dog lovers

I love the culture of dog ownership here in Fernie, and the ability to pretty much have my dog unleashed all over town.

as for crapping all over the place.. it does get a bit out of control, but as long as it isn't where im walking its just fertilizer to me!

I think it is disgusting that people don't clean up after their dogs, and it goes hand in hand with walking your dogs without a leash. It's our children who will be playing on lawns, parks and the fields come spring time and it is revolting to think that they are playing on "dirty" grass.

If you are walking your dog without a leash, have the decency to follow where they go and pick up after them. Please.

"I think it is disgusting that people don't clean up after their dogs, and it goes hand in hand with walking your dogs without a leash." Well, that's a load of crap, sorry V, but it is. People do not clean up poo because they are lazy and could give two shits. Most owners know when the dog has gotta go. Most good owners also check the dogs deposit since it is a good indication of the dogs health. Everyone of these owners know when and where the dog goes, leash or not.

Limiting your comments to people who walk without having the dog on a leash is dumb. Doesn't matter, leash or not, clean up after your dog.

I am personally going to start carrying my camera with me and taking photo's of dog owners not cleaning and post 'em on this site.

My dog loves all the poo around the lake behind the crappy tire, giant yummie frozen shitsickles. Me, I think it is disgusting.

I have personally watched owners of dogs both leashed and non-leashed watch their animals go and not clean up after them. Funny how they won't make eye contact and scurry away like rats, it's almost comical.

I totally agree with Sanook's fertilizer comment, just not in town, where as V said, children (young and old) play.

Nuff said.

I believe that any respectful dog owner should pick up after their dog, unless it is way off in the bush where no one is ever going to walk. On leash or off leash, that is irrevelant. If your dog poos on the trail, or nearby, please pick up. The fact that there is snow everywhere right now does not mean it is off the trail! we all know where the trails run in the summer time, lets keep them clean for everyones sake.

freshsnow said
On leash or off leash, that is irrevelant.

It is not irrelevant, leash by-laws are in place to protect people from bites and attacks! period. If 2 or 3 stray dogs (thats what they are when not on a leash) approach your 2 year old on the front path and start growling, what are you going to do? who's responsible if my kids are attacked or bitten?

Is our "dog culture" as sanook put it, more important than the safety of the general public? I don't think so.

If dog owners who proudly walk their dogs sans leash really cared about this community and the people in it, they would not leave the house without a leash.

If your dog is off a leash isn't there a greater tendency to not pick up after them?

Generally, if you are walking your dog on a leash, you are walking on a path/trail or on the sidewalk and so most dog owners would feel obliged to clean up after their dog instead of leaving it in plain view.

Obviously there are good dog owners who will pick up after their dog regardless if they are on leash or not. Gearhunter being one them.

I agree with Steve(sorry if that upsets some of you)!
I am a dog owner and i always walk my dog on a leash, and i always pick up his mess!
I cannot believe the amount of 'stray dogs' in this city, or the amount of dog mess on the sidewalks.
My neighbour has 2 dogs who never go on a leash and do their business wherever they sit fit.
Yesterday they went on my front path, today they(because of the snow haven't been able to open/close my gate) have shit right at my back door!
And in reference to Steve's comment about kids and stray dogs, i have to walk the long way round to get to school because one particular dog keeps getting out of it's back yard, running like something on acid to my 3 year old and then feels compelled to yap like mad whilst biting my son's shoes! needless to say my son is terrified.
I then have to pick my son up(and he ain't the lightest of kids) while the dog chews at my feet whilst i am trying to get out of it's way!
There is no excuse for dogs to be loose, i've hear people say that their dog 'escaped' etc, so if your yard isn't secure enough for your pet then have a chain staked in the yard, or at the very least take it for a walk....ON A LEASH!
I can't even begin to imagine what little treasures we will all find once the snow thaws!
Welcome to Fernie....B.C's No1 Scenic Dog Toilet!

If your dogs going to wander off and do its own thing when its off the leash, keep it on the leash. At a friends house a while ago he went outside for a few minutes to grab something, his dog was out in his driveway with him, they have something on the dog that'll shock it if it goes out of the driveway, but someone let her dog come running up the driveway..smart. He grabbed his dog and screamed at her 'get your fucking dog out of here' or something like that, his dog DEFINITELY would have killed hers. She had the nerve to snap back at him and tell him to learn how to control his dog.

There is a difference between walking your dog off leash and letting it run free all the time. If your dog is not under control when you walk it, you should leash it and teach it. I don't agree with letting dogs roam free all over town. If you don't have the time to spend walking and playing with your dog maybe you should re-think having one. And as for the poo, if it was people pooing everywhere there would be no debate.

For the life of me I can't understand why all these people have dogs to begin with. Ya ya companionship. Great. Just reading this thread gives me plenty of reason not to get a dog. Personally I don't want ANY reason to clean up animal sh*t. And I don't want ANY reason to be responsible for a human getting hurt or even scared. I don't want to barricade my yard only to hold a living creature hostage. You know why dogs escape? Because they don't want to be there. You know why they run off when not on a leash? Because they don't want to be tied up. I don't argue the fact that humans and dogs can form great relationships, but I think some dog owners just might be in denial about how their dogs feel about the situation. Some of the places I've seen dogs holed up is disgusting. If your lifestyle allows for a dog to maintain most of its freedoms all the power to ya. If you live in a small house with a tiny yard....get a human companion.