Spring Break
Letter to the editor
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
I was hoping not to make a big issue about this, but I'm going to need to. It would really be awesome if the dog-owners who live along Westbrook Circle could clean up after their dogs.
I'm totally cool with having pets. In terms of behavior, the dogs I meet on the way to class have been totally great, and the owners are terrific about leashes.
What I'm raising grievance against here are the dog's bowel issues. Now, I'm not blaming the fact I stepped in a huge pile of dog crap while walking back to International House on Wednesday night after class on the dog. Heck, given my exposure to it, it was probably a huge relief for the dog to move that one out. I'm sure the dog's owner didn't mean for this to happen either. That said, it would be greatly appreciated if dog-owners brought a plastic baggie out and scooped up the droppings when they walk their pet. I realize it's a dirty job, and no one wants to do it. But it's all part and partial to owning a pet.
During normal daylight hours, I can usually see it coming and steer clear. But this time of year, we have, like, what, four decent hours of daylight? By December, the stars are out at 5:30 in the afternoon. And that's when my night class begins. So when I'm crossing from the sidewalk to the street to get to my car at 8:00 at night, I don't know what to expect on that patch of grass that lies between. And I seriously used twenty q-tips, both swabs on each, to clean the bottom of my shoes.
My shoes are fine now, but this is after going to the trouble of taking them off at the front door, making a trip into the house to set my stuff down, going back for my shoes, bringing the stench into International House, swabbing off the soles, leaving the stench in the bathroom, showering off the soles, and having the residue sprayed all over the inside of the shower.
I sprayed air freshener and wiped off the shower walls. Everything's fine now, I'm just saying I could have spent that time sipping coffee and eating pie at the Sunrise Family Restaurant. But they closed at nine, so that sort of fell through. (Well, to be fair, I procrastinated cleaning the shoes off and watched Bionic Woman.)
While I'm going to the trouble, this one's for people who stop their car in the middle of the street while someone leans in the window to talk to them for five minutes or so. Hey, you're burning gas anyways. Why don't you just have the friend jump in the car and go around the block a few times?
Also, the puddles on the curb are two deep. I stepped in one yesterday and had water-logged feet for three hours. And I don't like the sun coming in my eyes when I'm driving in the morning either.
Understandably, I can't do much about two of those, but trust me, dog owners, you have the power to make my life a whole lot easier. You too, guy who stops to talk to his friend in the middle of the street.
-Greg O'Neill
I'm totally cool with having pets. In terms of behavior, the dogs I meet on the way to class have been totally great, and the owners are terrific about leashes.
What I'm raising grievance against here are the dog's bowel issues. Now, I'm not blaming the fact I stepped in a huge pile of dog crap while walking back to International House on Wednesday night after class on the dog. Heck, given my exposure to it, it was probably a huge relief for the dog to move that one out. I'm sure the dog's owner didn't mean for this to happen either. That said, it would be greatly appreciated if dog-owners brought a plastic baggie out and scooped up the droppings when they walk their pet. I realize it's a dirty job, and no one wants to do it. But it's all part and partial to owning a pet.
During normal daylight hours, I can usually see it coming and steer clear. But this time of year, we have, like, what, four decent hours of daylight? By December, the stars are out at 5:30 in the afternoon. And that's when my night class begins. So when I'm crossing from the sidewalk to the street to get to my car at 8:00 at night, I don't know what to expect on that patch of grass that lies between. And I seriously used twenty q-tips, both swabs on each, to clean the bottom of my shoes.
My shoes are fine now, but this is after going to the trouble of taking them off at the front door, making a trip into the house to set my stuff down, going back for my shoes, bringing the stench into International House, swabbing off the soles, leaving the stench in the bathroom, showering off the soles, and having the residue sprayed all over the inside of the shower.
I sprayed air freshener and wiped off the shower walls. Everything's fine now, I'm just saying I could have spent that time sipping coffee and eating pie at the Sunrise Family Restaurant. But they closed at nine, so that sort of fell through. (Well, to be fair, I procrastinated cleaning the shoes off and watched Bionic Woman.)
While I'm going to the trouble, this one's for people who stop their car in the middle of the street while someone leans in the window to talk to them for five minutes or so. Hey, you're burning gas anyways. Why don't you just have the friend jump in the car and go around the block a few times?
Also, the puddles on the curb are two deep. I stepped in one yesterday and had water-logged feet for three hours. And I don't like the sun coming in my eyes when I'm driving in the morning either.
Understandably, I can't do much about two of those, but trust me, dog owners, you have the power to make my life a whole lot easier. You too, guy who stops to talk to his friend in the middle of the street.
-Greg O'Neill
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