From The
Harvard Post
Follow up:
Dogs at Delaney
The past:
This fall, the Stow Board of
Health sent a letter to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), owners of the Delaney property, suggesting
they place a two-year moratorium on dog walking because Delaney had become an
“uncontrolled dog park” in which owners did not leash or clean up after their
dogs.
MassWildlife posted signs warning dog owners a moratorium would
be activated Nov. 1 if it did not see immediate improvement during a trial
period in October.
Selectmen heard from angry residents asking
them to notify MassWildlife that the Board of
Health’s position was not that of the town, but Town Administrator Bill Wrigley
told the board he believed informal negotiation would work better and no formal
action was taken.
The present:
On Nov. 18, MassWildlife
announced at a Board of Health meeting that, since it had seen drastic
improvement over the trial period, the moratorium would not be implemented.
However, it instituted two rules — that dog
owners pick up their dogs’ waste, and that all dogs on the property must be
leashed.
According to Board of Health Chairman Marcia
Rising, some residents at the meeting were upset that they would now have to
leash their dogs.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to feel
it’s a doggie park. It’s not,” she said.
The future:
“It’s not over,” said Rising, who warned
that if dog owners do not follow the new rules, MassWildlife
may implement a future moratorium.
“Apparently the cleaning up is going very
well,” she said. “The dogs on the leash is not.”
Rising said she is not sure how compliance
with the new rules is being monitored or what penalties will be imposed on
offenders.
MassWildlife could not be reached for comment before press time.
Comment:
Munsoned
I guess I missed when President elect Obama announced we were now living in
communist China. Or maybe it was Iran. What has happened to the people in this
state?
My family and I have been bringing our dogs to Delayne for 20 years. My parents
have spread the ashes of their dogs at Delayne 20 years. Needless to say I have
a lot of experience going to Delayne with or without my or my parents dogs. It
the 20 years of me going to the park at least 2 times a week
(spring-summer-fall) and once a week in the winter I did not encounter one
incident where a dog acted aggressively towards and man, women or child. I have
seen a few dogs get out of control on each other but thats the nature of dogs
and is EASILY negated by a swift correction. I have encountered families with
children more dangerous than most dogs.
I have also encountered people at the park who are absolute jerks. I would
imagine people a lot like this Marcia Rising or the Stow board of health. These
are the kind of people you would run into at the park who are to good to be
human enough to say hello or smile even if you were to wish them a 'happy walk'
or 'enjoy the day'. Most likely Marcia wouldn't even acknowledge your kind
gesture of a 'hello'. I have been on walks at Delayne without the dog and have
had these experiences. People too stuck up to be human and extend common
courtesy.
I have also encountered what to me is the most dangerous participator in
Delayne fun... The mountain biker... I have been nearly run over countless
times. Most recently a mountain biker came down the hill at the beach (on the
far right walking in) he and his gang of bikers in spandex (8-10 riders) came
down the hill aiming at me and my wife. Two of the bikers had to dump the bikes
and crash to avoid my wife. Are you going to tell me a dog running towards
you(smiling) just to say hello is more intrusive or dangerous than a 150 -200
lb man literally jumping down a hill towards you. What would have happened on
that hill if I had a child walking with us? He-she could have been killed or
injured.
I can certainly understand the dog waste issue. A large percentage of dogs were
doing their thing without owners picking it up. Action should have been taken.
I agree with the issue and I was one of the many dog owners taking
responsibility. We even supplied bags at the opening.
A dog is mans best friend and not a danger. If you stand back and take a good
look at the Delayne ruling anyone can see it's another step towards removing
civil liberties. I personally think the health board and Marcia Rising along
with the entire 'to full of yourself to say hi' park participants should be
ashamed of yourselves. Put the Dunking donuts cup down, put the minivan in park
and grow up. Move to China if you want to enforce ridiculous chest pumping
rules.
One last comment. a 1,000 lb horse can get spooked and cause more damage
than a dog. A galloping horse made my neice cry once. Has anyone ever seen a
horse owner pick up horse poop? Whats horse poop you ask.... It's a mound of
fly covered crap in the middleof the trail.