20K

I take my dog for a walk every morning.  He spends 99% of his time, nose to the ground.  At least a third of that time, he seems to have his nose in something else.  Yeah, I exaggerate but, I simply can not believe that amount of STUFF he has to STOP and SNIFF!

Recently, I found it necessary to contact our City's HOA about a completely different matter.  I met with my contact at Monte Vista Park which is the park my dog takes most of his walks.  The doggie bag dispensers were empty and he radioed to the office that they needed to be refilled.   There are at least three at this park.  More than half of them are within feet of a trash can.  My contact tells me that they recently changed the style of bags and dispensers and that they are less costly than the previous style.  They STILL cost the city TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS a YEAR! 

Normally they are well maintained.  Always full.  My contact stated that some people take fist fulls.  I, my self take two at a time.  But, my dog proceeds to use both on each walk.  

So, IF these dispensers ARE everywhere and they ARE, WHY oh WHY is there so much STUFF for my dog to SNIFF???  WHY can't pet owners be responsible?

Which brings up another matter.  When my contact arrived, he had to excuse himself to first inform a lady there with her dog and "chuck-it"

that DOGS MUST BE LEASHED AT ALL TIMES.  This message is posted at every baggie dispenser AND several other places in the park.  This lady had arrived just before my contact with her child, the dog and a "chuck-it".  I knew that she was going to let the dog run loose in the open and unfenced park.  I only hoped that my contact would show up while she was still there.  She dropped the dog's leash.  She did not remove it from the dog.  I guess that in her mind "the dog was still on its leash".  REALLY??  Leashed means.  YOU are in control of your dog and the leash in IN your HAND.
My contact says that this park ranks number 3 in the parks in our City for people breaking the leash LAW.  Yes, folks, it is THE LAW to both have the dog (and/or CAT) on a leash and controlled at ALL TIMES and well and cleaning up after said pet.

The City spends 20K per year to help people with the "pick up after".  Please, DO the right thing and pick up you dog's DOO!