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1. djake
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   I was fortunate to be part of a group this past Sunday mornings that spent a few hours cleaning/weeding Junction Plaza Park at 42nd and Alaska. It was very disheartening, to say the least, to see the condition of the circular grass area in the center of the park. What was meant to be a central focal point for the enjoyment and relaxation of the community has become the virtual toilet for the dogs of a number of inconsiderate and or lazy dog owners of this community. This is not a rant against dogs since #1 I am a dog lover and #2 the dogs are subject to the level of consciousness of their owners. This is a plea to have these people simply obey the same courtesies that are expected anywhere else in the city. I was involved in the initial planting of the park and am happy to be part of its maintenance as one who loves this community. It would just make life so much easier and more enjoyable if the few who allow this to understand that more people exist in the world than just themselves.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

2. Jiggers
   Member Profile

   

   djake...I brought this up about three weeks ago here. I've see owners let their dogs piss on the benches People sit there and in the summertime when it was hot, I saw people lying in that grass. Gross It is the neighbors that live right in the immediate area They let that park become like a sh*tfest Hundreds of cigarette butts strewn in the garden and cement benches I never see anybody cleaning. It's worse now than when it was fenced off for a couple of years.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

3. djake
   Member Profile

   I agree...it does seem like a good amount of this is coming from the apartments in the immediate area. Sure glad that hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless volunteer hours went into it to provide them with a convenient place for their dogs to dump. I guess that my appeal would be to people walking by and or trying to enjoy the park to put a healthy dose of peer pressure on them to act like they should be allowed to have dogs.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

4. ellenater
   Member Profile

   

   I just want to point something out here... having lived in one of those nearby buildings with my dog BEFORE this park was installed. BEFORE the park, that block was just a grassy area that all of the dog owners in the area used. I remember thinking it would be a nightmare when they took it away, and it is. Yes, some dog owners suck, but do not blame the dog owners and call them lazy JUST for using that park. The buildings, especially Mural and Altamira, (and now Link), build these things, allow dogs, but do not offer any sort of area for the pets to go to the bathroom. Is that responsible? I agree that the park is gross but they took away the ONLY area for dogs to go, sans the few parking strips. It IS disgusting but don't blame the dog owners. That is very short sighted.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

5. JanS
   Member Profile

   

   wait, ellenator. If they would clean up the poop like the laws require, then I'm sure it would be better - and that's the dog owner's fault. That's not Mural's fault, nor Altavista. It's an apartment building, not a puppy playground. When someone rents there, they know what they're getting. Cigarette butts?That's a people problem, too. It's a filthy habit of just throwing your butts on the ground. I remember when some wanted a law against smoking in parks...sounds good to me, at least there. Respect for spaces that others might use isn't asking too much - and blue bags are cheap ! Along with dog ownership comes responsibility.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

6. bebecat
   Member Profile

   People do not need to use a city park to piddle their animal. A walk down any back alley will supply enough grassey area for an animal to relieve its self.

   Posted 7 months ago #         

7. Magpie
   Member Profile

   

   Some of the newer buildings have this really cool grassy area just for dogs that is a grass patch with a filtration area. Apparently, some of the condo projects and apartment projects were built in such a way that people would just bring their dogs out the front door and it became a problem, so the condo builders came up with a solution.

   I work in South Lake Union and I read somewhere that there were several thousand dogs in the immediate area and they share the small park with all of the families.There are always messes and lots of doggie leftovers. No longer a good place to play frisbee!

   There was once a thread where off leash dogs and their owners were photographed and posted. Maybe someone should start taking pictures of the scofflaws!

   Posted 7 months ago #         

8. bebecat
   Member Profile

   http://alkiwallofshame.blogspot.com/

   Posted 7 months ago #         

9. ellenater
   Member Profile

   

   Jan,

   I wasn't defending people who don't clean up after their dogs, just dog owners in general. Like I said, I lived there and I met some very nice and very responsible dog owners. I also witnessed that area going downhill in general--which is why I moved. I also don't think the cigarette butt poop leavers are the same as the local residents.

   That park and the area in front of QFC have been problem areas in general. Ironically, there was no issue before there was a park. There are a lot of drug dealers hanging out there now.

   I think it's pretty lame to attack the dog owners in general. It was pretty short sighted to take away the dog park and put in that little patch of grass and expect it to just work. I see people letting their babies crawl around in that grass and I would always go tell them the deal. It makes my skin crawl. The issue of urban pet waste is really disgusting in general. I agree with you, Magpie. I had heard of that filtration thing but didn't know it was no longer in use. That is sad.

   There ARE a lot of irresponsible dog owners and they always ruin it for the rest of us. I just want to remind people that for every one jerk, there are ten of us who work really hard to do it the right way. It would be nice if people took the time to remember that.

   Posted 6 months ago #         

10. Jiggers
    Member Profile

    

    bump..

    Posted 6 months ago #         

11. JoB
    Member Profile

    ellenator..

    I agree.. i think that high density living arrangements that allow pets need to provide an area for those pets to relieve themselves

    it shouldn't be the sole responsibility of local pocket parks

    Posted 6 months ago #         

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