My backyard is adjacent to the playground and field of Leo Nickerson Elementary School. From my kitchen window, I can see the children coming and going or when they are out at recess. My own children attend Leo Nickerson and play in the field both during school hours and in the evenings.
I can also see the number of people who bring their various size dogs to the field and let them run loose, as if this is the perfect dog park. I watch, day after day, evening after evening, as these irresponsible owners let loose their canines of various sizes to run free while they, the owners, sit on benches, play ball on the diamonds or generally pay no attention to the dogs’ actions at all. These owners also conveniently 'forget' to bring doggie bags with them to clean up the nasty 'presents' their animals leave behind for the children to step in the next day.
Sure, there are responsible owners who interact with their animals and clean up after them. I have seen them as well. But the school field is not a dog park and unleashed dogs have no business being there in the first place. The school and surrounding property is owned by the St. Albert Protestant School Board and has certainly not been designated for use as an off-leash park.
I am not against dogs, or designated off-leash areas. I own two dogs myself. But I always follow the rules, clean up after my animals and I don’t let them off-leash around other dogs, even in an area where it is allowed.
And to the lady in the pink coat, who walked her grandson to school on the morning of Sept. 14 with the large dog who did his 'business' directly on the walking path in the field ... when you walk your dog, anticipate that it will poop somewhere and carry doggie bags with you. Don't just walk away from your dog's mess in a school field and pretend you didn't see it.
Even when I brought you out a bag to clean up your dog's mess, you didn't have the courtesy to pick it up and put it in the garbage not 10 feet away. And in a school yard yet. Shame on you. Do you want your grandson landing in that while he is playing at recess? Perhaps next time, you should leave your dog at home!
Perhaps all dog owners around this area should respect the field for its intended use and leave their dogs at home.
Wendy Delainey, St. Albert
