If you live in Southie then you know that our neighborhood is dog central. Seems like everyone has a dog. Sometimes on a Sunday, there are more dogs up at M Street Park than 20-somethings in line at Lincoln. In other words, there are a lot of dogs in the neighborhood.
So these two dog-related “situations” reared their ugly heads this week – causing quite a stir on social media.
Don’t let your dog pee on our stoop
We posted this one on Sunday – of a dog owner and dog caught in the act of the dog peeing on our stoop. We asked nicely that neighbors refrain from this behavior.
As a dog owner, you have to know it’s not cool to let your dog pee on the following: someone’s house, flower pots, front stoop, bike, etc. etc. What happens is a chain reaction. One dog pees, they all want to pee in that spot so just stop your dog from doing it.
But evidently, there are many of you out there that don’t think this is a big deal. Facebook (of course it was Facebook) erupted with messages telling us to “Get over it.” And that it’s “city living” and that maybe we should move to the suburbs. We were also told not to use our platform to be a “Karen.” As life-long residents, this reaction had us scratching our heads. But it’s not just us that think this dog owner’s behavior is gross.
This resident was so angry and fed up, they made a homemade sign and zip-tied it to a street light pole. “Dirty people, curb your dog. Stop pissing on my home.” On the side of the sign, a reminder to “take your shit bags home.”
So our we overreacting about dog’s peeing on our property? Should we just “get over it?” Take our poll:
Dog poop bag on a car windshield
On Monday, Southie resident Timmy Hayes shared this photo with CIS.
We have no idea what led to this scene. Did a neighbor observe a dog owner pick up his/her dog’s poop with a bag and leave it on the sidewalk and then the aforementioned neighbor knew which car was the dog owner’s? Like an old-school mob message or sign like Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes?
Or did a neighbor park like a jerk and someone deliberately put the dog poop bag on the windshield instead of a harshly worded note – which is one of Southie’s favorite pastimes!
If you’re leaving your dog poop bags on the sidewalk, near trees, or on people’s stoops, just stop! You’ve done the hard part. You’ve picked up a steaming pile of dog shit with a bag. Now throw the bag in the trash (and your own trash barrel not a neighbor’s trash barrel). Don’t place it next to a tree or on the sidewalk or in the gutter. Put it in the garbage. The bags of poop aren’t going to miraculously disappear. They will sit where you left them until a concerned and upstanding citizen picks them up and puts them in the trash. Don’t be a jerk. Throw your poop bags away.
When these situations arise in the neighborhood, they are signs telling us, to stop, and think of our behaviors and how they might affect our neighbors. We’ve rounded up some refreshers on being a kind and respectful neighbor including everything from trash day to late-night etiquette and of course, being a better dog owner. You can check them out here.
Godspeed.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
You can get over it by putting some hot pepper flakes or spray with apple cider vinegar around your planter or steps.
The dog sh*t at M Street Park is getting out of control. There are also huge holes dug in the grass. It is so bad, that kids can’t play in the grass anymore.
I propose M street park have certain sections of grass that is “ok for dogs” and other sections that are “no dogs.”
cayenne pepper works, either sprinkled straight, or dissolved in water and sprayed. I have used at home and at a park/memorial, to discourage those dogs who are unfortunately owned by ignorant humans.
if you can’t pick up, maybe you are the one who should move to the suburbs!
Many inconsiderate dog owners, not all, but many.
Humans have first dibs on Medal of Honor/M Street Park. Actually humans have 2nd, 3rd,……..87th dibs, ALL DIBS. There’s a dog park right dow the other side of the hill on East 1st just for you and the pooch.
Humans have first dibs on Medal of Honor/M Street Park. Actually humans have 2nd, 3rd,……..87th dibs, ALL DIBS. There’s a dog park right dow the other side of the hill on East 1st just for you and the pooch.
…ran out of cardboard “For Sale” signs and this is just the vehicles owners way of announcing “Sh!tbox For Sale”…(???)
Plastic bags gum up the works at the giant egg digesters on Deer Island. Doggie poopbags left on sewers pass thruthe sewers to the treatment plant and have to be be removed. So take home the baggie, or if you don’t have the energy like taking care of it like a good neighbor, return the pup.
I have a dog and would love it if I could train him to pee in the potty but that’s never going to happen. I definitely try to stop him from peeing near someone’s stoop but sometimes it’s too late. as for the bags I think if your going to leave the bag laying around on the street you should just leave the poop it will get washed away. ince I saw a poop bag on the sidewalk for weeks, so gross. it’s the city and some people dont have yards.
We SHOULD be asking why the city doesn’t have more trash cans around town? The city had told me trash cans were only put out in commercial areas, but that ignores modern consumption patterns, where everything is taken ‘to go’. Why can’t there be more trash cans so the streets are cleaner from all the crap, dog and otherwise, which fouls our part of the city?
Owners should be responsible for dog dirt. Haven’ t seen any folks opting to leave say dirty diapers for others to pick up. That said I can ALMOST agree with Donna about not bagging. Leaving doggie bags adds yet another piece of non decomposing plastic for the world to (not) deal with. Steven, the empty water bottle and giant iced latte cup, energy drink can are so much lighter empty. Why not carry home? Instead of city paying for barrels and maintenance thereof each wastemaker could carry a small plastic trash bag of their own. Or it all just too dirty for y’all?
Ya Donna let’s just leave the 💩 poop it will get washed away . Can you send your address so everyone can leave their poop on your sidewalk , driveway , and yard . Oh I’m sorry you probably live in a condo and obviously could give a poop 💩 poop less about the community as a whole . When is the last time you actually took part in a community event that looks out for community kids ?????
Marine Park has also been turned into a dog park despite the numerous signs with $200 fine warnings no one enforces. I personally wouldn’t take the risk of encouraging my dog to chase wildlife and blaming the dog when that chase ends up in traffic. Why have leash laws if they’re not enforced? Just emboldens people and not in a good way.