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Citizen complaint of the day: We don't need another rule about when to wear white

Dogs in Blackstone Park in the South End

A disgusted citizen complains about the demonspawn hellhounds once again infesting Blackstone Park in the South End:

"You shouldn't wear white pants when you walk across Blackstone Park," said the uncommonly nutty owner of the unleashed dog that just wiped its filthy snout on me. Leash law? Public park? Anybody?

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Comments

Well, it's true, you should NOT wear white before Memorial Day weekend, after Labor Day, or in Blackstone Park. This tradition dates from the days when the South End was fashionable. No, not when it was build int the 19th century. It began from when the gays moved in.

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But now that we've all moved out, is it still considered fashionable there?

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Curious. Where have the gays moved to?

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Dorchester (Savin Hill area mostly) has a very big population now.

And JP as well.

But, things today aren't as they used to be, and there's no longer a need for a "safe" place to congregate.

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What are white dogs supposed to do?

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Stay out of the fountain

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I'm never drinking from that fountain again!!

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Drugs and dogshit. Take your pick.

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I'd think that more dogs being walked = more foot traffic, some of it nosy = less drug activity.

Hours of dogwalking might not overlap hours of dealing, though.

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Drug dealers and dog owners are mutually exclusive categories.

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As a dog owner I can't help being massively irritated by the dog owner's attitude. You just don't let your dog run up to people, period, let alone if they're "jumpers" who are liable to ruin someone's pants or scare them or just get in their face. If something like this happens, you apologize like a madman--you don't attack the person's choice of trousers. Sounds frankly like two overly-entitled city folk stepping on each other's toes but the dog owner's at fault here.

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You should smell that park on a humid day-- disgusting. And they loooove to tell us the galloping hoardes of dogs keep the drug dealers away.

Entitled south Enders, moral equivalence, blah blah blah

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My dog is not exactly friendly towards members of her own species (but then many humans fit that bill). My pooch is also not a shrinking violet. Like a stud muffin: small but strong. So when an off leash dog wants to nose my girl's butt that dog is liable to get a bloody nose.

A few days ago in the Arboretum a woman walked her dog off leash. When her dog encountered mine they mixed as well as oil and water. I yelled at her to get her dog (not my finest moment). Her response was that they are just dogs. Wonder whether she would have said the same thing if I let my dog have at her pooch instead of pulling my dog back so that there would not be a fight.

But then this is the Arboretum where entitled dog walkers abound. On the same day a fellow was walking his dog - again off leash - along the path leading to the vine area. The dog was at least 50' feet away and the man was focused on his cell phone instead of his dog. I wouldn't be surprised if the dog left deposits that the fellow never picked up.

I don't know whether the psychology is entitlement, arrogance or just a naive stupidity that leads people to think they're dog would never do anything undesirable like fight, bite or just crap wherever. Anyone have stats on how many dog attacks happen in Boston (against people or other dogs) due to dogs being off leash?

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I have had to stop taking my dogs to the Arboretum due to the large numbers of uncontrolled off-leash dogs. My on-leash dogs have been attacked by other dogs. In one instance, we were running and came up behind an off-leash dog, who apparently thought my dogs were a threat. The owner's response? "He's just grumpy this morning."
It's just not fair to responsible dog owners that irresponsible people are ruining the Arboretum.

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I've posted here before about off leash dogs in the Arboretum. I've even been attacked for supposedly exaggerating. But it's out of control.
In another park recently, not the Arboretum, I was approached by an aggressive non leashed dog who blocked my path and barked loudly at me. The owner was sitting down nearby and I yelled at her to control her dog. She said "Sorry, I don't know why he always does that". So she knows her dog is aggressive, still doesn't leash it, and I have to pay the price. The entrance to this park is clearly posted "dogs must be on leash".
What is it with you entitled dog owners?

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Why are you on here complaining anonymously and slagging off all "entitled dog owners" instead of making a firm and reasoned case to the Arboretum for more enforcement? As I've said here before, my experience in the Arbs has been markedly different from what I've read here though rarely go to the Peter's Hill area which seems to be a hot spot. But seriously...no real point in just whining online. If this is as big a problem as it seems, then I'm wondering why the Arboretum officials haven't moved to do something, like issuing warnings with the possibility of being "banned for life" or something. The Trustees of the Reservations are stringent about dogs and how they may use or not use the properties--I'm surprised that Harvard can't do the same.

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As a fellow dog owner who couldn't agree more: this kinda scenario is a good reason to teach your dog the "non-verbal leave-it." The goal, step in front, and stop. Dog must stop, and is not allowed to walk around you. SUPER helpful when encountering off-leash dogs (though, my dog loves other dogs. But will not always pick up the queue if the other dog isn't having any of that). That way, your dog stays in your control, and you become the focus of the off-leash dog.

You can practice this at home with a piece of cheese. Throw it on the floor, and step between the dog and the cheese. The dog cannot walk past you. keep a leash and block as necessary. Reward with treats when he/she looks away, or stops. Dog cannot get the cheese. It's not the reward.

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