Description
It has come to my attention that the "No Dogs Allowed" sign has been removed at Recreation Park. With all the kids on the field during the week (Boys Club & Youth Sports) this is a Health Issue. One person slips in the mess from people not picking it up, falling, touching others and other things can certainly is a cause for concern with Health issues, not to mention slipping and breaking/spraining something.
Please reinforce the "No dogs allowed".
I certainly hope that this can be a cause for concern. Thank you.
21 Comments
Stoneham Board of Health (Registered User)
LuckyCat00 (Registered User)
Acknowledged Stoneham Town Administrator's Office (Registered User)
LuckyCat00 (Registered User)
Walkabout (Guest)
Where would you draw the line? No dogs in the parks ? No dogs on the common? No dogs on the sidewalk? All these places have children walking and playing and all show signs of disrespectful dog owners . What needs to be done is try to enforce the law requiring people to pick up after their dogs. Other than that, unfortunately there's not much you can do about it other than speak up if you see someone not picking up after their dog.
I do not have a dog myself, but trying to ban them from specific areas is not going to solve the problem.
GoBlue (Registered User)
LuckyCat00 (Registered User)
Closed Stoneham Board of Health (Registered User)
There are regulations in place that prohibit animal owners from allowing their pets to defecate on public property. The BOH does not stock pooper scooper signs, nor do they stock "No Dogs Allowed" signs. The difficulty lies in the actual enforcement of these regulations. Unfortunately, where there are no cameras or other surveillance measures in place to accurately pin-point would-be violators, enforcement hinges on direct sight of violators to these regulations. The BOH will forward any future complaints to Animal Control, and will request that SPD take notice of any animal owner walking with a pet on public fields or commons in efforts to cull the number of violators to the bylaw.
Forwarded to Animal Control and Stoneham Police
Old School (Guest)
LuckyCat00 (Registered User)
Reopened LuckyCat00 (Registered User)
GoBlue (Registered User)
JosephKerr1954 (Guest)
If the Selectmen cared about our children they would have introduced a similar article.
Town Article
Move that the Town vote to amend the Stoneham Town Code by inserting into Chapter 3 Animals and Fowl the following:
Sec. 3-12. Parks – Dog Ban
(a) Parks – Dog Ban: It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any dog, except a registered service dog, to be within the boundaries of:
Town of Stoneham Parcel 6-0-78, Cerrone Park, as recorded in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds in Book 11873 Page 539.
Town of Stoneham Parcel 13-0-55, Recreation Park, as recorded in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds in Book 10797 Page 353
(b) Enforcement: Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine pursuant to Section 1.4 of these Bylaws.
(c) Penalties: The non-criminal disposition penalty that shall apply to a violation of Section 3-12 shall be as follows:
First Offense (over a 24-month period) Warning
Second Offense (over a 24-month period) $ 50.00
Third and subsequent offense(s) (over a 24-month period) $150.00
And further to amend Section 1-4A of the Stoneham Town Code so as to list the non-criminal disposition penalty listed in this Section 3-12(c) in said Section 1-4A.
SeeClickYikes (Registered User)
Closed Stoneham Board of Health (Registered User)
The Board of Health will continue to monitor the situation at Rec Park. The "No Dogs Allowed" sign, whenever it may have been erected, was done so illegally. There are no regulations in place prohibiting dog owners from using this field. We will continue to stress that dog owners must demonstrate proper etiquette in cleaning up after their animals. There are thousands of active dog licenses that are issued every year in Stoneham, and unfortunately, some owners choose to disregard etiquette.
The Board of Health will not prohibit dogs from being on a public field, as it is not dogs that are the problem. The problem lies in the owners' lack of etiquette, which the Town is actively trying to curb.
Complaint Closed.
Reopened GoBlue (Registered User)
We have all heard the town reiterate that there are no regulations in place prohibiting dog owners from using the fields. I'm not sure what thousands of active dog licenses have to do with this matter in particular. That sounds like a veiled way of saying because they pay for a dog license they are entitled. And again, I will reiterate children are more important than dogs.
How are you actively trying to curb this problem? How are you stressing it? I am not being flippant in asking these questions. I legitimately would like to know what is being said or done and where and to whom other than on seeclickfix to address this issue. Signage is obviously not effective. Etiquette and the honor system are clearly not working.
There is a way to alleviate all of this back and forth. Ban dogs from the sports fields and designate a fenced in green space for an actual dog park. Everyone wins!
Closed Stoneham Board of Health (Registered User)
At this time, the Town is not banning dogs from public fields. We will take all complaints into consideration moving forward in terms of development of the Town and development of recreational space.
Complaint closed
Tim Shea (Guest)
Tim Shea (Guest)
LuckyCat00 (Registered User)
Tim Shea (Guest)