I work in a "resort" town on a small open air mall. It's only three blocks long, but they have a strict "No Dogs on the Mall" policy in the summer. A lot of people argue this rule, saying it's unfair. There is a very small park behind the mall; it's literally a small grassy lot with some trees and some benches, but it also has a "No Dogs" rule. They're a little looser with the rule back there, they just ask that you don't let you dog go on the grass. Some people argue that rule too, forgetting that people often sit back there before work or tourists sit there or sometimes they even do wedding photos there, because it's a 2 minute walk from the church. And who wants someones wedding dress to get smeared with dog poop? No one!
Do you heed "No Dog" signs? Do you ignore them? :coffee:
This is such a good question! I mostly ignore them because I have poop bags and pick up after them always, and so I know I am ok really. I have never been questioned.
I say mostly, because really it depends upon where it is. There is a park attached pretty much to a school that we we walk sometimes. The park is ok, it's on leash, and more of a field really. But around where the school actually is, around the bldg is a great place to walk. They have no dog signs. But actually all the means is that we don't want dog poop here. No problem, since I always pick up. I don't really feel they have an issue with me, I don't feel like they are really 'talking' to me.
Yeah, I know there's always one in every crowd that thinks they are 'above' the rules is what non animal people think. But that is not how I look at it. Like I said, I pick up.
But other places, I would have to just see what was around it. If it was a highly patrolled area, patrolled by police, then probably not.
I do walk one place and I wondered if they would ever put up a no dog sign but when I think about it, how could they as there is a vet place right beside it, so they have to have some place to go, and I have seen poop on the ground and wondered if it was them.
Also, since I am so good to pick up, I have used dumpsters that normally I would NEVER put any human trash in, as it's for the business that it's near. But I WILL put dog poop bags because after all, they should be glad I picked up.
Thankfully, I really don't have to worry about any "No Dogs" signs where I live. It is a residential neighborhood, and dogs are only allowed out of a fenced yard when on a leash.
The bad part is that there is no kind of rule that says the dog owners have to clean up after their dogs, and many of the people do take their dogs out and let them run along beside them with no leash. These dogs, of course, just run through people's lawns and do their chores anywhere they please, and the owners just stroll on down the street, and ignore what the dogs are doing.
Many people are at work, so they never even see which dogs are using their yard as a bathroom, and just come home to a dirty yard.
Once a dog starts using a yard, then other dogs also do their chorees there, so it is a continuing problem.
I can understand that dogs need to go somewhere to do their chores; but the dog owners need to be responsible for the dogs, whether there is a "No Dogs" sign or not.
A few houses very near mine have the squatting dog silhouette with the words no no written on it. They are kinda gross but they do get.your attention. I always cross the road before I get near theirs to avoid it all together.