Going to the Dogs

To the Editor,
The times I have used the Heaven Trail Park I have enjoyed the walks and jogging, I do. I think it’s a good venue for the people who want to exercise. The community needs it.

But lately the experience has not been good. There is too much dog feces at too many areas. I have had to side step too much dog doo-doo. And I have to hold my breath for long stretches of the trail. Sometimes the dog feces smell gets to the point I don’t want to go there anymore.

I think dog owners use it as an open toilet for their dogs. They don’t want their dogs to do their “business” at their homes so they use the park. Some owners with small dogs lay their dog just long enough to urinate then they pick them back up.

I see children playing at the same areas these dogs do their “business”. I can only imagine them stepping that stuff and tripping on to the ground and getting that stall all over them. This is why I have concluded that dogs should not be allowed at the park. It should be kept clean from dog feces and urination.

I know that any leash policy will not help the conditions I just described above. So just pass a policy that keeps dogs away. It will solve all the problems of people’s safety and dog altercations.

Today, I end with this: The park belongs to the people but lately it’s been going to the dogs.
Santiago Perez
San Benito

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2011/01/22/going-to-the-dogs/

5 comments

Skip to comment form

    • Runner62 on July 30, 2011 at 6:23 pm
    • Reply

    If you walk or run on the Heavin Trail, you will see the Posted Signs with the Do’s and Don’ts of the Trail… Such as picking up after your pets. I have seen 2 other people actually do that (and dispose of properly) and I personally took the time to thank them for doing so. Most pet owners pretend to not know those signs exist.

      • David Stutz on August 11, 2011 at 4:08 pm
      • Reply

      Those using the Resaca Trail will only respect the rights of others if forced to do so. Some may think that dog crap everywhere is no problem . Living here and knowing the local mindset leads me to believe that dog owners will never clean up after their animals and that eliminating pets is the answer although that won’t work because people will just do what they want anyway. The problem may be that the Heaven family who donated the funds for the trail didn’t understand that most San Benito residents aren’t able to appreciate the gift bestowed upon them and will destroy it because of their cultural ignorance. It’s sad to see but no matter how much the Heaven Family donates the residents of San Benito will turn it into garbage.

        • TwoCentsWorth on September 21, 2011 at 9:55 pm
        • Reply

        Mr. Stutz: I find it both disturbing and sad that you would state that “the residents of San Benito will turn it into garbage”. The vast majority of SB residents are respectful and appreciative of the Heavin’s contributions to our city. You do us all an injustice when you state that this majority will turn it into garbage.

    • Ana on March 24, 2011 at 3:17 pm
    • Reply

    Such a restriction, as Mr. Santiago suggests, almost illegally takes away rights of city taxpayers for the full enjoyment of the trail. By this I don`t mean only the lost rights of dog owners to walk with their companions but also the loss of contact by the other trail users with pets that delight children. Such an integrated experience must not be forbidden to the citizens of the City of San Benito.

    I understand that some people object to finding dog feces (oops, sorry “poop”) along the trail. Such a trail is definitely not to be used as a “doggy toilet”, but this is where city officials should address the needs to have certain rules enforced.

    There are also several droppings from rats, squirrels AND stray cats and dogs. Not all trail users should be blamed or should suffer the consequence of losing their rights to walk with their companion. I strongly urge an ordinance be carried out to have responsible dog owners pick up after their dogs and dispose of it properly before considering a purge of our four-legged companions on these trails.

    • Amanda on March 16, 2011 at 2:10 pm
    • Reply

    What about requiring dog owners to pick up and dispose of their dog’s poop? That seems like a better solution than banning dogs totally.

Leave a Reply to Ana Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.