. The entitled think they are "a really cool group of people." I wonder if they think their children are "really cool" when they flout the law. I wonder if they think all law breakers are "really cool" or perhaps they think they alone define "really cool."
uabchris
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 4:54 a.m.
You don't sound like a "happy " senior...maybe if you were "entitled" you would be happier. Better yet get a dog, they are proven to make bitter people happy!
RunsWithScissors
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.
I've combed through the city code a few times and haven't found anything about free-range cats being a violation. Still, it must be really nice to "throw the first rock".
Brad
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.
There is nothing in the AA city code about cats running free. Don't make stuff up.
a2grateful
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:05 p.m.
Come on! Slauson Middle School is a very POOR choice for this illegal dog park. After all, this is a children's playground and athletic field. Hellooooooo! Hundreds of children slip, slide, and slog through the remnants of your Saturday "fun" on a daily basis. The "Golden" Bears now enjoy athletic events such as: - Track (the poop on your shoe) and Field - Field Hockey (where everything hit with the stick is not a ball) - Soccer (what's that in your hair after that header?) - Beach Volleyball (substitute female dog for beach) - Baseball (where sliding is not limited to bases) The gathering represents classic, selfish, and clichéd dog ownership. "My dog is friendly. .My dog never bites. . Sure, my dog has all its shots. . My dog has never acted this way; You must have done something you provoke it. . Your dog started it. . We ALWAYS pick up ALL the poop. . " The very best part of the story is that the vice chair of the City of Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission, John Lawter, participates in the event, encouraging flagrant disregard of city ordinance, at the possible expense of the health of school kids. In case he doesn't know, the city has dog park facilities in its inventory. Nice!
Rici
Sat, Apr 28, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
Thank you for pointing to the hypocrisy of the Park Advisory commissioner violating the ordinance! I think the man should be removed from his post if he's going to so flagrantly ignore policy.
Wolf's Bane
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.
Agreed, but the city is really to blame. Every school has cameras and motion detectors. They know this goes on, but turn a blind eye.
DNB
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
This is not a dog park, it's a school. The kids also have many "fun" days in this area on Fridays in the spring and fall. Not so fun when your kid steps, slides, or falls into a pile of p**p. I own dogs, love dogs, but this is not a dog run.
AnnieWood
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:20 p.m.
Have to agree. I love my dog but my kids went to Slauson and used those fields for years. What happened to the idea of a dog park at South Maple Park? The park is about a mile west of the Bear Bowl.
smokeblwr
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:01 p.m.
I have friends from the Middle East who find dogs offensive. I bet if they were at a park and suddenly it was overrun with dogs they'd be pretty upset.
pbehjatnia
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 5:16 p.m.
We are not in the Middle East. We have a dog friendly culture in the West. If they don't like it, then go home. And before you go nuts - look at my name. It ain't British.
jcj
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:29 p.m.
Simple solution for those that don't like people that "find dogs offensive". Don't bring them around!
jcj
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4:27 p.m.
justcurious I suppose you drive with your dog in your lap? Read the article! I have a problem with those that comment WITHOUT comprehending the written word! I do have a problem with many dogs and their owners. And if your dog comes in my yard and leaves a pile you would find it on your porch.
jns131
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.
Not going there with what smoke is saying, they also do very bad things to these dogs as well. The Middle East makes what we do to dogs here? Tame by comparison. Don't believe me? Go to the HSI and ASPCA web sites for confirmation.
bunnyabbot
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
aren't they offended by much of out lifestyle here? if they are visiting that's how we roll, if they live here they should assimilate
Vette96drvr
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:29 p.m.
Justcurious, the article DOES state this is a group of 30-40 dog owners. It also states John Lawter brings 3 dogs. 30-40 dog owners, some with several dogs, it would not be unlikely to have 60 dogs arrive out of nowhere. Just my observation.
justcurious
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:19 p.m.
William Flewidity, highly unlikely that 40 dog owners would arrive in a group. I do have a problem with people who have a "problem" with animals. Dog people in general are good people, people who freak out over animals have real problems.
William Flewidity
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
justcurious, if they are at a park with a sign that clearly states "no pets" and a group with 40 dogs arrive, then what? Not everyone is a pet lover. Like Chimay stated above, I am tired of stepping in my neighbors dog crap in MY yard.
justcurious
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:11 p.m.
Simple solution for those who "find dogs offensive", don't be around them.
TNB
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 11:55 a.m.
I've been aware of the dogs at Slauson, but there are also dog owners who regularly run their pets on the ball diamonds at Vets park, too. I feel sorry for the baseball players who have to play outfield at that park. Dog lover here; just clean it up.
Chimay
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
Thank you. That is my #1 problem with dog owners. I regularly find dog feces in my front yard from the people that walk their dogs on my street. Gross! I don't own a dog because I don't want to pick up the crap they leave behind; I sure don't want to clean up anyone else's. I try not to pigeonhole all dog owners as people who don't pick up after their pet, but sometimes it's hard. Thanks for the reminder that they're not!
Vette96drvr
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 11:33 a.m.
"Police have been out here before, so the days for (gathering at Slauson) are probably numbered, but if the city is going to enforce (the ordinance), there needs to be an alternative." There is an alternative, buy a piece of land and start your own dog park. Thats like me saying "I like to drive 90 miles an hour and if I get caught I do not deserve a ticket. The state should install a 90+ mile an hour lane on the expressway for me because I am special and I want it". There is a private dog park down the road from me. Someone took control of their own problem and bought the land and built a small clubhouse, they didn't ask other tax payers to flip the bill for your dogs! Go ahead and begin voting my comment down, there are better things to do with our tax dollars than pamper your pets!
djm12652
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 3:59 p.m.
@woman in ypsilanti, where the gathering is just so happens to be on school property, not a park intended for public uses. And while these dog owners seem to be conscientious about picking up their dog waste, a vast number of people that walk their dogs into downtown, don't, so you can imagine what it would be like for kids out in the space stepping in a pile then having to go back to class or home...it's not a park but school property. The soccer field at Mac has the same sign...no pets...kids play there.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 7 p.m.
There really are a lot of anti-dog people in Ann Arbor and this whole "why should tax payers pay for your dog" thing is nothing new. The answer is, of course, that parks are for everyone including dog owners. There is nothing wrong with tax payers supporting dogs as a hobby any more than there is something wrong with tax payers supporting tennis, basketball, softball, hiking, etc as a hobby. There is clearly a demand for a dog park in town. The existing dog parks are hugely popular and often very crowded.
jns131
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
Even though AA has two dog parks driving to them is nasty. Both are on the out skirts of town and why should one have to drive to them if there is one very convenient to them. There seems to be a lot of anti dog people in AA aren't there?
just a voice
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
I don't use the tennis courts, swimming pools, basketball courts, etc that are made available through A2 parks. Why are all those other tax payers making me flip the bill? Oh, maybe because it increases the value of Ann Arbor and will help keep us at the top of all those dumb lists. You seem very narrow minded in your argument.
craigjjs
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 11:49 a.m.
Ann Arbor has two dog parks. These people should be using them. This is not, however, tax dollars pampering anyone's pets. The dog parks are supported by the fees users must pay. I am not sure how tax dollars are being used to pamper the dogs illegally using the playground. It is, however, illegal and should not be permitted.
Chip Reed
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 11:24 a.m.
As Harold said, "Leave no poop behind".