We are fortunate in Fairfax County to have many beautiful green spaces, parks that allow us to get out in nature and walk. I am a dog owner and I enjoy going out with my dog. It gets both of us needed exercise and a chance to take my mind off other things. If you love our parks as I do then you would agree we should take care of them. Part of taking care of our public green spaces is keeping them clean. This is a plea to dog owners to pick up after their dogs. I understand occasionally leaving the house without a poop bag; I’ve done it on occasion. It’s irksome but I go home, get a bag, and return to the scene of the crime and pick it up. But we have a problem if you routinely do not pick up after your dog. At one of the parks I enjoy I’ve seen a huge pile in the same spot, under a light pole, on more than one occasion. I have at times bent down to pick up after my own dog, discovered another dog’s waste, and picked it up as well. But I’ve been to parks where my good faith effort would be futile given the number of piles. This failure of civic duty by some dog owners gives all dog owners a bad name and ruins the outdoor experience for everyone. Dog poop is not only unpleasant to the eyes and nose, it’s a health hazard to people and to pets; it’s bad for the watershed, and it’s against the law. We love our dogs and it is the sheer number of dogs that makes this an environmental issue. Please clean up after your pet.
Linda Miwa
Burke