Lakefield Herald Special Report

A few $5,000 fines might fix the problem

by Billy Nobels

A few warm winter breezes and the snow cover is gone. Exposed are last fall’s forgotten gardening tools and children’s toys.

Far worse however are the numerous piles of dog doo doo somehow forgotten by pet owners. Nowhere is this egregious omission more evident than on Hague Point.

Finally, after years of asking, the township is now snow plowing the “Trail”. I am most thankful that our mayor has made the trail accessible to all. The unintended consequence of such largesse however has resulted in a smelly mess.

Now it does seem that to some, in spite of numerous signage, Hague Point is a canine park, i.e. dogs may roam free of restraint.

Along with that misinformed notion comes the problem of defecation. This, according to the signage, is a serious health issue. It is mystifying why some would let their dog defecate in a park and leave it there when I cannot bring my dog to your yard and do the same. But fear not.

I have a solution. An organization, Canine Responsibility Action Plan or C.R.A.P., not to be confused with Canadian Reform Alliance Party, should be created to deal with this. Remarkable coincidence that the latter has covered the nation with the same problem that careless dog owners have here, but I digress.

Even worse are the dog owners who don’t give a crap, pardon the pun, and simply never pick up after their dogs. Then there are the owners who pretend to pick up by carefully looking around to see if anyone noticed and then merrily walk on as if…

Another category of dog owner dutifully complies with the pick up order and then tosses the bag into the bushes for the enjoyment of all who pass by.

So this is the bottom line: Hague Point is not a free roaming dog area, nor is it to be used by your dogs as a dump. Henceforth C.R.A.P. will be watching and reporting your every canine defecation.

A few $5,000 fines (that is the by-law) may convince the offenders that stooping to remove the pooping is not so hard after all.

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