I've written quite a bit about dog shit and parks here on the blog ("what's the difference between litter and poop" and "what to do about the poop") because I've got pretty strong feelings about bureaucrats trying to take away dog owners access to public space because of some irresponsible dog owners not picking up after their dogs - and right now with the winter's snow melting all at once - which happens every year, 6 months worth of dogs' shit is all becoming apparent in every corner of the HRM and beyond.
I liken dog shit to Tim Horton's cups - people throw them away everywhere - and you see them everywhere, but you'd never consider shutting down any Tim Horton's coffee shops because of people throwing away their cups irresponsibly instead of putting them into garbage receptacles. Simply because you can assign a niche demographic to place blame on - does not mean that you can shut down access to public space to the whole of that demographic for the irresponsibility of a small minority.
That is completely wrong - and non-sensical as shutting down every Tim Hortons because of their cups being thrown away on street corners. It's exactly the same thing.
I say this because there was an article in today's Metro newspaper about litter - and that the city has issued a "friendly reminder" about it. If you look around the city right now - it's pretty disgusting - there's garbage everywhere because of the melting snow - so it's not just about dog shit in the parks - there's litter and garbage everywhere. And dirt, and just general grunge. I feel sorry right now for anyone who's visiting our city for the first time - they aren't getting a true vision of what Halifax looks like - or maybe they are, maybe this is what our city has become, I don't know - but it's pretty gross. Nothing but plastic bags, Tim Horton's cups, dog shit, dirt, gravel, paper towel, styrofoam containers, and dog shit.
Here's the article -
Province issues a 'friendly reminder' about littering
Ryan Taplin/Metro Halifax
A pile of garbage sits on the Halifax Common yesterday.
Please litter.
That’s the message the provincial Department of Environment is sending to Nova Scotians in a new campaign.
Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? That’s what they think, too, and that’s the impact they want to have on anyone who will listen.
“Everyone knows this is wrong, so why is litter up?” environment department communications adviser Janet Lynn McNeil said.
“Litter has gone up 21 per cent from four years ago. Those numbers were really disappointing and shocking because people have been more environmentally friendly recently.”
That may even be part of the problem, she surmised.
“In terms of environmental issues, litter has fallen off the radar. We want to make sure people pay attention ... We are asking all Nova Scotians to pledge not to litter.”
That pledge can be taken at the website www.bestthingyoullneverdo.ca.
McNeil refers to the month-long campaign, which started Monday, as something “bold and innovative” for the Department of Environment.
“It’s really up to all of us to do something about it ... Sometimes we just need a friendly reminder. That is why we did the survey. It’s a call to action.”
The campaign will feature the radio spots across the province as well as large posters on bus shelters in areas with public transit.
Speaking of crap,I remember you writing about this group.
ReplyDeleteThought you might like to help get the word out.
It`s starting to make the rounds on Facebook.
[quote] dogsbite(dot)org is a dog bite victims organization that works to pass what they call "common sense laws". Their interpretation of common sense laws is to ban breeds of dogs. Despite the fact that many respected organizations such as the ASPCA and Best Friends have proven that breed bans don't work and that responsible ownership legislation is far more effective. Their website contains a good deal of sensationalist "statistics", and horror stories of how Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Chow Chows and Wolf dogs viciously attack and maul children and adults alike. The majority of their statistics come from a publication called Animal People News. A publication that seems to also show considerable breed bias. Dogsbite(dot)org is actively seeking nonprofit status. However, they publicize themselves as a group that tries to "create laws". This would actually make them a Lobbyist group and therefore disqualify them for non profit status.
Those of us who have the insight and wisdom to know that there is so much more than just breed that determines whether or not a dog will bite, those of us that are responsible bully breed owners, those of us believe that only the guilty should be punished need to let the IRS know that dogsbite(dot)org should be denied tax exempt status. We as responsible adults are aware that any untrained, neglected dog of any breed can be a threat to people and animals. And we as responsible adults need to stand up against groups that want to recklessly wipe out entire breeds of dog because of the actions of the irresponsible few.
We are asking you to write to the IRS and ask them to deny dogsbite(dot)org tax exempt status. due to the fact that they are not a charitable organization but legislative lobbyists, who promote propaganda and use sensationalist scare tactics.
*****Please remember that the IRS is only concerned with the tax aspect of this issue and are in no way concerned with dog laws. So save those letters for your local legislators (whom we are sure you are writing thoughtful well worded pleas to often).
Send you letters to,
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 12192
Covington, KY 41012-0192
It has come to my attention that an organization (dogsbite(dot)org) is
seeking tax exempt status.
"DogsBite(dot)org is a national dog bite victims group dedicated to
reducing serious dog attacks by creating common sense laws. We are a
volunteer organization currently seeking nonprofit status."
Dogsbite.org states its primary purpose is to "create" laws, i.e.,
lobbying. Due to the fact that this organization primarily exists to
lobby legislators, I respectfully request that the IRS deny this
organization tax exempt status.[/quote]
Not sure if Canadians can have any impact but you have U.S. Readers.
Please help spread the word.
Thank you