Walnut Beach
Despite the presence of prominently featured "No Pets Allowed" signs at , a number of dogs on leashes can be found walking along the boardwalk everyday.
The opinion on Walnut Beach splits evenly between dog owners and pedestrians.
"It says 'No Dogs', so why would you bring your dog?" asks a jogger at the boardwalk.
When asked if dogs should be allowed at the beach, another walker simply states, "No, I don't think so."
A Milford resident walking his black rottweiler is in favor of dogs being allowed on the boardwalk.
When asked 'Why', he explains, "We can walk on it together. It would be nice."
Eisenhower Park
Upon entering , tennis courts and playgrounds are immediately found. However, no sign for the only Dog Park in town is visible. A long, cobblestoned path leads to an open field where many dogs run through the grass with no enclosure in sight. However, this is not the Dog Park.
A number of dog owners gather in this field away from the designated Dog Park, allowing their pets to run in an open area. All of the dogs stay inside the bounds of the field, and they play with one another while the owners converse.
Several hundred feet away from the one place in Milford where dogs are allowed to roam free, a group of dog owners are making their own park.
- A comment left on the Milford Patch Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/MilfordCTPatch?ref=tn_tnmn
WSMS is NOTORIOUS for having "land mines" all over their field. Students tell me and I've SEEN dogs defecate there and owners DO NOT clean it up. School fields do not make appropriate dog runs. We dog owners who pick up after our pets KNOW that there will always be some "residue" left behind. I'm sensitive to the fact that park-goers with kids or those playing sports wouldn't appreciate playing in said "residue". We NEED to respect the fact that there are citizens of Milford who wish to LAWFULLY peruse our parks and beaches without having to hear barking dogs or having to see dogs defecating! This doesn't make them "dog haters", it simply makes them people who choose not to own dogs. As for an open dog park where dogs run freely? There is no assurance that other dogs are flea, tick, disease free or are up to date on their shots. The Milford Dog Shelter is located inside, and is accessed only by entering Silver Sands State Park. The Shelter has volunteers who walk the shelter dogs in the park. This would obviously seem like an ideal place to have a dedicated area or trails for those who wish to bring their dogs to a park. I realize this isn't the answer, but it is an idea. Essentially, Mr. Bennett said it best; "things aren't in black and white".
In MIlford I see little bags of poo just thrown aside. Be a responsible pet owner.
That's absurd. Things couldn't be more black and white. If you are on a beach or at city park with your dog, on a leash or not, you are breaking the law. Unless you are at Eisenhower Park. Then as long as your dog is on a leash (less than 10 feet) you can be in most of the park with the exception of certain restricted areas. The only public space where a dog can legally be off leash is the dog park at Eisenhower. Simple, black and white as it gets. The pooper scooper law is even simpler. If its poop from your dog the law REQUIRES you to pick it up. Not cover it, not leave it if its in the woods, pick it up. Period. Black and white. Read it for yourself: Prohibited Activities on Public Recreational Areas - City Ordinance 16-2(3) Bring any animal into any athletic facility or play area. Bring any animal into any beach or park area, with the following exceptions: a. Dogs on leashes not over 10 feet long will be permitted in Eisenhower Park except the model airplane field during operations hours, the gardens, soccer field, tennis court area and playing fields. The area where leashed dogs are permitted is as marked on the Eisenhower Park map on file at the City Clerk's office and is designated by signage at the park. b. Dogs off leashes are permitted in the dog run at Eisenhower Park but must be brought to the run leashed and remain leashed at all other times.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping, walking or in control of any dog to allow or permit such animal to defecate upon any private property, owned by another person, or condominium common elements or public property, including but not limited to public beaches, parks and school grounds, unless such person shall remove all feces so deposited by such animal and dispose of same in a proper manner before leaving the immediate premises. (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind person.
I really don't care, this is just interesting to me, and you take lovely photographs, HOWEVER, here is the regulation. I am not a lawyer but my my understanding of the law is that it really doesn't matter who tells you what, or what common practice is, or what you believe, or what everyone else does. What matters is what the law actually says. And here is the law: Prohibited Activities on Public Recreational Areas - City Ordinance 16-2(3) Bring any animal into any athletic facility or play area. Bring any animal into any beach or park area, with the following exceptions: a. Dogs on leashes not over 10 feet long will be permitted in Eisenhower Park except the model airplane field during operations hours, the gardens, soccer field, tennis court area and playing fields. The area where leashed dogs are permitted is as marked on the Eisenhower Park map on file at the City Clerk's office and is designated by signage at the park. b. Dogs off leashes are permitted in the dog run at Eisenhower Park but must be brought to the run leashed and remain leashed at all other times. It clearly says it is prohibited to bring any animal to any beach. That means when I walk the boardwalk with Willie (my bird) in his chest pack cage, I am just as guilty of a violation as you are when you bring your dogs. Period. The regulations as written say Bob is not correct.
"These are really mild," McBride said, "there isn't much real health concern." McBride went on to say, "My concern is that people, it's often hard to enforce, cleaning up after their dogs, keeping their dogs leashed, keeping their dogs immunized from rabies is important. These are the key things I'm concerned about." McBride addressed the health concerns once again, saying, "The danger of disease from dogs is really a marginal public health concern. There are very few diseases that would be of concern in a casual encounter with a dog." As for the issue of Milford citizens being upset about dogs in public parks? "The reaction by non-dog people," McBride said, "I believe, is understandable."
Talking about the Dog Park, Liptak said, "The city needs a much bigger park."
Secondly, why do you assume that the parks are for human activity alone??? Why do your kids/grandkids have more of a right to paly in the parks than my dog as long as my dog doesn't leave behind a mess? I've seen VERY irresponsible parents/grandparents who allow their kids to throw/leave food, scream, and generally run amok, annoying everyone around them. Should they be banned from the parks? Of all the parks/beaches in Milford, dogs are only allowed in restricted areas of Eisenhower Park, on leash, or in the mud pit called a "dog park." Perhaps if there was a decent place to take dogs to run and there were more places where people could legally walk their dogs, more dog owners would abide by the rules.
Just venture ONE time into ANY Walmart (if you dare!) and you will see evidence of this all around you. I stay away at all costs because the people there SCARE me - these are the SAME people who don't pick up after themselves OR their pets. And the world is being overrun by them. While I may have 2 kids, they have 5 or 10 and the responsible people are being overrun. People litter and deface the planet constantly. I do what I can, for example, by recycling, and on the way there I see fast food trash, beer cans, soda cans, even dirty diapers.....you name it...by the side of the road. The more WE do to clean things up...the more THEY do to trash it up. It's a vicious cycle and responsible people are losing. We just are. :(